Life as a Modern Dancer

The April Recap: On Life as a Modern Dancer, and Beyond

Audrey Johnson. Photo by Houssam Mchaimech from “towards.” Read Audrey's piece here.

From Blog Director Jill Randall:

It's been a LONG month in Shelter in Place. Hoping you are safe, healthy, and getting to enjoy dance in a variety of ways from home.

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This month on the blog, I have published a Movement Poem every day, as springboards for improvising and choreographing.

Additionally, 6 artists have shared about their improvisational practices:

Improvisation as Sustainability - Mitsuko Clarke-Verdery

Improvising in Practice: reflections from my workshop with Jesse Zaritt in a time of COVID-19 - Molly Rose-Williams

6 improvisation scores (or, archives of making a solo through improvisational process) - Audrey Johnson

FINDING (HEART): Practices in Improvisation (& Practices in Improvisational Writing) - Molly Heller

Where We Find Ourselves: Memories of Improvisations - Melecio Estrella

Rigor + Anarchy in Improvisation - Ellen Slatkin

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Here is also my letter to college dance professors. How can I be of help with resources and reading lists as we consider summer and fall courses going online?

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In April (and late March), I published a few pieces through dance-teacher.com and medium.com:

Anouk van Dijk Announces Unique Opportunity to Study Countertechnique Online (Dance Teacher)

Soundformovement.com: A Music Website With Free Licensing for Online Dance Teachers (Dance Teacher)

Dancemaking in the Months Ahead, with Some New Parameters and Creative Puzzles to Solve (Medium)

My Dance with Running (Medium)

 

Additionally, here are some pieces that really got me thinking about this time and the months ahead of us:

To Survive the Challenges Ahead, Cultural Institutions Will Need to Redefine the Value of Art. Here’s How They Can Do It - Deborah Fisher (artnet)

Dealing With the Disappointment of Getting COVID-Canceled - Nancy Wozny (Dance Magazine)

This Is What We Train For - Andrew Simonet (ARTPLACE)

How Can We Radically Reimagine the Dance World Post-Coronavirus? - Lauren Wingenroth (Dance Magazine)

Moving is important. What if we took the hint, and actually paused? - Lauren Warnecke (Art Intercepts)

The Forgotten Art of Assembly: Or, Why Theatre Makers Should Stop Making - Nicholas Berger (Medium)

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Stay tuned in May for new artist profiles and reflections on the online teaching/distance learning experience!

 

Be well,

Jill

Movement Poem #47 (calming actions for today)

calming actions for today

A Movement Poem for April 30, 2020 by Jill Randall

 

arms + legs

alternating

swinging

sensing weight

 

unhurried

 

receptive

 

expansive collarbones

space between the bones

broad brushstrokes

far reaching with focus

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Hello!

Today's music suggestion is "One or the Other" by Michael Wall. It is 2nd on this playlist.

To begin today, select one word or line from the poem that is really resonating with you in this moment. (I personally selected "unhurried.") Explore a short improv for a minute or two with this line/word....

Then, choreograph a movement phrase for the poem today. Go stanza by stanza. How can choreographing be a calming act itself? What is the tempo and quality of each movement? How can both large and small motions feel calm?

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Movement Poem #46 (word pairs for a solo)

word pairs for a solo

a movement poem for April 29, 2020 by Jill Randall

 

brighten,

spark

 

ripple,

disperse

 

offer,

open

 

see,

stand

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Hello!

Today's poem is pretty simple in concept: 8 actions to try out in a particular order.

May I suggest "4 120 " by Michael Wall for music today? It is #37 on this playlist.

Today, put on the music and cycle through all 8 words. How many ways? Play with size of movement, gestures, and speed. Generating ideas while warming up -

Build a short phrase for today. Then pick a location to "perform" it. If at home, are you inside or outside? In the center of a room, or closer to a window or wall as backdrop? Play with space, proximity, natural light, and backdrops. If at a dance studio, play with placement in the room and how close you are (or far away) from your audience. Thank you!

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Movement Poem #45 (Today, So Much New Information)

 

Today, So Much New Information

A Movement Poem for April 28, 2020 by Jill Randall

 

This movement of my hand

 

What catches my eye

 

The exact distance, measurement of

the space between my feet

 

new ways + pathways to walk

jog

swivel

kick

pause

 

a new small dance

 

new transitions, connections between

 

a new dance for this very moment, now

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Hello!

Today's music suggestion is "Body Becomes the Measure Section 2" by Michael Wall. It is the 2nd track on this playlist.

Today is all about the intention and openness towards the "new." Not falling into the same patterns.

Put on today's music and cycle through the poem, going line by line. Improvise with each line for 20 seconds or so. How many different ways can you explore each verb/image? Move in place; travel the room. If dancing at home, what if you tried out each line in a different room of your home? Keep changing the space, the movement, the air.

