Contemporary Dance and Narrative Structures

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Questions and Answers

What is the main focus of Gabriela Carrizo and Franck Chartier's exploration?

The physicality of dance

Historical roots of cultures

Psychological burdens affecting freedom (correct)

Artistic methods of storytelling

Which narrative structure tells a story in chronological order?

Interactive narrative

Linear narrative (correct)

Circular narrative

Non-linear narrative

What characterizes a non-linear narrative?

Events are arranged in chronological sequence

Story progression is dependent on viewer choices

The order of events is rearranged for storytelling (correct)

The plot begins and ends in the same place

In a circular narrative, how does the story conclude?

It coincides with the beginning of the story Signup and view all the answers

What primary aspect do contemporary dancers often lack, according to specialists?

Understanding of dramaturgy Signup and view all the answers

Why did choreographers begin to explore the limits of the human body?

To challenge physical capabilities and express artistic ideas Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a feature of interactive narratives?

Multiple paths and possible conclusions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an influence on contemporary dance mentioned in the discussion?

Traditional ballet techniques Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the chronological structure?

It introduces characters and situation at the beginning Signup and view all the answers

What does the term ‘vertiginous’ in choreography imply?

Quick movement almost without pause Signup and view all the answers

In media res structure begins:

In the midst of the action Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT a type of narrative mentioned?

Serial narrative Signup and view all the answers

What role does dramaturgy play in dance?

It develops the meaning behind the actions Signup and view all the answers

What transformation occurred for dancers in the 1980s and 1990s?

They were seen as 'art athletes' due to demanding choreography Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the state of dramaturgy at the end of the 20th century?

It remained a complex and sparsely used concept Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the playwright in dance, according to the content?

To define the 'dance-theatre' concept Signup and view all the answers

Which choreographer emphasized that any kind of movement can be valid material for making dance?

Merce Cunningham Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant outcome of the emergence of modern dance in the early 20th century?

A departure from the use of librettos in choreography Signup and view all the answers

Which term best describes the shift in dance that began in the 1970s?

Demystification of dance Signup and view all the answers

What genre of dance emerged after the influences of modern dance and was characterized by a freedom from traditional techniques?

Postmodern dance Signup and view all the answers

What did Merce Cunningham's approach to dance reject in terms of choreography?

The necessity of a storyline Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT associated with the characteristics of modern dance?

Strict adherence to a choreographed libretto Signup and view all the answers

What did Isadora Duncan and other early modern dancers create their choreography from?

Music and personal experiences Signup and view all the answers

What did the dramatic charge demanded by Martha Graham contribute to?

An artistic rebellion during the mid-20th century Signup and view all the answers

What marks the transition from traditional dance to dance-theatre?

Creating a specific field of interaction among various artists Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is NOT a part of the choreographer's arrangement in dramaturgy?

Audience demographics Signup and view all the answers

How does choreography relate to dramaturgy in the context of dance?

Choreography is the spatial design of bodies, while dramaturgy narrates the intention behind stage action. Signup and view all the answers

What must be considered to effectively create a dramatic universe in choreography?

The legibility and coherence of symbolisms and elements Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following principles is crucial for the coherence of a dance performance?

Creating a clear and unified creative structure Signup and view all the answers

Which question is NOT relevant when organizing the making of dance within dramaturgy?

How can I ensure maximum audience attendance? Signup and view all the answers

The meaning of a choreography varies for each audience member based on what factor?

The audience's personal lived experiences Signup and view all the answers

What role does 'coherence' play in the dramaturgy of dance?

It ensures that all creative elements work towards a unified effect. Signup and view all the answers

What is rhythm in the context of stage design?

The visualisation of time in space through the dancer's movements. Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the space that the spectator constructs with their imagination?

Dramatic space Signup and view all the answers

What does harmonisation entail in the context of staging?

The ordering of elements to create a cohesive whole. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of evidence implies that the original idea is followed without altering anything?

