|
dance theatre X/residency
information/lecture-demonstration
charles o. anderson
and the members of dance theatre X are highly-regarded teachers of
performance, dance theory and dance history. dtX offers
several lecture/demonstrations that can be geared toward a variety
of audiences and can tailor these programs to be age-appropriate and
accessible for junior high school students, graduate students, and
all ages in-between. in a lec/dem, the company uses
discussion, performance, and audience participation to engage
students - to get them excited about dance and how it can be
used as a tool for social justice.
the most requested dtX
lec/dem is the (re)evolution of africanist aesthetics, a
workshop that highlights the different styles of dance from which
charles o. anderson draws to create dtX's unique style of movement.
in this lec/dem, we focus on the specific styles of traditional west
and south african dance as well as on the pan african techniques of
umfundulai and dunham. we also introduce the audience to
similarities and differences between african aesthetics and european
aesthetics, and how we work with both. the dancers demonstrate
the same movements in each style to illustrate the differences and
similarities between forms. the company then performs an
excerpt from the dtX repertoire that illustrates the synthesis of
all the elements into one cohesive style. we conclude the lec/dem
with an open question-and-answer session with the audience.
some of the other lec/dems
offered include:
•
'conjuring' the
dance - this lec/dem demonstrates the use compositional
improvisation as an
integral part of dtX's process for making work. charles o.
anderson discusses different elements of his improvisatory technique
while the company demonstrates the dynamics. this lec/dem is
best suited for advanced dancers and/or the college or university
setting.
•
bearing witness:
culture, history & aesthetics - this lec/dem focuses on
intersections of
history and culture and their influence on charles o. anderson's
work. considering the impact on dance of other art forms, such
as literature and music, anderson explains the concept of "bearing
witness" while helping the audience engage with how they view art in
general.
•
performance 101
- this lec/dem explores the elements of successful
performance, such as
intensity, conviction of movement, and the importance of focus and
characterization (even in 'plotless' dance). this lec/dem also
charts successful rehearsal process, exploring how rehearsal gives
rise to committed, artistically-alive performance.
we are very open to
new ideas and will work with presenters to develop programs
best-suited to their communities and audiences.
back to the dtX repertory page
|
