SparkingCreativitywithComposition
byMargaret Canady Why dowe dance?
The question, I’msure, has unlimited answers.Each dancer has their own reasons formovement.
Formyself, I dance to portray an emotion, to expressmyself openly, freely and completely. I dance to feel and emote drama, intrigue, joy. I dance to tell a story.
My first dance composition classwas last year, and Iwasn’t surewhat to expect.Dance composition is defined as the starting point for all cho- reography: it takes your basic technique, and transforms it into amov- ing piece of art.
Whatwas so newand shocking tomewas that therewere virtually no rules, and onlymoderate guidelines. I have been dancing since the age of 3, and every class I had taken up until thenwas a technique class. I focused on controllingwhat Iwas doing at every turn,making sure I was in proper turnout, form, and line. Itwas all about order and self- control.
Butwith composition,my teacher often started the classwith improvi- sation, allowing us tomove through space in response to a phrase,
image, or idea. There is nothing perfect or exact about improv; it is an experiment of shape, variables on rhythmand line. Suddenly Iwas lib- erated as a dancer and free of all feelings of self-consciousness and doubt.
It is almost impossible to critique an improvisational piece due to how personal and introspective it is for the dancer.Dance becamemore than just a combination of steps; therewas breadth and life inmovement that I only discovered through improvisation.
The remainder ofmy composition classwould focus on building chore- ographic techniques and tools that help clarify a dancer’s expressive- ness. For example, the teacherwould suggest howwe could portray an
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Nov-Jan 2015
www.thedancecouncil.org
DANCE!NORTHTEXAS
a publication of the dance council of north texas vol 17 • no 4
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