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Final Semester Reflection:

I had a lot of fun with this class and I am going to miss it, especially since my next two semesters will be improv until I get to do comp again. I do feel like I’ve learned a lot about composition, and this semester has given me a lot of time and opportunities to use the things I’ve learned. I feel that my biggest improvement was in understand who I am as a creator. I think that this class really made me think about what kind of choreographer I wanted to be, in both a broad and very specific way. I learned that I like dances more when I don’t know all the details of the inspiration. I learned that I liked choreographing more abstract pieces about things, creatures, feelings, fantasy stories, instead of real-life scenarios.

I think it also forced me to examine the way I create, and as the semester progressed, I felt like I began to create faster because I started to understand how I wanted to move, and it narrowed down the options in my head. I could tell myself that the next step should be a large scale angular shape, and suddenly the list shortened itself down to a few options to choose from, instead of a crazy big expanse of every possible movement in my body. This class made creating more manageable, meaning that I could spend more time on the purpose of later dances, instead of on how to move.

Signing off for hopefully not the last time,

Aleksa

Final Work Day Notes

Energy Study- Bored By Myself

Reflection of energy studies, i actually had a lot of fun with this one. I felt confident performing it and it felt right when I was creating it.

Notes on Movement Qualities

Nov 8th Post

After observing an individual for about 5-10 minutes, this is what I gathered from him.

1. He was lying sideways on a couch doing work on his laptop. He had an extremely relaxed posture and rounded back.

2. His right foot twitched often, ranging from slow circular movements to fast taps.

3. When he had one hand on the mouse, his left hand would rest on his face or run through his hair.

4. When both hands were off the mouse, he would pick at his fingernails or clasp his hands together.

5. His eyes never left the computer.

Some of his movement made it seem like was nervous or stressed, but after watching him for a little while, I am more convinced that he just has some tics or repetitive movements that he does when he is focused.

Nov 1st Class

1. A piece of music that inspires me.

Cinderella Suite by Prokofiev

I like this piece because it sounds like a regular waltz but just a little off, almost evil. Some think this is because Prokofiev hated the story of Cinderella and decided to make a piece for it that sounded strange. This piece inspires me because it is a piece with a dramatic tone, which is a phrase that I always want to portray when I am dancing or choreographing. I love the theatrics of it and how wrapped up in another world you could be by it because of its winding phrases and building drama.

2. A piece of text that inspires me.

This is a piece of text from J.R.R. Tolkien. This piece inspires me to make a storytelling piece with a large group of dancers. One would be dressed in white and all others would be in red. At the beginning of the piece, those in red would do opposing or contrasting movements to the one in white, but at the end it would appear that the one in white was commanding the others and they would all move together. The movement from the one in white would be organic and growing in scale. The movement from the ones in red would change from angular to organic.

3. Post an image that evokes a story.

4. Discuss and post a dance/dancer that inspires you.

This is the Mistake Waltz, by Jerome Robbins

It inspires me because it is the perfect mix of traditional beautiful movement, and modern humor and fun. I like that it is real entertainment value. It makes the audience feel happy and makes time fly. I like that even if you exclude the humor, the piece is still very beautiful and peaceful.

Week 11- Reflection of Other’s Study and Notes

Week 10

Time Study: For the Longest Time

Week 9- Notes and Reflection

This has been a combination that has been on my mind for a while, and I really glad to have an excuse to use it. I love Billy Joel and his music, and I want this piece to feel peaceful. Playing with time has been interesting as well. I’m trying not to slow down the same things every iteration, but slowing down a jump is near impossible.

Week 9 - Notes

Week 8- Notes - Review of Pathway Studies

Pathway Study- Middle School Version 2 - Week 8

Reflection: I feel that this piece was a serious improvement on the first one. The first piece I felt was good in that it was an experiment for me, to see if I could make a piece entirely about me and an experience I had. I also really liked the progression of rolls section. This updated version has the added benefit of being more “dancy” (which I’ve learned that I like in a piece), more emotional, and the movements were more driven from the hands. What I still don’t like from this piece is the beginning skips (I feel that they are too cheesy) and it’s still not dancy enough for me. I think some sections feel a bit “posey” and not flowy enough. But I do like it more than the first. :)

#Vimeo

Week 8- Notes

Middle School - First Draft Week 7

Reflection:

This is the first time I have performed a piece like this. I’ve discovered I don’t really like doing dances about myself. I think it was good to explore but I am not as happy with this piece compared to my past studies. I think that is just because I prefer more subtle topics or topics that are more open to interpretation by the audience, whereas this was a very specific story. I don’t mind a narrative in my dances, but in Cinderella everyone can relate to her life experiences, whereas this seemed like others watching me act emotionally without investing themselves.

#Vimeo

Week 7- Notes

Week 6 Notes

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