Complementary evidence Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of context in staging a performance?

To provide a framework for interpreting the action and movement. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes scenographic space?

It arises from the relationship between stage and audience. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is NOT considered part of stage design?

The sequence of the plot. Signup and view all the answers

What does spatialisation refer to in staging?

The exploration of how different spaces are occupied. Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT a criterion for the qualitative assessment of movement in a choreographic piece?

Synchronization with audience reactions Signup and view all the answers

Which element is considered important in the technical artistic sheet of a spectacle?

Lighting design Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is evaluated to assess space design in a choreographed performance?

Variety of spotlights in space Signup and view all the answers

What defines the 'criteria of collective composition' in a choreographic work?

High rhythm of the artistic work Signup and view all the answers

Which parameter is part of rhythmic composition systems in evaluation criteria?

Cause-effect relationship Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is linked to the organization formulas on stage?

Spatial arrangement of dancers Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of criteria regarding the gaze-dancer relationship?

It helps assess connection with the audience. Signup and view all the answers

What does the evaluation of 'group synchronization' refer to in a choreography?

Alignment of movements with music Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Didactic Unit III

This unit focuses on dance styles and expressive manifestations.
The unit explores Dance and Corporal Expression.
It was created by Beatriz Garrido López, a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Activity and Sport Science.

Choreographic Composition and Dramatisation

Choreographic composition and dramatisation are inseparable.
Kinematics (movement) and emotions work together to convey ideas.
Pavis defines dramatisation (theatricalisation) as a scenic structure.
It includes: plot (beginning, middle, and end), physical and vocal actions, gestures, dialogues, dramatic tensions, conflicts, characters, staging, costumes, scenery, etc.
Dramaturgy (Greek, dramaturgia) is the art of composing a drama.
Dramaturgy encompasses the technique and principles of play construction, needing theatrical rules for creation and analysis.

Brief Historical Overview

Romantic ballet emphasized continuous, preferably ascending movement, with a focus on airborne, flowing motion.
This is reflected in dance styles that emphasized continuous, fluid movements.
The importance of movement as the core element of dance emerged from influential modern dancers like Duncan, Graham, Wigman, and Laban.

Dramaturgy and the Nature of Dance

Dramaturgy was already present in repertory ballet librettos, dictating the story structure (beginning, middle, end).
This structure wasn't always clear in 20th-century avant-garde choreography.
Modern dance pioneers (Duncan, Wigman, Bausch, Hoghe) emphasized a dramaturgy tailored to artistic expression in dance and narrative.

Dramaturgy and Modern Dance

Modern dancers in the early 20th century shifted from libretto-driven choreography to a focus on current affairs and subjective experiences.
They moved away from conventional forms of narrative dance and created new forms based on personal expression.
This shift towards subjective experience marked a break with past traditions in dance.
Merce Cunningham's post-modern dance explored any kind of movement as valid material.

Contemporary Dance and Modern Ballet

Contemporary dancers lacked stage justification for their actions through research and imagination.
Dramaturgy's role in contemporary dance and ballet ceased to be a subject of study by mid-century.
Choreographers often used resources intuitively and did not always have a formalized methodological approach.

Physical and Technical Demands

Dance in the 1980s-1990s became more physically demanding and acrobatic.
Choreographers often challenged performers with fast, precise, and physically demanding movements.
Influence from other physical disciplines, such as circus and martial arts.
The emphasis was on physical dexterity and aesthetic performance.

Why Dramaturgy?

The 20th century's focus on technique over other artistic elements may be why dramaturgy wasn't widely used.

What is Dramaturgy?

Dramaturgy is a language that serves the same functions as verbal language.
It focuses on the meaning and intention behind actions.
It is the means to create a narrative through actions.

Dance-Theatre

Dance becomes dance-theatre when the starting point is not technique, the plot or the text.
It instead becomes a field where choreography, dancers, collaborators, and playwrights interact in a new way.
The dramaturgy of dance strives for coherence through the concrete materialization of elements like actions, steps, gestures, props, rhythms, and tempos.

