Titel cursus:
Ballet History/Theory
Naam docent/begeleider:
Dr. Anna Seidl (Universiteit van Amsterdam)
Periode, duur:
jaar 1, semester 1 en 2, jaar 2 semester 1 en 2
Aantal weken/ bijeenkomsten:
2x30 weken á 2 bijeenkomsten á 1 uur
Bijdrage aan de competenties:
1. Creative potential
3. Investigative and reflective abilities
4. Potential for growth and innovation
6. Communicative ability
Content
The course “Dance History/Dance Theory” runs over two years and is divided into two parts. Part 1:Dance/ballet history: societal function, aesthetics, (artistic/philosophical) context. The first part covers the history of dance/ballet, which is divided in different historical periods starting from its beginnings in the Antiquity reaching until the 21st Century. The focus lays on three aspects: 1) the historically changing functions of dance/ballet within society, 2) the historically changing aesthetics, which will be discussed by means of a selection of case studies, and 3) the context, referring to other art forms and/or history of ideas (e.g. Romantic ballet will be discussed in the context of romanticism as an artistic, literary, musical and intellectual movement). The periods include:
- the origins of dance in Ancient Greece, where dance was used amongst others as means of social communication
- Medieval dance
- Renaissance dance
- Courtly ballet (King Louis XIV)
- Romantic Ballet
- Imperial Ballet
- Ballets Russes
- Neo-Classical ballet
Part 2:Theory: Reflection and application
The second part focusses on the reflection of different topics, which are directly related to the life of today’s ballet dancer. Further, the knowledge from dance history will be applied in the analysis of contemporary classical ballet, which will be exemplified by a selection of ballets, companies, individual dancers, and choreographers. Finally, and this is one of the most important aspects of this course, it will be discussed how the gained knowledge can also be applied to one’s own dance practice.
The topics include:
- Theoretical frameworks concerning aesthetic experiences and dance criticism;
- New developments in the dance sector (based on articles from current dance publications);
- Dance and other arts: In order to understand how dance and other art forms merge in a dance performance (e.g. William Forsythe), a few guest lecturers will be invited to explain their field in connection to the dance world (e.g. dance critique, ballet director)
- “How to deal with the life as a dancer” (e.g. identity, hierarchy, gender, race, age, stress, injuries)
Objectives
Overall, the course facilitates the students to:
- Understand the origins of dance/ballet and its further developments (dance/ballet history)
- develop a reflexive attitude towards their profession, the dance world and its different context/surroundings;
- gain expertise in analyzing and interpreting dance performances;
- get acquainted with different dance styles and choreographers;
- reflect a set of relevant questions referring to the dance sector by means of case studies (identity, age, gender etc.);
- get familiar with new developments in the dance sector;
- reflect dance in the context of other art forms;
- reflect upon one’s own dance practices;
- present a short individual research.
Gebruikte werkvorm(en):
assignments, introduction of individual project
Gebruikt studiemateriaal:
specialist literature, visual material, video’s etc.
Wijze van beoordeling:
Attendance, working attitude, essay, presentation of individual project
Beoordelingscriteria:
1) 2, 3, 4, 5
3) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
4) 2
6) 1, 4
Opmerkingen over bijvoorbeeld samenhang en volgtijdelijke eisen in het licht van het totale programma of andere opmerkingen:
The intellectual and reflexive knowledge should be incorporated in the dance practice.
