A Choreographer's Handbook

by Burrows; Jonathan

• ISBN13: 9780415555302
• ISBN10: 0415555302
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Spiral Bound
• Copyright: 2010-07-09
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

On choreography: "Choreography is a negotiation with the patterns your body is thinking"On rules: "Try breaking the rules on a need to break the rules basis"Internationally renowned dancer, choreographer and teacher Jonathan Burrows explains how to navigate a course through the complex process of creating dance. He provides choreographers with fresh insights into the theory and practice of dance and guides them through the process of combining movement, sound, light and scenography to make a performance.Burrows' open and honest prose, gives the reader access to a range of exercises, meditations, principles and ideas on choreography that allow artists and dance-makers to find their own aesthetic process.Students, practitioners, teachers and theorists will find this detailed examination of key aspects of contemporary choreographic practice inspiring and invaluable.

Author Biography

Jonathan Burrows has toured and worked internationally as a dancer and choreographer and is currently a resident artist at Kaaitheater Brussels. In 2002 he was commended by the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts in New York for his contribution to contemporary dance, and in 2004 received a New York Dance and Performance 'Bessie' for his work 'Both Sitting Duet'. He has made commissioned work for many companies, including William Forsythe's Ballett Frankfurt, Sylvie Guillem and The Royal Ballet. He is a visiting member of faculty at P.A.R.T.S. in Brussels and is a Visiting Professor at Hamburg University and Royal Holloway University of London.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
Dancing Principles	p. 1
Material	p. 5
Habits	p. 7
Repetition	p. 8
Repetition	p. 11
Repetition	p. 13
Improvisation
Cut and paste
Choreography	p. 24
Form	p. 28
Exploration
Risk	p. 29
Subject
Inspiration
Stealing
Familiar movement
Choreography
Referencing other sources
Self-expression	p. 30
Contract
Performance space
Language
Choreography	p. 37
Breaking the rules	p. 41
Research
How and what?
Dramaturgy
Theory
Curiosity	p. 43
Interview
Unfinished business
Questions
Principles	p. 49
Financial limitations
Studios
Funding applications	p. 51
Preparation
Rehearsal schedule
Heaviness	p. 54
Collaboration
Audience	p. 58
Originality
Paradox	p. 61
Technique
Parrot on your shoulder
Authenticity
Daily practice
Dancing
Style
Fiddling	p. 66
Virtuosity	p. 76
Hoarding
Beginnings	p. 78
Endings	p. 81
Keeping it going
Pacing	p. 83
Dub reggae
Rate of change
Simple material
Desperation	p. 87
Stillness and silence
Fear of being boring	p. 91
Minimal and maximal	p. 93
Does it work?
Showings
Mentoring	p. 95
Other bodies
States	p. 99
Distracting the self
Paradox
Choreography
Performance
Electric guitars	p. 102
Predictable and unpredictable
Expectation	p. 107
Narrative
Ballet
Continuity	p. 109
Continuity
Sectional pieces
Material
Make six things
Choreography
Flow
Relation	p. 113
Relation
Solos, duos, trios, quartets
Ideas	p. 119
Relation
Time
Rhythm	p. 123
Time	p. 128
Abstract dance	p. 135
Counterpoint
Formal elements
Difference	p. 138
Scores
Studios
Improvisation	p. 141
Chance
Empty hands
Gamut of movements
Limitations
Laborious work
Philosophy	p. 152
Place or space?	p. 157
Audience
Facing the front
Confrontation
Humour
Failure	p. 159
Audience	p. 165
Performance
Principles	p. 168
The marketplace
Earning a living
Administrating the work
Commissions	p. 172
Music
Collaboration
Silence	p. 180
Text	p. 185
Lighting
Technicians
Collaboration
Costumes
Shoes or no shoes?
Set design
Nudity	p. 188
Titles	p. 196
Filming
History
Collaboration
Mirrors
Human-scale	p. 198
Hierarchies
Dancer or choreographer?
In it or out of it?
Who owns what?	p. 204
How can I simplify all of this?	p. 208
Forget all this	p. 209
Bibliography	p. 210
Thanks	p. 213
Biography of the author	p. 216
Index	p. 217
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