Critical Dance Studies
Course Description
Summary
This course looks through multiple modes of questioning, research, and a critically theoretical lens to put into consideration the complex ways that dance shapes and reflects our lives. We will look to scholars, artists, thinkers, and ourselves to process the elliptical paths people take to understand material existence through the relationality of dance. We will try to bring a scope of questioning to regard dance as an artistic practice which illuminates the continuum of time rooted in the lived phenomena of recognizing aliveness as it is lived. By disrupting the colonial eurocentric models of historicity, research, and pedagogy within white supremacist patriarchy, our time together will help us figure out ways in which dance and experiential digging (research) can reveal insights into how the form is a distinct compass. The course will consist of meeting collectively for 4 hours each week to collaboratively discuss readings from the prior week, along with assigned viewings and any additional research. This gathering and processing of content through ideas, experiences, discussions, and independent work will include 8 hours of study outside of our classroom each week.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will reflect on cultural identity and its intersection with dance through critical discussions and writing by engaging in the breadth of personal research in dance.
- Students will consider the historical, philosophical and theoretical perspectives of subjecthood and its relation to dance and performance.
- Students will develop research skills by exploring texts, articles, video footage, personal interviews, oral histories, musical histories, dancing histories, or any other forms of passing down, to further demonstrate one鈥檚 research methodologies through writing and to peers.
- Students will create a comprehensive original thesis idea through deep questioning about dance, history, time, culture and theory, resulting in a final research paper and presentation.
Prerequisites
BFA Priority. Permission of instructor required.
This course is also open to BA students.
Please contact the faculty member : emilywexler1@bennington.edu