Theatre and Performance Studies Commons^™

The Art And Craft Of Aerial Dance, Vianna Isbister

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The Art and Craft of Aerial Dance discusses my personal experiences training and performing aerial dance, along with my study of safe practices in aerial rigging. My journey as a Theatre and Dance Honors-In-Discipline Scholar at East Tennessee State University from 2016-2020, culminated with my senior thesis capstone performance at Azure Aerial Arts on Friday, December 6th, 2019. This exploration into the world of aerial dance began in the spring of 2017 and has not ceased. If anything, the drive and motivation to continue pushing forward despite many obstacles continues to grow and manifest itself into new forms in my …

Hysteria, Fear, And/Or Delight, Alessandra Ferrari-Wong

Bachelor of Fine Arts Senior Papers

My Bachelor of Fine Arts thesis statement, Hysteria, Fear, and/or Delight, establishes the forms and concepts of my art practice as it stands as of May, 2020: performance-based and interdisciplinary. My practice implies narrative while acknowledging the audience. Physical language, in both dance and gesture, can be a means of communication or subversion. Pieces exist as ephemeral, often private, performances and then separately in archival forms ranging from video, to photography, to installation. The body of the statement details my thesis project, a remaking of Giselle, a 19th century Romantic-era ballet, into a performance series and video trilogy. …

Putting It Together: Musical Theatre As An Academic Discipline, Madison Finney

Honors College Theses

Musical Theatre is an art form that integrates singing, acting, dancing, and production for the purposes of storytelling. It is an artistic field that is extremely interdisciplinary, and it draws upon many different areas of knowledge for performance and education. Additionally, Musical Theatre has evolved into a viable academic field of study. It incorporates artistry and academic analysis as a way to enhance performance and higher education. This paper will use Practice as Research theory, creativity theory, and disciplinary discourse theory to explore the ways Musical Theatre successfully functions as an art form and an academic discipline.

Company Management For Dance Space ‘19: A Background And Documentation, Devin Mcmahon

Honors College Theses

The position of Company Manager for Pace School of Performing Arts productions was created for the Fall 2019 semester. I had the privilege of being the Company Manager for the first production of the fall, To Clothe the Naked , and then was asked to fill the role again for the final show of the semester, dance sPace ‘19 . I was excited for this opportunity, as it allowed me to take what I had learned and what had been perfected about the duties of the position and put it into my final show at Pace. Throughout the process, my …

Ursinus Dance Program: American College Dance Association Conference, March 4-7, 2020, Kevin Harris Ii, Chelsea Stitt

Theater and Dance Presentations

Ten students and two faculty members of the UC Dance Program attended the Mid-Atlantic North regional conference of the American College Dance Association (ACDA) from March 4-7, 2020, at the University of Maryland, at College Park, MD. While at the conference, students performed in two dance works, participated in dance classes, and networked with dancers in peer institutions. A highlight of the event was the selection of Visiting Dance Professor Bailey Anderson’s dance, Ridiculous Rigor: Past, Present, and Possible, for the Gala performance. Included in this document are descriptions of the Student Achievement in Research and Creativity Committee Grants awarded …

Formulated Ataxia, Alexandra Renner

Honors Theses

Formulated Ataxia is an athletic and vigorous choreographic work based on the overall theme of recognizing order within chaos. With a cast of eleven dancers, I created a world that depicts the cycle of anxiety and how I seek organization within chaos. Choreographically, I toyed around with aspects of my neurological condition, synesthesia. Synesthesia can be described as a way of organization people and situations with numbers. Part of my research involved delving deep into the theory of chaos, as it mirrors the cyclical nature of my mental and emotional instability. This work invites a thrilling and exhausting experience for …

Graduating Presentations 2020: Six Point Convergence - Inner Workings, Jasmine Clark

Honors Theses

This portfolio serves as the fulfillment of both my honors thesis for the Lee Honors College, and my Department of Dance capstone for DANC 4800: Graduating Presentations. The typical process for DANC 4800 involves producing a concert in collaboration with the rest of the senior B.F.A. class, in which each member presents an original piece of choreography. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 crisis and the switch to distance education, our concert was cancelled, and we were forced to abruptly stop rehearsing. In this transition, my project shifted from the creation of a new work to the revisiting of a solo …

