Anthony Aiu and Professor Catherine Black, Modern Dance
As stated by the National Dance Association, dance is basic education that intensifies and clarifies the human experience. It reinforces all learning relating to and enhancing other academic areas, promotes self and social awareness, and also influences one’s understanding of their own culture and the culture of other people. Dance can influence people in a way that no other medium can. The story of Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen is a multiple-layered, poetic-drama/adventure-epic that explores many facets of the person. It was said that in the writing of Peer Gynt, Ibsen himself could see many characteristics of Peer in himself. In doing so he hoped that many of us will relate to one, or maybe several aspects of Peer’s personality with an eye to learn from him (Murphy). The story of Peer Gynt is an adventure. It was my hope that the audience could go on this adventure with Peer and maybe relate with him a little. This was also Ibsen’s intent in writing this poetic-drama/adventure epic; that we would see the characteristics of Peer in ourselves with a mind to better the less attractive qualities and, I like to add, build upon the good ones. It was an aim of mine in this project to create a movement-based work of art that was more than just entertaining. If one looked past the surface they would find meaning and useful application of principles.
The project began in September of 2006 with 27 dancers. With an outline of the three major sections and three transitional sections of the play I proportioned our 2-3 times a week rehearsals for the next three months. At the beginnings of each major section of the piece our rehearsals consisted mainly of work-shopping movement and creating phrases. In one particular session I divided the dancers into small workshop groups of about three or four. I explained to each group the primary theme of the section they were to workshop with movement that I provided. They were free to explore the movement I presented and allowed to incorporate inspiration from their own personal experiences for further development to occur. In another session I gave each dancer a specific body part and a movement quality to play with. They were instructed to create a short movement phrase, which later grew into longer phrases as they combined their phrases with other dancers’ phrases. The movement vocabularies that were derived from theses sessions were enormous and very diverse as is the wealth of experience of each individual. I video recorded many of our workshops and studied the movement that was created and supplemented the phrases I taught with it.
Many hours were spent on searching for and editing music that best fit the themes of each adventure Peer journeyed. Troy Sales was an amazing and talent asset in this area. He was able to do everything that I needed done in quite a timely manner. An equal amount was allotted to finding materials for set building and costuming and scenery to be projected. Kathleen Sheffield eased a great burden in designing and creating costumes that were fitting for each section of the piece.
Slowly but surely the work came together for performances on the 8th and 9th of December. The final product was estimated to be about a half an hour. The reception of the “moving work of art” as one state was overwhelmingly positive. The compliments and feedback both in person and anonymous were greatly appreciated and contributed to the feeling of success. As a majority, the audience consisted of dance, music, theatre, and other fine arts savvy individuals. This was to be expected. However, comments and feedback from non-dance, art, music, etc. majors were a prized addition. One person in particular spoke to me for about fifteen minutes about the experience he had in viewing the piece. He excitedly spoke of the variety and contrast between the foreground and background of the space in a particular section. I asked how he thought this might apply to himself. Surprisingly he mentioned how in our own lives there are particular aspects of our character that we allow others to see and what we don’t and how greatly these two sides contrast each other, yet they cohabitate simultaneously. Another individual picked out the themes that were on the surface and spoke to me of how his life resembled many of them. This conversation went on for a while and was so exciting for me. There were numerous conversations that were very inspirational and many that I would’ve loved to carry on further. These moments and even the simple “I totally understood what was going on” comments were greatly appreciated, for this can be a rare occurrence in the modern dance world.
The greatest success of this project I feel was not necessarily in the work of art that was created, but the art that was at work in each and every individual involved. Leadership skills have been both kindled and set to flame in me and in others I set as group leaders in the workshop. Confidence was strengthened in new performers. In one individual, many new ways of thinking developed. She commented on how this can be applied to her everyday life. For another the creative process became so much simpler as she took a simple gesture and developed it into a phrase of dance set to music. I learned a great deal of patience, organization, and love for those I had the privilege to work with. The sense of teamwork and community was awesome. All were set on achieving a goal and were cheering and rooting for me and for each other. The best part of the experience, for me, was to see each individual for who they were and have who they were contribute to the final work. A piece of each individual is visually attached to this project. I love the dancers I worked with and loved learning more about them.
There is a plethora that cannot be included in this report that I love to share with everyone with a listening ear. Dance is a powerful medium that has the power to teach, heal, please, and change lives. The adventures that await are for everyone and are exciting. There is much to learn, some of it can only be taught through dance. This was my hope for this project, to create a meaningful work of art. I feel this was achieved.