Ted Shawn: Fundamentals of Dance

 

 I

 

Ted Shawn 

Question 1

1. What is Ted Shawn's general view of dance?

--------------------------
 
  II
 
 
READ THE LINK
 
 2. Which are the movements described in the General Stretch Set?


 -------------------------------
 
 
III
 
 
 Kinetic Molpai (1935) by Ted Shawn
What do you think is the function of this dance?


---------------------------


 Question 3

3. Based o the video and the link above, what was the main theme of Shawn's choreography?

------------------------
 
IV


Emphasizing its status as productive work for men, the four sections of Labor Symphony display the Men Dancers’ strength, agility, and musculature prominently, exposing the piece as both means and end: it produces both the dance itself and bodies capable of performing it, much as agricultural and manual labor offer both product and a body disciplined to produce it.

Question 4

Which were the 3 main men's traits expressed in Labor Symphony?
 
 
V
 
 Activity 1
 
Bound Flow
 
Students  explore movement using the sticks to develop a sense of bound flow. This exercise will inform the type of movement that Ted Shawn demanded from his men dancers.


Bound flow, a concept created by R. Laban, allows for movement in a more controlled way. Bound flow is described as more firm and with boundaries. It's about keeping emotions in and contained. It is the opposite of free flow.
 
-------------------------
 
VI
 


 Chamber Dance Company: Selection from Ted Shawn's "Olympiad'

ACTIVITY 2

From the video above, choose 8 moves and create an 8 moves phrase for your ensemble.

1. run

2. jump, X, landing

3. vertical jump, right arm up

4. Wide step to the left, right arm circles around

5. Tombe- Pas de Bourree

6. plie, develope, jump, tombe, jump, arabesque

7. lift and throw 

 

Make up Students 

RECORD AND POST YOUR MOVEMENT PHRASE ON DISCUSSION BOARD.


STUDENTS' WORK

Jaiming Cao

1 It is a unique art. Dance can be played as a series of moving pictures, memories of people's mind, the photography... It is the most ephemeral art, as we do it, it is born and then dies in very short seconds. 

2 A upward stretch and horizontal circling  

   B Collapse and sequential lift

   C Torsion Exercise 8 measures of 4/4, torsion with three-step turn

   D twist with limp Wrap-around . 8 measures of 4/4

   E Lateral Arc and Stretch. 16 measures of 3/4

   F Sagittarius circles, 8 measure of 4/4

   G Sagittal Body swing and Succession ( Body wave) 16 measures of 3/4

   H Hip relaxation 4 measures of 4/4

3 His emphasis on the male dancer and establishment of an all-male company provided balance in the matriarch-dominated early years of modern dance.  Shawn's choreography explored historical, cultural, and American themes, and often included contemporary commentary. His major focus was the restoration of the male to a central role in dance. His teaching and choreography showed respect for technical training. 

4 Men Dancers' strength, agility, and musculature prominently, exposing the piece as both means and end; it produces both the dance itself and bodies capable of performing it, much as agricultural and manual labor offer both product and a body disciplined to produce it. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Exceptional Essays

Image
             1 Specific Methods of Modern Dance:  Learned & Applied Knowledge  Patrick Haskell      I will explore the takeaways from the class. I cover Laban, Mary Wigman, Isadora Duncan, and Ruth St. Denis and their individual contributions to Modern Dance. Since assembling a solo and ensemble performance throughout the semester was a major part of the class, I wanted to acknowledge their specific methods that helped make my pieces possible. I go on to explain how I would apply the knowledge I have gathered from the course to my own field of study. With dance being a minor of mine, I hope to pursue the art after college in some way, shape, or form.       The lessons taught in dance are applicable to any field of study as they not only build dance skills, but strong leadership skills. I talk about my own feelings about the experience of the course, the students, and the subject matter. The cla...
Read more

Ruth St. Denis: Other Influences

Image
   I    II Readings Creativity, Spirituality and Mental Health Link  https://www.google.com/books/edition/Creativity_Spirituality_and_Mental_Healt/vBwpDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=St.+Denis+and+spirituality&pg=PA51&printsec=frontcover   Vocabulary   Swedenborgianism: The New Church is any of several historically related Christian denominations that developed as a new religious group, influenced by the writings of scientist and mystic Emanuel Swedenborg, in 1787, England. Transcendentalism: An idealistic philosophical and social movement which developed in New England around 1836 in reaction to rationalism. Influenced by romanticism, Platonism, and Kantian philosophy, it taught that divinity pervades all nature and humanity, and its members held progressive views on feminism and communal living. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were central figures. Romanticism: An artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual movement tha...
Read more

Reflections [R]

Image
1 Honoring the History of Modern Dance Patrick Haskell          I had a lot of fun building my solo and ensemble piece throughout the semester. While it may look like just a dance, the pieces are made up of inspiration from Laban, Mary Wigman, Isadora Duncan, and Ruth St. Denis and their methods and techniques. I am excited to have an individual solo to carry with me for the rest of my life. It is something that embodies who I am and I would be proud to perform for anyone. As I stated in my synopsis, I want the piece to be a representation of who I am in the present moment.                I hope to reflect upon it in the future when my dreams hopefully come to fruition and acknowledge the growth I have made since then. I enjoyed learning about the pioneers of modern dance and their contributions to the dance style. It was exciting to take their methods of dance and incorporate it into solo and...
Read more