Dance Commons^™

Reflections: Battling Body Image As A Dancer, Erika Shaffer

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Reflections is a dance I choreographed and performed on February 25, 2022 in studio 205 Campus Center Building at East Tennessee State University. The dance explores the relationship between a dancer’s mind and body and uses mirrors and repetition to express the dancers’ perception of their flaws and insecurities. The following thesis, Reflections: Battling Body Image as a Dancer, analyzes the artistic elements of the choreographic process, my experiences as a dance student at ETSU from 2018-2022, as well as my training in my youth. My research for this thesis involves exploring the history and craft of choreography including the …

Federal Funding For The Arts & Developmental Success In Western Nations, Sophia Ciokajlo

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Culture is undeniably a vital part of any society. To preserve and develop their culture, a majority of modern states allocate some part of their annual expenditure to the arts. The amount of money and system through which it is distributed varies from country to country, but the principle remains the same. Not only do countries value the contribution of culture to their common well-being, but it is also widely accepted that participation in the arts, as a performer or viewer, holds benefit for the individual. All of this considered, I sought to investigate whether or not the size of …

Tap Dance As A Nonverbal Language For Autism Spectrum Disorder, J Sydney Rhane Burtis

Honors College Theses

Through elements of sound and movement, tap dance employs rhythm as a universal language for nonverbal communication through the medium of music. Through three distinct but related elements, (a literature review, an artist’s statement, and a performance piece), this thesis will explore tap dance as a form of nonverbal language. For individuals with autism spectrum disorder, tap dance may help to achieve further attunement with themselves and the outside world. Due to autistic people’s impaired communicative, interactional, and skilled abilities, experiencing the relationships formed through tap dance may facilitate improvement. The literature review begins with a brief definition of nonverbal …

Self-Efficacy Development In Elementary-Aged Learners Through Dance As An Algorithmic Thinking Tool, Niva Shrestha

Honors Theses

The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the effectiveness of a transdisciplinary approach in teaching computational thinking through dance to elementary-aged learners, with primary attention to females. With limited literature available on how pre-adolescents begin to construct conceptions of computer science and other engineering domains, including potential career pathways, the incentive of this project was to leverage a day camp for about 20 rising 3rd - 5th-grade learners to assess their identity development in computer science. Modules that teach computational thinking through dance paired with Unruly splats (block-based programmable electronic gadgets) were implemented. By conducting pre-and post-surveys and a …

Movement As A Way Of Knowing Earth: An Ecosomatic Approach To Developing Movement Choices, Brittany Tolbert

Honors Theses

The senior choreographic project The Spirit of Gaia aims to not only build awareness for individuals about the impact humans have on the climate crisis but also to inspire change in the way in which humans utilize movement practices for the benefit of Earth. As a creative process based in somatic exploration and a performance contingent on a live audience, The Spirit of Gaia exists as a living moment of dance. Acknowledging the power movement has to be the progenitor of a larger environmental consciousness and an eco-friendly change on the individual level, the dance acts as a means of …

The Effect Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Collegiate Dance Majors At Pace University, Taylor Kurtz

Honors College Theses

This thesis will explore the various adaptations dance majors at Pace University were required to make to their training during the shift to remote learning due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, beginning in March of 2020. Prior to universities moving to a completely remote learning environment as a result of COVID-19, collegiate-level dance had never been taught through an online platform. Because of this, dancers needed to shift the way in which they were training for this extended period of time. To begin my research on this topic, I first collected various scholarly articles and journal entries that related to the …

Spring Dance Concert 2022 Playbill, Providence College

Playbill and Promotion

Providence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film

Angel Blackfriars Theatre

Blackfriars Spring Dance Concert 2022

Student Choreographers under the direction of Dr. Wendy Oliver

April 29, Friday 7:30PM

April 30, Saturday 2PM

Spring Dance Concert 2022 Playbill, Providence College

Playbill and Promotion

Providence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film

Angell Blackfriars Theatre

Blackfriars Spring Dance Concert 2022

Student Choreographers under the direction of Dr. Wendy Oliver

April 29, Friday 7:30PM

April 30, Saturday 2PM

Choreographers: Dea Ferguson, Katelyn Salvato, Kellie Johnson, Kaitlyn Novarro, Shaila Murthy, Kellie Greene, Ally Lynch, Kenzie Maude, Liz Hawley, Kate Doner, Mollie Giancola, Mary McDonald, Dance Company Seniors

Dancers: Liz Hawley, Kellie Johnson, Olivia Krupa, Ally Lynch, Julianna Martin, Allison Renaud, Kate Doner, Mollie Giancola, Kellie Greene, Katherine Gurley, Bianca LaBella, Bridget Maynard, Katelyn Salvato, Lexi Delano, Mary McDonald, Dea Ferguson, Grace Heffernan, Kenzie Maude, Katie Kudla, …

Annie

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of Annie with book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and music by Martin Charnin.

