Choreo Lab II

no photo credit

This class explores facets of compositional technique and theory as a pathway to one’s distinct and personal choreographic voice. Addressing developmental process, improvisation, spatial and rhythmic exploration, editing and structural analysis, this class explores composition in light of Weare’s foundational belief that movement itself is a language, and that dance exists as a source of communication. Please bring two minutes of your own choreography (either solo or duet material) to use as fodder within the class for experimental purposes. Documented prior composition study required.

Alison Chase is a choreographer, director, performance and installation artist. She is best known as co-founder and artistic director of the movement collective, Pilobolus (1973-2005), where she won international acclaim for her unique ability to blend narrative, kinetics, and visuals into rich metaphoric worlds. In her years with Pilobolus, she created more than 50 works for the stage, frequently choreographing individually for the ensemble. In 2009, she founded Alison Chase/Performance as a vehicle to explore new aspects of interdisciplinary work, including large-scale site-specific creations, museum installations and fusions of film and movement. Her many honors include: a Guggenheim Fellowship (1980); a Laurel Award for Life Time Achievement (1992); American Dance Festival’s Scripps Award (2000);); Cine Golden Eagle Award, 2002 (with filmmaker Mirra Bank); and Maine Arts Commission’s 2009 Performing Arts Fellow. Teaching credits include Assistant Professor of Dance and choreographer-in-residence at Dartmouth College (70-73) and Yale Theater Studies Department (1991-1997). Chase holds a BA in History and Philosophy from Washington University and an MA in dance from UCLA.