Pilgrimage: True Belonging: Exploring The Human Desire To Belong Through Dance And Storytelling, Lincoln K. Belford

Undergraduate Distinction Papers

The human sense of belonging morphs and changes as we mature and gain life experience. The relationships we make, or choose not to, affect the way we perceive ourselves, which directly correlates to our understanding of how we belong to the universe as a whole. Perception of self and belonging are inextricably connected, therefore by focusing on belonging to ourselves rather than to the world around us, we experience self-acceptance, allowing us to forge deeper, more meaningful connections with those we choose. True belonging is an active practice that takes effort, and involves reflection and critical evaluation of self. A …

E-Portfolios For Dance In The Classroom 2019-20, Leslie Bryan

Q2S Enhancing Pedagogy

Many times university students struggle with maintaining course materials and resources from one academic term to another. They may not have the wherewithal to save these resources in one location for easier access and to then use them when they become practitioners in the field of education. This project focuses on using e-Portfolios as the means for students to compile their work, connect to various networking sites and showcase their knowledge and accomplishments when applying for positions in the field of education. This submission presents the description, purpose and details of an ePortfolio for K-12 pre-service teachers at California State …

Basics Of Stepping Club, Hana Pham, Yara Madit

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

Originating in West Africa in the 1500s, step has since evolved into a form of dancing that places emphasis on rhythmic movements and high energy. It is commonly used amongst greek organizations and within schools. This club introduces stepping to older children through activities such as stamina, focus, teamwork, and problem solving.

Review Of "La Danse Théâtrale En Europe: Identités, Altérités, Frontières" Edited By A. B. Fabbricatore, Olivia Sabee

Dance Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

The Choreo-Story Workshops: Devising Body Narratives, Montana J. Smith

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This multi-methodological project analyzes the utility of the proposed performance method, the Choreo-Story, within the field of Performance Studies. The Choreo-Story is a movement-based performance method, mode of devising, and performance product. It is a performance tool that can be used to understand how embodiment and dance help individuals make sense of the many identities they perform. This method highlights the body as both a text and tool for storytelling. To analyze the Choreo-Story method, I use Kenneth Burke’s Dramatistic Approach to examine three performance acts that occurred in the HopKins Black Box theatre between 2016 and 2018: my …

Labanotation Of Latvian Folk Dance: Tracing The Story Of Cūkas Driķos Through The Notation Process, Julie Brodie, Valda Vidzemniece, Hannah Russ, Diāna Gavare

Journal of Movement Arts Literacy Archive (2013-2019)

There are many versions of traditional Latvian dances, so determining what to notate becomes part of the process. Tracing the story of the dance Cūkas driķos [Pigs in a Buckwheat Field] for notation purposes became as valuable as the Labanotation score that resulted. The investigation began with a presentational, newer version of the dance, which led to examining the related contemporary, social versions. These were then compared to descriptions in field notes and historic folk dance publications to try to discern the most traditional version(s). In this journey, Labanotation helped illuminate distinctions between the presentational and the participatory versions, as …

An Enemy Of The People

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen.

Performed February 28-March 1, 6-8, 2020 at the Mitchell Theatre.

An Enemy of the People explores themes of truth, integrity, and the conflict between individual and societal interests. The story centers on Dr. Thomas Stockmann, a medical officer in a small Norwegian town, who discovers that the local baths, a major source of income for the town, are contaminated and pose a serious health risk. When he attempts to go public with his findings, he faces intense opposition from the town's leaders, including his brother, …

Winter Dance Concert (February 27-29, 2020), Lindenwood University

Student Dance Programs & Brochures

Event program for Winter Dance Concert (February 27-29, 2020), Lindenwood University.

27th Annual Barristers' Ball : The Roaring 2020'S Masquerade Ball 02-22-2020, Roger Williams University School Of Law, Andrea Hansen

School of Law Conferences, Lectures & Events

No abstract provided.

