Choreographic Tools and Methods I

Brief course description

Choreographic Tools and Methods is a course that focuses on various methods for developing, shaping and structuring ideas and movement material into artistic form. The course emphasises work on strategies and techniques that provide insight into how ideas and themes of movement are developed in a choreographic process.

The course includes knowledge of choreographic composition, improvisation strategies, composition and movement analysis, and somatic work.

Through encounters with educators who practise as choreographers and/or other creative or performing artists, students will gain insight into various choreographic and compositional strategies and methods. A particular emphasis is placed on experiential learning and on building professional confidence to develop one’s own artistic work, whether tackling teacher-given or self-chosen assignments. Collaborations with other students, primarily from the Academy of Dance but also from other programmes, are an integral part of the course.

Choreographic Tools and Methods I will consist of an introductory module and one or two other modules on tools and methods, with a particular focus on one or two of the following topics: choreography and composition; improvisation; documentation strategies; or stagecraft elements. The introductory course will provide the students with an introduction to stagecraft elements and choreographic tools, which will enable them to work as choreographers and identify their own interests and learning needs.

The course’s learning outcomes

The course’s learning outcomes are described as follows:

Knowledge

Upon completing the course, students shall

• have knowledge of creating movement in time and space
• have knowledge on stagecraft elements used in choreographic compositions and performative work

Skills

Upon completing the course, students shall

• be able to use choreographic methods and strategies in collaboration with performers in order to create choreographic structures with artistic form and content
• be able to use stagecraft elements in their own choreographic compositions

General competence

Upon completing the course, students shall

• be able to investigate the relationship between choreographic content and form

Teaching and learning methods

The course’s working methods may alternate between teacher-led learning, supervision and independent work. The learning methods may be more process-oriented and include practical exercises, creative assignments, workshops, project-based group work, seminars, lectures, excursions and independent study. As part of the coursework, the students will share results or experiences from the process with others by documenting their own process, whether in writing, orally, performatively and/or through audiovisual means. Some of the teaching will take place together with the Master of Dance programme or other relevant programmes.

The course requirements are

• mandatory attendance and active participation in the course
• ongoing completion of course assignments

Assessment

All course requirements must be approved in order for a student to receive a final course assessment.

The student’s coursework is assessed on an ongoing basis. The ongoing assessment is based on supervision, the educator’s assessments, group discussions and independent reflection on one’s artistic development as seen in relation to the course’s goals.

The course is graded pass/fail.