Perceptions of a Collaborative Choreographic Process Within a Higher Education Contemporary Dance Rehearsal: A Case Study
Author: Kayla McClellan
Course: MFA Dance Science
Year: 2019
Keywords: Choreographic process, Collaboration, Dancers and choreographers, Higher education,
Various forms of the term “collaboration” are frequently utilized when characterizing choreographic processes in the present contemporary dance field. There has been a noticeable influx of the term when describing the relationship between a choreographer and dancers creating new dance work; however, a disparity sometimes remains in understanding what collaboration entails as a method of dance-making.
Literature shows that collaboration among a choreographer and dancers can take many
forms, is often defined by the choreographer, and is usually accepted as the approach to dance-making if stated, without evaluating the phenomenon upholding it. This project challenges the complacency of simply labeling a choreographic process as collaborative and is interested in the perceptions of everyone involved in exploring the components and management of it—particularly regarding a student work within higher education.
A case study was conducted complying with a constructivist paradigm to understand the valued characteristics of one identified collaborative process and how they were achieved. The project involved developing a video annotation procedure detailing what occurred during a rehearsal and set the precedent for the following interviews with participants. Such a procedure allowed participants to better recall what they were doing, thinking, and feeling throughout the rehearsal; as well as, ensured that the researcher’s observations and the participants’ experiences were all matched to the same moments in time. Finally, a thematic analysis was completed on participants’ interview data to systematically interpret their perceptions.
Overall, this project aimed to expand the research on individual choreographic processes and specifically focus on understanding the characteristics of one collaborative dance-making method, how they were achieved, and if the choreographer and dancers similarly perceived them.
| dc.contributor.author | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2019-12-09 08:57 |
| dc.date.copyright | 2019 |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://researchonline.trinitylaban.ac.uk/oa/thesis/?p=1329 |
| dc.description.abstract | Various forms of the term “collaboration” are frequently utilized when characterizing choreographic processes in the present contemporary dance field. There has been a noticeable influx of the term when describing the relationship between a choreographer and dancers creating new dance work; however, a disparity sometimes remains in understanding what collaboration entails as a method of dance-making. Literature shows that collaboration among a choreographer and dancers can take many A case study was conducted complying with a constructivist paradigm to understand the valued characteristics of one identified collaborative process and how they were achieved. The project involved developing a video annotation procedure detailing what occurred during a rehearsal and set the precedent for the following interviews with participants. Such a procedure allowed participants to better recall what they were doing, thinking, and feeling throughout the rehearsal; as well as, ensured that the researcher’s observations and the participants’ experiences were all matched to the same moments in time. Finally, a thematic analysis was completed on participants’ interview data to systematically interpret their perceptions. Overall, this project aimed to expand the research on individual choreographic processes and specifically focus on understanding the characteristics of one collaborative dance-making method, how they were achieved, and if the choreographer and dancers similarly perceived them. |
| dc.language.iso | EN |
| dc.subject | Choreographic process |
| dc.subject | Collaboration |
| dc.subject | Dancers and choreographers |
| dc.subject | Higher education |
| dc.title | Perceptions of a Collaborative Choreographic Process Within a Higher Education Contemporary Dance Rehearsal: A Case Study |
| thesis.degree.name | MFA Dance Science |
| dc.date.updated | 2019-12-09 10:33 |