I am currently at the start of a period of independent choreographic research which forms one module of my MA Choreography programme. This blog will be used to help me to document and reflect upon the creative process I am about to undertake.
The module aims to examine the application of skills and methods of independent research in current choreographic practice. I will be using the studio as a laboratory of enquiry and will present evidence of my research at the end of the process. It has taken me several weeks to feel that I have been able to develop the right question for this task. I have spent time considering the notion of practice as research and I am certain that this has helped to shape my final decision.
My research will explore the relationship between light and movement. Specifically, I will explore how light can be used as a creative starting point for choreographic material. I intend to explore the potential of the dialogue between light and movement through a series of practical sessions involving a lighting designer and several dancers.
I am interested in this area of practice because I believe that light can create a frame for the body which can be as much as a catalyst for movement as music. In my previous choreographic project 'We Want You To Watch US' the dance concluded with a section in which three dancers were contained in three individual squares of light. Although the initial idea for the lighting helped to shape the choreography I would have liked the movement and light to have developed a much closer dialogue. This module will help me to explore the potential of this creative dialogue.
I intend to work with a lighting designer/technician to establish five pre-existing lighting states which will be used as the starting point for my choreographic investigation. I will spend one day working with each specific state to explore how the body responds to the light provided. I am unsure at this stage what I will find as a result of this process but there will definitely be some choreographic material at the end which will can be seen as the output of the research.
Before and during the process I will be considering the following questions:
What is the content of the research?
What are my methods?
Are the aims and methods congruent?
Why am I interested in this field?
Are there examples I can draw upon?
Is it possible to formulate a question which the research will be attempting to answer?
Is there an output? What will I do with it?
How will I evaluate the success of the research?
Information about the image used above can be found at http://www.sonicacts.com/03/conference/confprogramme.html
Sources
Books
Baugh, C. 2005 Theatre, Performance and Technology, Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan
Fraleigh, S and Hanstein, P. (Eds.) 1999 Researching Dance: Evolving Modes of Enquiry, London: Dancebooks
Morgan, N. 2003 Stage Lighting for Theatre Designers, Cambridge: The Herbert Press Ltd.
Oddey, A. and White, C., 2006 The Potentials of Spaces, Bristol: Intellect Books
Articles
Hutera, D. 2002 'Bringers of Light', Dance Theatre Journal, Vol.18 No. 1
Pake, A. 2004 ‘Art as Action or Art as Object? The Embodiment of Knowledge in Practice As Research’ Retrieved 6th Feb 2008 from URL http://www.herts.ac.uk/artdes/research/papers/wpades/vol3/apfull.html
Websites
www.worldwidedanceuk.com/content.asp?CategoryID=462&ArticleID=344
www.rmcompany.co.uk
www.bristol.ac.uk/parip/
Other Sources
Television Documentary: Light and Movement A Ballet Boyz Television Production for Channel 4, 2006
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