Annie is a beloved musical with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and a book by Thomas Meehan.The musical is set during the Great Depression and follows the story of a young orphan named Annie. Living in a miserable orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan, Annie's life changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas with the wealthy Oliver Warbucks. Despite various challenges and schemes by Miss Hannigan, Annie's optimism and determination lead to a …

Lighting Little Shop Of Horrors, Arielle Brown

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

The assistant lighting designer of a musical is responsible for supporting the lighting designer as they achieve their vision. During the production process for the musical Little Shop of Horrors (produced by the Nevada Conservatory Theatre), the assistant is responsible for creating and updating the paperwork related to the production. The Scene/Song Breakdown, Cue Sheet, and Group List are produced at the beginning of the process. Preset List, Effect List, Focus Palette and Color Palette Lists are produced during cueing and technical rehearsals. During technical and dress rehearsals, changes made to the production are updated in the paperwork. Once the …

Dance, Gender, And Development, Samantha J. White

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Gender socialization tends to entail differential encouragement of boys and girls in different activities. Parents may encourage girls to pursue activities like dance, whereas boys are encouraged to pursue sports. Recent evidence has shown links between rhythmic and phonological abilities, and improving rhythmic ability may have positive effects on reading ability.

I Am Because You Are, Avree Gundersen

Honors Theses

As a performer, I am honored to be trusted with the message that each choreographer decides to share. It is important that I keep an open mind, body, and soul which allows me to be a versatile mover. I find that my passion for dance is rooted in the essence of community and in sharing the space and energy with those around me. This builds a mutual trust and understanding that dance allows us to be vulnerable with each other. From that state of vulnerability comes strength, challenges, healing, and curiosity. I find that when fully immersed in the authenticity …

How Would Jesus Watch This? An Investigation Into Dance Restrictions In American Protestantism, Rebecca Lynn Huppenthal

Theatre & Dance ETDs

In the United States there has been many disagreements concerning the place of dance within Protestant Christianity. Some denominations have banned dance entirely while other utilize dance as an essential element of worship. At the center of this argument is the understanding, treatment, and use of the physical body. Beginning in the sixteenth century through current times, I analyze specific Protestant denominations including the Puritans, Evangelical Fundamentalists, Southern Baptists, the Shakers, certain African American denominations, and Pentecostals. Additionally, I examine notable liturgical modern dancers, as well as my own choreographic work, a dance film titled Rebirth. This research displays …

Addressing The Lack Of Availability In Diverse Skin Tone Options For Performance Wear, Jessica Batey

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

The following research addresses the lack of availability in diverse skin tone options for performance fabric. The project will discuss the struggles people of color face when finding fabrics that accurately match their skin tone and the difficulties in sourcing the materials needed to successfully design a garment. The research gathered will be used to produce a collection of 4 looks using nude mesh fabrics that are readily available to the average consumer. The garments within the collection will be designed to match the skin color of 4 models. The collection’s theme will be based around the 4 cardinal witches …

Been Set Free: A Distributed Virtual Theatre Dance Performance, Joe Geigel

Frameless

For Frameless 2021, we present a fully realized example of virtual theatre. We define virtual theatre as a live theatrical performance, experienced on a stage in virtual reality, with participants in different physical locations (Geigel 2018).

Approaching The 'Small Planet': Remain In Light's Starship Road Trip As Metaphor For Theatrical World-Building, Amy Yourd

Theatre & Dance ETDs

Using Elinor Fuchs’ “Visit to a Small Planet” as inspiration, I consider my play Remain in Light as its own small planet, examining theories of world-building, science fiction, and utopian performativity to investigate possible functions of imaginary worlds onstage. In chapter one, I appropriate Fuchs’ script analysis exercise for my own purposes of play development, discovering a world of sensory detail that parallels the characters’ experience in the play. In chapter two, I conceive of the play’s starship as an imaginary world crashing towards this one, its escape a hopeful reflection on the utopian possibilities of alternate worlds. In chapter …

Eccentric: Writing Through The Lens Of Empathy, Steven M. Blacksmith

Theatre & Dance ETDs

In this essay, I detail my growth as a writer through different periods of empathic learning. I examine my childhood struggle to understand many common emotions and the ways in which I began to logically dissect and replicate them in life and in art. I further delve into this examination through my discovery of comedy and the lifelong process of understand the deep connections humans make with humor. I then discuss how my understanding of empathy allowed me to write my dissertation play, The Eccentrics, and create a world in which empathy among the characters can be a catalyst …

Mexican Folklorico And The Costumes Thereof, Gabrielle Trevino

Undergraduate Research Conference

Folk dance appears around the world and much of the time what these performers wear becomes the most famous image of a nation or country. Mexico folklorico spans throughout the nation. Its regions are home to a variety of iconic looks that vary even more so within each subculture. The image of the many folk dresses of Mexico is unmistakable and rooted in both the indigenous cultures and the colonial Spanish ties of the nation, both of which can still be visually traced back today in modern folklorico. In no way are the following examples a comprehensive list of the …

The 5th Humor, Stella Maria Perry

Theatre & Dance ETDs

I will be using a self-interview as a method of investigating both the origins of myself, the artist, and the work produced I have produced in and out of the MFA Dramatic Writing program with a special focus on my dissertation play, The Blood Vessel.

The intention is to investigate how my plays have come into existence and how they inform each other. This is done through a series of questions I ask myself under the pseudonym Penelope Hawkins. Penelope guides me through the investigation as a character, thus becoming part of the work of the self-interview and still …

Butoh: From Wwii To The West, Caroline Conner

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Butoh is an underground dance movement in Japan that explores the human psyche in unconventional and sometimes grotesque ways. It originated out of the devastation of WWII Japan and rails against the rigidity of society as well as traditional theatre and dance forms. It has ties to Buddhism, in that both view suffering as a natural state of the world, and both may lead to depersonalisation (intentionally or otherwise), which is described as a loss of identity or sense of self. Gone unchecked, this detached exploration of the psyche can lead to personality dissolution, which can be especially problematic to …