Content Outline

Below is an overall outline of my project.  This is a rough outline though.  Stuff will probably be adjusted as needed to my video making skills.  We will just have to see.

Audience Question:  How will I be organizing my project? That’s a good question, that I do not have a concrete answer to at the moment.  However, I plan on filming not only my interviewees but also classes and/or specific dancers.

OUTLINE

1.     Many do not think of writing and dance as going together; however, writing in both textual and non-textual ways are incredibly important in the dance world.  Not only are there multiple magazines and books regarding dance and it’s history, but in a sense choreography and dance itself is an unwritten form of communication.  Resumes are another written component of dance that are crucial for dancers going into the professional dance world.

2.     Books

a.     Dance Autobiographies

                                               i.     Relies on ethos (you want to probably hear about a person with experience right?)

1.     Ex: Twyla Tharp Autobiography. Gelsey Kirkland Autobiography.

                                             ii.     Pathos is often used, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to relate or not relate with the author(s).

1.     Past experiences  

b.     Dance History Books

                                               i.     Educate both dancers and non-dancers on the history of dance.

1.     Purpose was to create a book for this class. There was no textbook before.

                                             ii.     Relies on the ethos of the author.

1.     Example: Clouser’s   Looking at Dance.

a.     No index was intentional! (Purpose)

3.     Choreography

a.     Process of Creating a Piece

                                               i.     Go-with-the-flow

1.     Mr. C’s process

                                             ii.     Structured-Outline

1.     Michael’s process

b.     Dance Technique

                                               i.     Helps portray the feeling of the music (and possibly story if applicable). 

                                             ii.     Often uses pathos generated by music or specific images.

                                            iii.     The purpose behind choreography is often portrayed in the choreography itself. And if not, it is printed in the program.

                                            iv.     Visual aspect is often more engaging than textual mediums.

                                              v.     Examples: Con Spirito, The Unsung (costumes)

c.     Mime and Gesture

                                               i.     Helps portray a story.

1.     (Sleeping Beauty/ dancers doing particular gestures)

                                             ii.     Examples: The Unsung

4.     Laban Notation (show examples of Laban Notation)

a.     Series of symbols used to record dance choreography.

b.     Rely on people trained in Laban recording (ethos).

c.     Symbols represent certain technical aspects (logos)

d.     Audience: people who are dancers, choreographers, or people who can actually translate Laban notation (not too many).

e.     Purpose: to help store and record choreography for future use.

f.      Being increasingly replaced by film.

5.     Resumes (Supplementing with Michael’s interview)

a.     Formatting is important for audience.

                                               i.     Items often put in order of importance (ethos).

                                             ii.     List title of piece, choreographers, and your role in the piece (ethos)

b.     Content of resume is altered depending on what kind of dance job you will be applying for.

                                               i.     Example resumes

1.     Ballet, jazz, modern, theater, etc.

6.     Closing Paragraph

All of the above forms of writing and communication may seem rather unconventional compared to those in other genres; however, their importance in the world of dance is extraordinary.   For instance, without having Laban technique, many of today’s famous dances might not exist, or would not exist in their most true forms.  Resumes are one of a dancer’s best tools in an audition.  An affective resume can potentially cause you to be chose over another dancers in certain audition situations.  The choreography itself is so important because it is such a foundation of dance.  The process of using words and music to generate movement that is communicable and can address everyday situations and problems, to something that is purely for audience entertainment.   

**Examples and Their Importance

1)    Gelsey Kirkland and Twyla Tharp autobiographies:  One was one of the most famous ballerinas in perhaps the world.  However, her life was rather tumultuous given her many affairs and persistence drug usage.  Her book present a strong amount of pathos as well as ethos, as she goes in depth on her the story of her career and personal life.  The other is a world renown choreographer.  She has worked with dance in so many different mediums and genres.  Her book is incredibly detailed, and mirrors her style of choreography and her overall nature. 

2)    Mr. C’s book Looking at Dance: Also shows structure of a book, but uses less pathos than the autobiographies, since it is focused more on presenting facts (logos).  Somewhat like the autobiographies, we do rely on ethos to some extent.  Also interesting is that he did not include and index in order to get his audience, UA students, to read the whole book and not cherry pick parts.

3)    Con Spirito: Piece by Mr. C.  No intended motive.  Just reflects music and appears purley for entertainment.

4)    The Unsung (clips): Famous modern piece by Jose Limon.  Comments on the Native American culture and how it is slowly dying out.  Each dancer and their solo represents a chief.  Dance is done in complete silence.  Pathos is definitely present.  The image of each dancer rolling off stage symbolizing the disappearance is very powerful.  Costumes also, help with pathos in a visual manner.  Logos is also applied in describing historical characters and events.  Piece is very gestural.  The movements almost mimic that of tribal dances.  The opening of the piece is almost ritualistic.

5)    Sleeping Beauty: Classical ballet piece by Marius Petipa.  Employs classical conventions (which will be pointed out in my video) and various spots of miming. These miming elements help convey important aspects of the story to the audience that the classical ballet vocabulary can not communicate. 

6)    Examples of Laban Notation: Proves that choreography can have a language other than just body motion.  Uses extensive symbols shapes to record choreography.  Without it we would not have several of today’s most famous dances. 

7)    Resumes: I have not gathered specific examples of these yet, but I plan con quickly comparing different kinds of resumes.  Dance resumes vs. non-dance resumes, and ballet resume vs. jazz resume, etc.  It is important to show how sequence and formatting are important in dance resumes.  Ethos is greatly used.  Audience is an important factor; a resume must be adjusted to fit the dance job you are applying for.