DANCE 720 : Choreography and Performance Research

Creative Arts and Industries

2020 Semester One (1203) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Investigates choreographic practice and dance creation as a location for artistic production and academic research. Students will reflect on their own choreographic and performance practice through studio-based activities, while examining choreographic and performance theory.

Course Overview

Choreography in this context is understood as a contemporary art form, an inter-disciplinary practice, and a continuous process of research and creation. It is embodied, experiential and involves hands-on modes of making, thinking, and doing. Research creation through choreographic thinking is a hybrid practice that involves writing, reading, and moving. Examples of practice from late 20th-21st century choreography and contemporary art, together with relevant theories and writings that underpin and provide further insight into this work, provide a contextual framework for embodied enquiry that extends and builds upon the students interests, curiosities and prior experience.
This course is orientated towards current and future cultural and social conditions. It addresses the complexities of creating and performing within an urban Pacific environment that is culturally diverse. Contemporary Māori and Pasifika approaches to performance are addressed alongside Western theatre dance, live art and choreographic installation. Productive synergies emerge through dialogues, practices of encounter and embodied listening. Applied in a range of contexts and situations choreographic thinking is foregrounded as adding something to the world.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: Departmental approval Restriction: DANCE 733, 735, 760

Semester Availability

2nd March - 5th June 2020

Mondays 4-6pm, 820-212 (KMC Dance Studio)
Wednesday 3-6pm, 820-212 (KMC Dance Studio)

Course Co-ordinator

Sarah Foster-Sproull
s.foster-sproull@auckland.ac.nz

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Dance Studies

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate knowledge through a choreographic process that is addressing a question, concept or provocation. (Capability 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3)
  2. Demonstrate design, develop and present of a choreography as research project within a public performance context. (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3)
  3. Demonstrate resourcefulness in exercising initiative and creative autonomy in a choreographic research process and the ability to direct creative tasks for the performer and other collaborators. (Capability 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3)
  4. Apply a reflective practice contextualised within wider territories of politics, art, environment and history through a portfolio of creative documentation. (Capability 6.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Project 20% Individual Coursework
Practical 30% Individual Coursework
Research 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Project
Practical
Research

Teaching & Learning Methods

Practical dance class and personal practice
Practical tasks and creative activities
Reflexive thinking, notation and video analysis
Group discussions
Written assignments
Readings from the literature
Self directed learning
Observation
Peer feedback

Workload Expectations

Following university workload guidelines, a standard 30 point course represents approximately 300 hours of study. During a typical week there will be 5 hours of lectures. For the 12 teaching weeks, this totals to 60 hours. Since the course as a whole represents approximately 300 hours of study, that leaves a total of 240 hours across the entire semester for independent study, e.g. reading, reflection, preparing for assessments etc.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

In the event of unexpected disruption

We undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions, the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. In the event of a disruption, the University and your course coordinators will make every effort to provide you with up to date information via Canvas and the University website.

Copyright Warning Notice

This material is protected by copyright and has been copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license. You may not sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of this course pack/material to any other person. Where provided to you in electronic format, you may only print from it for your own private study and research. Failure to comply with the terms of this warning may expose you to legal action for copyright infringement and/or disciplinary action by the University.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 27/11/2019 12:16 p.m.