Dance improvisation

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Dance improvisation is the creation of improvised movement and is sometimes associated with 20th century concert dance but is not exclusive to that genre.

Development of improvised movement material is facilitated through a variety of creative explorations including:

Contrary to popular belief dance improvisation is not only about creating new movement but is also defined as freeing the body from habitual movement patterns (see Postmodern dance and Judson Dance Theater). Dancer and choreographer Michael Jackson combines improvisation in both of those definitions, insisting that he has interest in performing a dance to Billie Jean only if he can do it by a new way each time.

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[edit] Developed dance forms with improvisational natures

[edit] Argentinian Tango

Argentine Tango, is a dance form that despite the apparent choreography relies on improvisation. Improvisation techniques are taught and improvisation is encouraged as necessary to reach high levels of competency in dance and performance environments. Closely knit crowds, reach rhythmic patterns in music, a new partner every dance, and a reach vocabulary of movements encourage improvisational dances .

[edit] Belly dance

Belly dance is one of the most commonly improvised dance forms, since the often live music does not support the structured nature of choreography. Professional belly dancers may dance publicly 6 nights a week, up to three times a night, and simply do not have the time to choreograph for the 15-60 minutes a night that such performing requires. American Tribal Style belly dance is built entirely upon group improvisation.

[edit] Quotes

Some movement improvisation artists and theorists, (eg: Steve Paxton, Bonnie Bainbridge-Cohen, Simone Forti) as specialists of the phenomenology and aesthetics of human movement have reached theoretical and practical insights about human interaction and embodiment that are closely related to the ones that are found recently in the fields of artificial intelligence (embodied robotics), cognitive science (embodied cognition) and new biology (self-organization and emergence). - Barrios Solano, M. (2004)

[edit] See also

[edit] Further reading


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