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Blog
Senior Capstone Journey
Mindbody
I notice the mind body connection's presence in all of my dance classes when working on technique and finding my focus and refinement in mind and body, but in relation to my capstone it has taken on a little different meaning. As I've been choreographing and running ideas through my mind, I've constantly been going back to how a message is conveyed through the body. The use of imagery and visualization is a tool that I find integrates the body and mind seamlessly. When thinking about moving like an uncooked spaghetti noodle, we use our prior knowledge of what that feels and looks like and connect it to the physical movement. I think this connection is very important in seeing how our brains relay information through our bodies, and can create movement that feels more authentic. If the mind was not understanding of how, why, where the body moves and it was an outward experience of copying shapes and not understanding how we get there, it would not be as engaging for the mind as dance now is.
Discourse
In order to make a vision come to life, I think the choreographer needs to be able to convey these ideas to the dancers. While dance expresses these concepts and ideas that I feel can't be understood in words the same way, it is important to be able to vocalize so that others understand, because I realize that other people cannot read my mind. I have minimal experience being on the 'choreographer' side of things when working with a group of dancers, but I think it's helpful to understand where the dancers experiences come from as well. With this specific group of dancers that I know have training in ballet, modern, pilates, etc. it can be helpful to use ballet terminology even when comparing what a movement might look or feel like in the body. I am learning through this process that I have to approach my choreography from many different perspectives. I am so grateful to have dancers that are creative and aware of what works in their own bodies, while also being willing to explore new ideas with me as part of the creative process. This experience is forcing me out of my comfort zone by needing to articulate what I have learned in the past few years through art and discussion.
Expression
Throughout my time at Rider I have learned how important strength is, since you can have flexibility and release but without strength it isn't sustainable. Dance is so much more than movements on the body, it is also about expression from within and how that radiates outward. Flexibility took on an entirely new meaning in this past year with each of us having to adapt our ideas since nothing can be guaranteed. As both a dancer and choreographer I think it's important to be able to adapt to learning in person where movement is more kinesthetically absorbed, rather than online when it takes more brain power and coordination to follow. Musicality is something that is different in this process than a usual stage performance where we are rehearsing a full piece to music. In my capstone project which is film, I am focused on the dynamics of the movement so that the dancers can feel the musicality in the body instead of connected to the melody of the music. I think it will be very interesting to see how the movement and music work together since they were created as two separate entities under the same idea. I am learning as a choreographer that it is very important for the dancers to feel connection to the movement in a way that is natural to their bodies, which I think is where the idea of expressive movement comes in. The same movement can be set on five dancers and it can look very different based on the way the dancers interpret it and express outward. Having an understanding of these concepts is really seeing how they all intertwine and go hand in hand, and it's something that gets cultivated over time.
Socio-political-historical aspects
I think as artists in dance, a lot of what we create is a reflection of what we experience as well as a reflection of what is happening in the world. Even just being in the position as a student to create a work like this is an acknowledgement of socio-political-historical aspects. Dance exists in many different spaces with many different people depending where you are, and in relation to my capstone project I am in a position to have access to dance studios and dancers in order to create a work that carries meaning. It's almost impossible to create dance that isn't influenced by what's going on at the time, and right now is a very unique experience. While my project is not directly a response to the pandemic, it absolutely has had influence on my ideas throughout this process. The time we're living in right now is historical in itself, so it only makes sense that dances will have influence from this collective experience we've shared in 2020 and beyond. With dance being a form of expression, it is shown through history how artists interpreted what was going on around them into something unique.
Meaning in Movement
Choreography is able to convey a meaning in many different ways and that is something very important I am trying to convey through my capstone project. I am exploring the interpersonal connections and meaningful conversations that are essential to foster feelings of well-being and belonging. Related to the circumstances we have faced this year with more disconnect and isolation, the dancers will showcase these themes through movement and interacting with one another through the digital space. This year I am exploring elements outside of my usual realm of experience, with the inclusion of film in addition to the choreography. We are essentially reinventing the way that movement can be seen from the stage to in front of the camera. While movement is a medium that is more viscerally understood in person, I think it is also important to be able to connect with the audience through the screen.