In Support Of Abstraction: Physical Interiority Beyond Postmodern Dance, Irene Hultman Monti

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

I investigate how speculative philosophy informs critical thinking about dance and its performance, encompassing both the act of creating and the action of executing. Speculative thinking augments and draws out new experiences and realities in the artistic body. I will argue that speculative theories widen the understanding and implementation of dance and its performance through a combination of human and nonhuman forces. This broadened understanding encourages progress, transformation, and evolution within the field of dance. I discuss the human (that which is experienced through sensibilities, therefore tangible and understandable on a cognitive and practical level) and the nonhuman (forces beyond …

Musical Activities Between Father And Toddler In Local Music Centre In Klang Valley, Yee Farn Kang

Student Works (2020-2029)

Historically, different forms of musical activities, including singing, was one of the earliest ways of parents to bond with their children. Lullaby or other forms of singing has been used for ages to encourage or teach children necessary skills required in future. As recent studies signify, the effects of the music education from the early ages can have very positive effects on the children. Meanwhile, by growing the popularity of musical early childhood programs the number of researches on outcome of these classes are increasing. However, there are not many researches in which the focus specifically aim the effects of …

Student And Teacher Attitudes Towards Overtraining And Recovery In Vocational Dance Training, Peta Blevins, Shona Erskine, Gene Moyle, Luke Hopper

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Elite performance in dance is the result of many years of training, during which dancers face high physical and emotional demands. There is little empirical evidence addressing dancer training behaviours in the context of overtraining and in response to training demands; however, underlying dancer attitudes that affect training behaviours must first be understood to truly determine the drivers of dance training behaviour. This study explored the attitudes held by vocational dance students and their teachers in relation to stress and recovery during vocational dance training. Using Q methodology with a sample of 86 students and teachers, six viewpoints were identified …

The Effects Of Parent-Toddler Movement Class On Attachment Patterns, Luke Muscat

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Parent-Toddler Movement Class (PTMC) is a structured dance curriculum that introduces movement to toddlers and caregivers by integrating singing, props, stories, music, and creative exploration with movement activities.

Silent Dreaming: Response To Henry Jenkins, Sophie Benn

School of Music Scholarship and Professional Works

No abstract provided.

"Becoming-Pite: An Application Of Deleuzian Theory To Crystal Pite’S Choreography, Kyra Laubacher

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Art destabilizes the human, rupturing the concept of the individual as primary universal organizer. The artist recognizes infinite potential in the virtual as expressed through intensity, something semantically inarticulable but nonetheless accessible via artistic production. Chrystal Pite, contemporary dance choreographer, is one such artist in whose creations the workings of affect make themselves perceptibly clear. We may turn to poststructuralist philosopher Gilles Deleuze and his theories of multiplicity, repetition, and nomadism in order to further understand the work that she has put forth. Pite, through art and affect, reminds us of the human condition of the de-centered individual, and Deleuze’s …

De-Orientalizing Classical Ballet In The Twenty-First Century, Pamela Gendron

MA Theses

The objective of this thesis is to examine the efficacy of strategies used to de-Orientalize canonical ballets. Of particular interest are contemporary productions of The Nutcracker, La Bayadère and Giselle. Through close readings of digitized performances, I explore the ways in which the best practices for presenting non-offensive stereotypes put forth by community leader Final Bow for Yellowface reinforce the conservative impulse of ballet rather than inspire radical change. I present an alternative option for renegotiating racial stereot��pes in ballet through Akram Khan��s commissions for the English National Ballet, situating his ��ork ��ithin Anurima Banerji��s concept of partatopic performance.