Choreographic creation and dramaturgy

Dramaturgy involves the practice of staging text and intending an effect on the spectator.
Choreographers arrange textual and scenic material in dance, including movement quality, interpretation types, rhythm, costumes, make-up, music/sound, voice, set design, lighting, and other resources like video.

Dramaturgy vs. Choreography

Choreography is the spatial design of bodies and movements.
Dramaturgy refers to the narration of intended meanings, whether realistic or metaphorical, for those movements.
When creating a dramaturgy with movement, there's a focus on a coherent dramatic universe that audience members find credible.
The choreography itself needs to be planned, clear, and coherent, with no gratuitous elements.

Organizing the Making of Dance

Reflecting on questions such as intended meaning, purpose, structure, compositon methods and audience is essential when staging a dance piece.

Meaning of Choreography

The meaning of choreography arises not only from the piece itself, but also from the lived experience of the viewer.
Choreographers use resources outside the theater for inspiration, looking at the visual arts, music, and other forms of creative expression.

Different Ways to Tell a Story

Narratives in dance can be linear (chronological order), non-linear, circular (beginning and end coincide), or interactive (decisions affecting the narrative).

Types of Structures

The types of structures include chronological, in media res, climax-based, disordered, reverse, and non-ending.

Analysis of Creation

Analysis of a dance show involves investigating both aspects of the production, including the company and the show.
Levels of questions about the company, the technical-artistic aspects of the show, the viewer's subjective experience, technical criteria for performance, and criteria for collective composition are used for more comprehensive analysis.

The Stage Space

Questions are asked to analyze the aesthetics of the stage, the form of the stage design, and the relationship between the stage and audience.
The way scenography changes in a show is also investigated.

Lighting

The type and use of light in a performance can be categorized as naturalist or metaphorical.
The relationship of colors in the light to the objects and environments onstage

The Objects

The analysis of the objects in a performance includes their origins, their multiple functions (polysemy), their utility, their symbolic meanings, and their relationship to the performers and the space.

Costumes and Make-up

Elements to be assessed in costumes and make-up include their function, aesthetics, and relationship with the performers/bodies.

Qualities of the Actors

Physical descriptions, relationships, movement and body, voice (quality, diction, vocals) is analyzed here

Function of Music/Noise/Silence

The analysis of the music, sounds of noises, silence are categorized as type, gender relationships with the movement, moments of intervention, and consequences.

Rhythm of the Show

The rhythm of the movements and the relationship between the actual duration of the movements and the lived duration are central points of assessment.
Look for how the music, movement, and overall rhythm of the show works together.
Examine continuous or discontinuous rhythmic qualities

The History

Analyzing the concepts, topics, and themes presented and the way they relate to the present day is important here.

The Spectator

Questions related to expectations, general audience feelings, interesting images/scenes, how the play used audience attention, are examples of analysis.

Final Conclusions

Analysis of the show's social function and other noteworthy elements for the audience.

Stage Design elements

It includes questions about scenography, costumes, acting, movement, lighting, and sound to understand how the stages are designed to produce different effects on the viewer..

How to Assign Emotions

Steps for assigning emotions in a performance (deciding the topic, creating a story, choosing a narrative style, organizing the structure, and assigning emotions to each part of the structure).

Emotions in Performances

Explores methods to establish the connection between emotions and bodily manifestations (sadness: throat, anger: hands/jaws, fear: stomach, joy: heart. ).

Creating a Dramaturgy with Movement

The importance of creating a credible dramatic universe through choreographic resources, elements, and coherence in order to make the audience consider the dance piece credible.

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Description

Explore the intricate relationship between contemporary dance and narrative structures with this quiz. Delve into the characteristics of various narrative forms, the evolution of choreography, and the significance of dramaturgy in dance. Test your understanding of how these elements intertwine in modern performances.