Introduction to Choreography 1

Subject guarantor:

Daniel WIESNER

Name of lecturer(s):

Daniel WIESNER

Learning outcomes of the course unit:

Development of student choreography talent. Choreography theory - exercises with a theme: Movement and Space, Movement and Form, Movement and Rhythm,Movement and Dynamics. Working with notation.

Mode of study:

This course provides a theory and practical introduction to issues of the choreography trade (selection of movement vocabulary, relationship of dance and music, spatial relationships, working with a performer). A special section is an introduction to working with music of a particular musical form. Theory knowledge is applied in the preparation of an independent choreographic work with selected music.

Prerequisites and co-requisites:

Choreography study students much be graduates of a dance conservatory or another vocational school of similar significance. They must have been a dancer in a professional ballet ensemble or dance ensemble. The entrance committee judges the student choreography talent, musicality, imagination and potential skills development.

Recommended optional programme components:

No elective requirements.

Course contents:

Choreography theory-practice exercises with topics:

Movement in a space, spatial points 1-8: Vertical, horizontal, diagonal, circles, elipse, eights, one's own spatial pattern and spatial relationship (sensing the center of the stage, ceiling, floor, distances, heights and depths, etc.). To prepare a movement etude: Lottery drawing of 12 space pointsand 6 space characteristics.

Movement and shape: straight, round, broken, leading, swing, staccato, legato movements, falling body, ejection, pulsing, restless jerky non-coordinated movement, etc. Preparation of a movement etude: Lottery drawing of 8 characteristic movement forms.

Movement and rhythm: Accelrando and ritardando. Rhythms: two-beat, three-beat, 4-beat, 5-beat, 6- beat, 7-beat, 8-beat, 9-beat. Various and irregular rhythm accents. Rhythmic Mateniky, ex: Furiant, Pause, syncopation, polyrhythms. Preparation of a movement etude on a rhythm theme.

Movement and dynamics: Dynamics levels: Pianissimo, Piano, Mezzoforte, Forte, Fortisssimo. Crescendo and decrescendo. Dynamiic allow experssion and assists in expressing the real originating from life. Preparation of a movement etude on a dynamics theme.

Selection of step material in relation to the music,choreographic inspiration from music of various proveniences.

Logic and naturalness of movement: movement return and non-return movements, logical continuation of movement.

Working with a performer: approach, mutual inspiration, motivation, gaining authority, rehearsal organization, etc.

Working with notation material: reading scores of live music samples. Students search for the compositon on a theme with variations for the exam before the dean's collegium in the second semester. A semester paper is required: An abstract choreography respecting the relation of movement to a space, form, rhythm and dynamics.

Recommended or required reading:

Ellfeldt, Lois: A Primer for Choreographers, Waveland Press 1998

Mlíkovská, Jiřina : Choreografické etudy, Praha 1964

Mlíkovská, Jiřina :Vybrané kapitoly z choreografie, Praha 1990

Mlíkovská, Jiřina : Choreografické výklady a etudy, Praha 1995

Noverre, J.G. :Listy o tanci a baletech, Praha 1945

Humphrey, Doris: The art of making dances, New York 1959

Kröschlová, Jarmila :Výrazový tanec, Praha 1964

Planned learning activities and teaching methods:

lecture, exercises

Assessment methods and criteria:

Credit is awarded based on: activity in class and exercises, creation of a choreographic study.

Course web page:

Note:

none

Schedule for winter semester 2012/2013:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

Schedule for summer semester 2012/2013:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

The subject is a part of the following study plans:

• Obor Choreografie (Bc) (compulsory subject of the main qualification)