The Specificity Behind The Sparkle: The In’S And Out’S Of Disney Choreography And Park Productions, Laura Theisen

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The Walt Disney Company has revolutionized the use of choreography and dance in commercial settings to showcase the value, talent, and passion of the dancer while impacting and inspiring their guests. This has led to the development of their signature style felt throughout all of their productions. Dance is vital to the Disney aesthetic as they use the art form to illuminate the “Magic.” People have very high expectations for the Disney brand, especially the theme parks. To make sure that the Disney quality is upheld they utilize their foundational rules and promote their trademark style. The creative teams ensure …

Noire Pixe Dust: The (Royal) Power Of Black Validation Through Imagination/Actualization, Daphne Marcelle Lee

Dance (MFA) Theses

I am creating a world, a futuristic world that imagines all Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) as royalty. Please note that I understand the very concept of royalty is a construct and reflects images of power, hierarchy, and capitalistic rhetoric and, also, not exclusive to a European monarchy alone. I am revising and reclaiming these concepts as superpowers for the world's women of color to redirect and embody them as metaphors and tools to inspire, uplift and carry us through life. I also want to acknowledge the many cultures with different standards of royal practice and ways of being. …

Tap For The Times: A Study Of Contemporary Tap Dance, Elise Wilham

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Tap dance is an American art form that began with the blending of traditional dance styles from English and Irish immigrants and African slaves. Throughout the 20th century, tap dance developed many styles in response to cultural changes that took place. Contemporary tap dance emerged in the latter half of that century and continues developing today with the fusion of other dance genres and new technologies. This research examines tap dance history to create an understanding of how it developed through a historical lens and analyzes the current approaches applied to the artform along with the characteristics and creative processes …

An Investigation Of California Classroom Teachers' Beliefs And Ratings Of Creativity In Dance, Patricia R. Reedy

Doctoral Dissertations

Creativity is a fundamental aim of art education. Because classroom teachers are responsible for teaching the arts at the elementary-school level, how they perceive and recognize creativity effects the quality of art education their students receive. This study investigated California teachers' beliefs about creativity in dance and the relationship of their beliefs to their ratings of student dance compositions. It also investigated the extent of agreement in creativity ratings across teachers and between teachers and dance experts. Classroom teachers’ beliefs were collected through a research-constructed questionnaire, and classroom teachers (n=74) and dance experts (n=35) rated students’ creative-dance products using a …

Moving Honestly - Pangalay Performance, National Identity, And Practice-As-Research, Kara Elena Nepomuceno

Honors Papers

Previous research analyzes the legacies of various Philippine dances in the United States. This project seeks to describe the growing impact of the dance form pangalay, given its rising popularity among Philippine performing arts groups and among individual artists in the diaspora. Pangalay’s sustained, curvilinear style supports Filipino American dancers’ needs for physical well-being, relationship to colonized land, and expression of diasporic culture. Yet when pangalay is framed as a unifying dance aesthetic of Filipino identity, it obscures ongoing internal oppression within the Philippines as Christianized upper classes embrace the dance form yet cohere wealth by displacing Muslim groups.

To …

The Delicacy Of Breath: Tribute To Cystic Fibrosis, Natalie Minns

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

A simple breath is something that we do not completely focus on enough in the art of dance, and it can be something that we often take for granted. For my project, my goal is to not only shed light on the simple breath, but to delve deeper into its importance in someone living with a breathing condition. My ultimate goal is to allow these separate entities to coexist through a piece of choreographic work. Through the art of dance, I want to be able to bring awareness to cystic fibrosis (CF) in a more expansive and exploratory approach. This …

Examining Protein-Protein Interactions Within The Esx-4 Secretion System Of Mycobacterium Smegmatis, Sophie Boerboom

CMC Senior Theses

Bacteria use secretion systems to export proteins from inside of the bacterium into the periplasm, extracellular space, or host cell. Within the Mycobacterium genus, the type VII secretion systems (T7SS) transport products across the unusually thick and waxy mycobacterial envelope. T7SS are of particular importance because they are involved in the virulence of pathogenic mycobacteria. Mycobacteria have as many as five distinct T7SS called ESX systems. ESX-1, 3, and 5, have demonstrated roles in viability and virulence in certain pathogenic species like M. tuberculosis and M. marinum. Our research focuses on the ESX-4 apparatus, the ancestral system that gave rise …