Week of January 25-30

Hey Dancers,

Great work this week.

I posted this photo of Martha Graham because it highlights some ideas that came up this week. We spoke about form versus essence. This came up when Jennifer said that she was working toward getting things "right" first and then working on performance quality. Catherine Cabeen says that for Martha emotion comes first and then she moves, then the forms appear. In this work called Letter to the World it is clear that her emotional state is one with her body in this moment.

As we worked on creature dances, we worked all week to allow feeling to inform the body. How did this work for you? What was most challenging about this? What worked?

Wednesday began with my eruption of the idea of dance being equally important as other areas of study. If you have thoughts to share on that subject, please blog about them. Please feel free to disagree!

On Friday, we danced and danced and danced. We pushed to the edges of our ability and felt the altered state of awareness that exists there. It's like willingly entering a state of physical emergency. When we get there, we find a visceral experience of movement, energy, physics and gravity that is exciting. What did you experience here on Friday?

UW Dance Student Association announces Dance Alumni Concert

Performance features collaborations
between current University of
Washington students and recent graduates.

concert dates

Thursday, January 29th at 6:00pm
Friday, January 30th at 6:00pm
Saturday, January 31st at 1:00pm and 6:00pm
location

Meany Studio 267
on the University of Washington campus

(Enter from Red Square above the Meany Studio Theatre)

choreographers

Laara Garcia
Alice Gosti
Heather McKee
Rachel Randall
and
Twyla Tharp

Produced by the Dance Student Association
Suggested donation at the door

Contact:
Rachel Randall
amazoniar@yahoo.com

206.543.9843

To request disability accommodation, contact the Disability ServicesOffice at 206.543.6450 (voice),206.543.6452 (TTY), 206.685.7264 (FAX), or dso@u.washington.edu

Week of January 21 and 23

Hi Dancers!

This week you have snatched the pebble from my hand and begun your own Pilates warm up. We continued with new Pilates mat exercises, i.e. leg circles, roll ups, spine rolls (which hurt Amy) and arm and leg extensions while lying on our fronts. As for Alexander, on Friday we touched the crowns of our heads together and rocked back and forth in order to feel the lengthening spine energy. We had cone heads at one point and talked a bit about using the abdominals to roll up.

We connected with our partners and took one another for a walk side to side with eyes closed. The combination this week had us connecting our heads together and rolling around. We did a little hand dance and some partnering with leans, throws and catches. It was fun! I saw lots of smiling.

What did you learn this week? What was most difficult? What was most fun? What do you want to do again? Please email me with questions or concerns.

Louis

Pilates, Yoga, Alexander

We have done alot this week. Pilates, Yoga, Alexander Technique, tendus, degages, plies, spine articulation, made circles, wore great outfits on the beach, put in shelves, started motors, worked really hard. What did you learn?

A Reminder about posting comments

I've made the settings on the comments section such as to allow you to post anonymously, which means you don't have to set up a profile if you don't wish to. In order for me to give you credit for the assignment, you will need to sign your posting. So, it's not really anonymous.

Alexander Technique

Great work today everyone! Here's a little more about F. Matthias Alexander and a question about your brief introduction to his work.

F. Matthias Alexander

Mr. Alexander created what may be truly called a physiology of the LIVING organism.... Philosopher John Dewey

Ten years of careful self-observation by F. Matthias Alexander led to the discoveries that became the Cornerstone of the Alexander Technique. While attempting to solve the vocal problems that were ruining his career as a Shakespearean recitalist, Alexander discovered that he was creating a pattern of tension that was interfering with the harmonious relationship between his head, neck and back. Alexander, and the teachers he trained in his technique, have been demonstrating empirically over the past 100 years how to change this pattern of tension and establish in its place more calm and poise, even in stressful situations.

We are so accustomed to the tension we carry with us throughout our day that, unless we are in pain, we rarely notice it. Yet it has a powerful impact on every goal we set out to accomplish. Our Internal feedback system, or kinesthetic sense, which would normally tell us when something is going wrong, is no longer reliable, making it practically impossible for us to make changes in ourselves without causing new problems.

With the Alexander Technique a naturally healthy condition can be restored and brought under conscious control.

This weeks question will require a little experiment first. Engage the Alexander principle we discussed at the beginning of class while doing something non dance related, i.e. brushing your teeth or doing dishes. Allow the head to move forward and upward from your spine. Remember this is not something you need to do muscularly. Just think this thought.

What sensations do you feel? What changes? How does your activity change? How do you think this principle could change the way you dance? Could it have other influences on your life?

See you Monday!