I hope that you will choreograph a movement phrase today for the poem, making a shape or movement for each line. Thank you!

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Movement Poem #44 (Time/Timing/Tempo)

 

Time/Timing/Tempo

A Movement Poem for April 27, 2020 by Jill Randall

 

slow motion

 

fast forward

 

all the time in the world

 

not needing to keep

track of time

release, let go of,

allow for space,

opportunity,

and options

 

no watch,

clock,

countdown timer

 

just an internal sense

of today

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Hello!

Today's music selection is "Reload - The Remix 2020" by Michael Wall. It is first on this playlist and is a longer track, 16 minutes in length.

As dancers, so much of our life is set in time and bound to time - the phrasing of choreography, the dates of the shows, the time to begin and end our classes.

Today, can moving be a healing and recuperative practice, as we let go of time? What if you move as slow or fast as you want? What if you move and noodle for as long or short of an amount of time as your body wants/needs today?

Where do pauses and stillness fit in?

What if you made a short movement phrase today, loosely based on the poem, and this movement phrase is meant to feel healing and restorative? What 6-8 movements will you choose today, and what will the tempo be?

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Movement Poem #43 (The Ribs)

 

The Ribs

A movement poem for April 26, 2020 by Jill Randall

 

ferns

peacock feathers

cabinet of curiosities

 

breathing

mobility

softly holding

 

a small sized dance

yet still spacious

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Hello!

Today's music selection = "KS" by Michael Wall. It is 3rd on this playlist. ("Together Alone A," which is 4th on the playlist, is also a great additional option.)

Today's poem is all about sensing/feeling/exploring. I am channeling my studies of Feldenkrais with Mary Armentrout and Body-Mind Centering with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen. I am thinking of Asuka Tada's book Flora, of bones and skeletons made out of leaves and flower petals. I also want to reference this particular piece of art by Katie Daisy:

Image respectfully pulled from Etsy. Artwork by Katie Daisy.

I would begin today with a simple walking/pausing improv around the space. Bring awareness to your ribs. How would you describe this area of your body today in this moment? Do this walking/pausing dance for a minute or two. Walk forward, sideways, backwards, in a circle, in a zigzag pathway.

Then, I would find a spot to stand or to sit. You can sit on the floor or a chair. Place your hands on your ribs in different places. Breathe into those hands. Connect with the side of the ribs, back of the ribs, front and back at the same time, etc. Try this about 4 different times. Connect with breath and movement; create space in the rib cage.

Now, what is the dance of the ribs? How can it circle, stretch, press, inflate, retreat, and much more? Explore this little dance. How do the ribs move when you are moving in one place, traveling, and on the floor? How do the ribs move on the floor when one hand or two hands are pressing the ground?

How do the ribs move in relation to other body parts? How can they move in conjunction? Or towards and away? (Ribs+knees, ribs+head, ribs+hips, ribs+tailbone, ribs+collarbone, ribs+throat, etc)

Choreograph a short phrase today based on the lines of the poem, or simply the essence of the poem.

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From Blog Director Jill Randall: Reaching Out to College Dance Professors

Photo: Tony Nguyen

Crafting and Choreographing the Online/Distance Learning Experience for Undergraduate and Graduate Dance Courses

 

Dear dance professors near and far,

I am thinking of you this week and thank you for the huge hurdles you have tackled to take your dance courses online very quickly this spring. Thank you for your time and care supporting your students and their learning experiences. I imagine that this was a lot of re-prioritizing, editing, and creating alternate plans. I know that many of you are now preparing for summer courses, and maybe even the fall. So much new territory and new strategies for teaching, learning, dancemaking, and teacher/student relationships.

I have been writing and editing content for college students for nearly 8 years now; I actually began this site Life as a Modern Dancer in August 2012 specifically to be a free, “living textbook” for dance majors. In many ways this is the ideal time to access the site and the 1200+ posts about careers in dance, teaching, improvisational practices, starting a dance company, and becoming an arts administrator. (Since Shelter in Place, I have been writing a Movement Poem a day to use for improvising and mini compositions, each paired with a music selection available online from Michael Wall.)

This week I have been thinking a lot about the field, higher ed, and multimodal learning. I love considering content and format. I hope that some of these ideas and musings might be of interest to you too. Bottom line, I want to support the field in the coming months ahead. Each year I connect with professors around the country to help with reading lists, reviewing syllabi, suggesting guest artists, and more. I wanted to extend this invitation right now as you head into summer and fall to take courses online. If I can be a resource or a sounding board in any way, please reach out. This is one small service and gesture I am happy to offer free of charge, as a way to support our dance community. 

Reading Lists and Book Recommendations

I have been doing this for several years already, but just a reminder. I have 6 kinds of reading lists on the site with material from the blog over the past 8 years for a variety of courses ranging from graduate level Choreography to Teaching Dance to Children to Senior Seminar. Free and accessible content. I also curate new lists upon request for your specific courses and needs.

