CREATIVE RESEARCH PROJECT
Through Chapman University, I had the opportunity to engage in a creative research project where I explored how elements of musical theater can enhance the performative range of contemporary dance. Something that I love about dance is using the narrative of a story to drive the emotional and physical arch of a dance. I had noticed that within my contemporary classes, certain elements of musical theater could be utilized to create a richer, deeper connection to the movement and to the audience. Here is a condensed summary of my findings!
EXPLORING HOW ELEMENTS OF MUSICAL THEATER CAN ENHANCE THE PERFORMATIVE RANGE OF CONTEMPORARY DANCE
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INTRODUCTION/ABSTRACT
Musical Theater is an artform that emphasizes the full embodiment of a character through the performer's approach to the emotional and physical aspect of their given role. Contemporary dance is typically characterized by movement that is emotionally neutral. However, there is much more performative range to contemporary dance than is often reached within dancers. This project explored how elements of musical theater, such as the process of character development, can be utilized in the performative process, emotionally and physically, of contemporary dance.
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OBJECTIVES
1. Develop tangible tools dancers can implement, mentally and physically, in their dance training to enhance their performance through studying musical theater
2. Learn from peers and teachers what is already being done within their own personal practice that I can apply to my dancing
3. Achieve strategies and tools to equip dancers in the process of storytelling in musical theater and contemporary dance that is applied to personal journey
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MAIN FINDINGS
The elements that were most prominent to enhance performance were answering the questions of “who, what, when and where?” Who is the dancer talking to? What is their objective? When is this story? Where is it taking place? etc. All of these questions that the dancers are considering offer room for clear choices within improvisation. Their tone of movement becomes unique to them within the realms of the choreography. The most successful moments when implementing these principles into contemporary dance were found when translating information from the imaginative level to the physical level. I found success in utilizing Michael Chekov techniques of psychological gestures such as pulling, tearing, and flying and physicalize it into dance physically and emotionally. Within this creative research of musical theater dance, the opportunity for experimentation to craft a heightened experience for contemporary dancers is infinite.
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