Louis

Modern Dance 305 Syllabus

Modern Dance Technique
Course Syllabus
Dance 305A (2 credits)
Winter 2009
Instructor: Louis Gervais
Meeting Times: MWF 12:45-2:15
Location: Meany Studio 266
Office: Meany 59J
Office Hours: Monday 3:30 - 4:30 or by appointment
E-mail: lgervais@u.washington.edu

Course Description

This course offers instruction in the theory and practice of modern dance technique at an intermediate/advanced level with continued development of all beginning areas and expansion of movement vocabulary. This class will include a holistic approach of the dancer/artist by incorporating improvisation, composition along with technique and phrase work. The Modern III class is designed to help you develop and fine-tune your technical skills and to continue to address performance and dynamic skills.

Objectives
At the successful completion of the course you will demonstrate:
• A working understanding of the skills of dance technique including efficient alignment, flexibility, movement memory, clear spatial orientation, and rhythmic accuracy.
• Sufficient bodily strength, control, stamina, and coordination to perform at the intermediate level consistently.
• An understanding of the artistic aspects of dance performance and style including musicality, dynamics, phrasing, presence, focus, motivation, and artistic interpretation.
• Improve awareness of body alignment, rhythm, use of weight, phrasing and musicality.

Requirements and Grading

Studio Participation(65%)

Regular participation is absolutely crucial in order to progress in this class. This is considered a lab class. Please try to limit your absences and save them for when you really need them. If you are more than ten minutes late you may not take class (please don’t ask me) but are encouraged to observe. If I call your name and you are not in the room you are late. It is then your responsibility to check in with me at the end of class to make sure I have marked you present.

Participation grades reflect the following:

• Attending class on a consistent basis
• Arriving on time or early so that you have time to “warm up”, focus and prepare to participate fully in class
• Demonstrating a working knowledge of the ongoing class exercises and combinations. Taking risks in improvisation and composition exercises.
• Demonstrate an understanding of class material
• Show improvements in body awareness and alignment
• Show improvement in use of weight, moving through space, and rhythmic accuracy
Demonstrate commitment, enthusiam, respect and support of fellow classmates.

Online Journal Responses (25%)

This blog has been set up for this course. Over the course of the semester, this blog will be the place where we as a class will share our thoughts and reactions to the course. Videos and questions will be posted here and your responses will be submitted electronically. Post your responses to the blog in the comments link below each blog entry.You must post a response to each blog entry within a week of it's posting or receive a 10% reduction of credit for each day you are late. The URL is http://www.uwdance305.blogspot.com/.

Performance Attendance and Response (10%)You are required to attend the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company performance and pre-show lecture write a personal response. A more detailed assignment will be given before the performance. You will be asked to turn in your ticket stub the following Monday.

February 5-7, 2009 
Thursday-
Saturday, 8 p.m.
 Tickets can be purchased on the ave with a student discount.

Contact Improv Jam! Each of you is also required to attend one contact improvisation jam this quarter. CI Jams are happening at the UW on the first and third Tuesdays of the month in studio 267 from 6:30 - 8:30. Jams are also happening at Velocity Dance Center on Pine Street on Sundays from 2-4 pm. You will write a comment on the blog of your CI jam experience.

Attire and Changing

Bare feet or cotton socks may be worn for class. Please dress neatly and simply in close fitting exercise clothes. No baggy clothing, jeans/slacks or excessive jewelry. Long hair should be pulled back away from the face. If you are not prepared to dance, you will not be allowed to take class. You may change your clothes in the dressing rooms on the Lower Level. Please do not change in the restrooms on the Upper Level. You may secure your belongings by bringing a lock each day for a locker in the hallway outside of the studios. Locks MUST be removed after each class. Locks may be purchased for $5 from the Dance Office. DO NOT bring personal belongings into the studio. Shoes, clothes, purses, cell phones, etc were stolen every week last quarter. Lock up your belongings!!

Studio Etiquette
• Demonstrate an understanding of the class structure by arriving in the studio, on time, prepared for class
• Be respectful of your peers, instructor and musician at all times. This includes not crossing in front of the instructor or standing in front of the musician
• Receive and apply corrections in a respectful manner• Work safely and effectively in class and allow others to do so
• Contribute to the classroom by applying focus, concentration and enthusiasm
• If you are unable to dance or have any injuries, please inform the instructor before class begins
• In the event of an injury, alert the instructor immediately!
• No street shoes, tap shoes or shoes with cleats in the studio
• No oils, creams or lotions on exposed body or hair––they make the floor slippery and dangerous
• No food, gum or beverages are allowed in the studio with the exception of water bottles
• No personal belongings in the studio––NONE

Miscellaneous

To request academic accommodations due to disability, please contact Disabled Student Services, 448 Schmitz, (206) 543-8924, indicating that you have a disability that requires academic accommodations. Please present the letter to your instructor so we can discuss the accommodations you require.