There are two Technique Journals on the website to print at home. I am seriously considering making a third version for students taking technique courses online this summer and fall. Feedback welcome!

Each year I also highlight new books on dance, whether the author shares a short essay about the book or I write a review. 

I am a reference librarian at heart!

Technology

I used to run another blog called Dancers Using Technology, so for years I have avidly sought out apps, platforms, and resources to use with dancers and in courses. 

Today I wanted to highlight a few on my mind right now: Google Slides, Pinterest, Soundcloud, Spotify, Dance Maker, Voxer, and Voice Memo. I am thinking about the growing library of dance-specific podcasts. I am thinking about the hundreds of music options on soundformovement.com. Let’s connect and talk further about various uses for the platforms mentioned here.

I am thinking about Ted Talks, Jacob’s Pillow Interactive, the ballet dictionary from ABT, and America's Irreplaceable Dance Treasures through the Dance Heritage Coalition. I am recalling the documentaries you can now stream online (Pina, Cunningham, Upaj: Improvise, and Bill T. Jones: A Good Man, to name a few). There is SO MUCH content at our fingertips to read, listen to, and watch. 

In addition, let’s use what is already out there and created in terms of courses. The National Dance Education Organization has been offering online courses for quite a few years now. The Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) now even offers online courses through NDEO’s program. 

I want to mention choreographer Alexandra Beller and her awesome site Praxispace.

Additionally, Bay Area choreographer Kristin Damrow is creating, editing, and posting technique videos for beginners and int/adv contemporary dancers right now during Shelter in Place. This is a great resource to access in the months to come. 

Multimodal Learning

As I was discussing with a colleague this week, how can we build online programs that are not just about watching a video of some sort and writing online? How can we craft dynamic offerings that “mix it up” in terms of types of technology used, direct instruction and group discussion, reading online and reading from books, sitting and movement activities, and much more. 

Can each week involve viewing, writing, listening, talking, and of course moving? How can all theory courses involve movement each day?

How can we engage and reach all kinds of learners? Let’s brainstorm together! 

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I am thinking deeply about the challenges ahead for dance education over the coming year. I am musing on the big ideas of engagement, dimension, variety, choice, and agency for undergraduate and graduate dance students. 

College professors, I am sending you strength and good wishes. Please do stay in touch, and please reach out if I can help review course syllabi and activities planned, or answer questions about resources you are still seeking (reading material, books, guest speakers, apps, and more). 

Sincerely,

Jill Randall

Blog Director, Life as a Modern Dancer

randalldanceprojects@gmail.com

Movement Poem #42 (lean in)

 

lean in

a movement poem for April 25, 2020 by Jill Randall

 

meander and meandering

are two

of my favorite

action words

 

pathways,

covering space

 

the tilt of the head -

leaning in -

soft knees + ankles -

yielding + pushing -

 

meandering rivers

switchback trails

feet feet

feet feet

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Hello!

Today's music selection is "Gesture 1" by Michael Wall, first on this playlist.

I would begin today improvising around a few broad concepts. Try one at a time: different pathways in space, flowing actions, leaning, and "covering space." Second, play with the line "the tilt of the head." Focus in on head/throat/neck. Head moving in different directions. Softening the front of the throat. Imagining that a partner is gently leading your head in different directions. Allowing for weight.

Then, the word "meander." What is the quality of meandering? Speed?

I hope that you will build a short phrase today, considering each stanza. You don't have to go line by line. Pathways + play...

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Movement Poem #41 (Iterations)

 

Iterations

A Movement Poem for April 24, 2020 by Jill Randall

 

delicate

quiet

clear

specific

 

Delicate --

Quiet...

Clear --

Specific.

 

Delicate;

quiet;

clear;

specific.

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Hello!

Today's music selection = "6 180" by Michael Wall. It is #22 on this playlist.

Today's poem is all about repetition, variation, and transformation. I hope that you will put on the music and first just explore each of the 4 words separately. Play with gestures and whole body movements. Play with stationary and traveling movements.

I hope you will choreograph a short dance today based on the poem. Thank you!

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Movement Poem #40 (Yes!)

 

Yes!

A movement poem for April 23, 2020 by Jill Randall

 

Lift off -

Flight.

 

Shadows -

Noticing.

 

Jumping -

Humor.

 

Wriggling -

Release.

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Hello!

Today's music selection = "As 5 (4 156)" by Michael Wall. It is fifth on this playlist.

Today's poem is playful and light. Put on the music and cycle through each line/word, improvising. Explore a few ideas per concept. Cycle through the poem three times.

Then, create a short movement phrase for the whole poem (8 ideas). Play with transitions and pauses. Punctuate.

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