Improvising
Twice a year I travel to New Orleans to work with students at The Studio School of Dance & NOLA Dance Project. The first trip is to set solos on students who will be competing, auditioning for summer dance intensives, or applying to colleges or companies. The second trip is to be part of the studio’s summer dance intensives.
This March, I also travelled to New Orleans, lovingly known as “The Big Easy”, to set a new work on these students. We culminated our time together with a film shoot in a big green field. I asked these young students to improvise, and gave them some prompt work to do so.
Improvisation is not simple. There are several methods & practices. While there is enough material to teach an entire year long (or longer!) course, it is imperative that it be taught with proper credit and historical context. Give the students something to hold onto!
My ultimate favorite form of improvisation to teach young improvisers is from the Cunningham method - called “Field Dance”. How appropriate, then, to have finished our time in a big green field!