Choreography Analysis Paper

Choreography Analysis Paper Requirements

Write about a Modern, Post-Modern, Contemporary (Modern), Contemporary Ballet, or Dance Theater piece, with at least 3 minutes of dancing.

How to Pick Your Dance

Review the Watchlists for the dances in the style of Modern Dance, Contemporary Modern Dance, and Dance Theater, and chose a dance within one of those styles about which to write your paper.

Remember to choose a historically relevant choreographer that we have covered by this point in the class.  This is because you will need to analyze the phrases of dance through the lenses of historical and cultural content. 

• NO PAPERS ON MICHEAL JACKSON.
• NO PAPERS ON "Revelations," ('Wade in the Water,' 'Sinner Man,' etc.) or "Cry" by Ailey. (Other works by Ailey are fine!)
• NO PAPERS ON "Lamentations," or "Heretic" or "Appalachian Spring" by Graham (other works by Graham are fine, or you can compare two).
• I'm growing suspicious of papers on "The Infernal Galop" by Bourne; they're still allowed, but my plagiarism hackles will be up - be original!
• Dances from SYTYCD are usually not 3 minutes long, and not historically relevant (yet). They are only permitted with pre-approval.
• Some exceptions can be made, but only with professor pre-approval. Send me a link to get permission. :)
• Video Watchlist: Chapter 5 - Modern Dance
• Video Watchlist: Chapter 8 Pt. I Post-Modern Dance
• Video Watchlist: Chapter 8 Pt. II: Contemporary Modern Dance
• Video Watchlist: Chapter 8 Pt. III Contemporary Ballet

Your dance does not have to be from these lists, but you must choose a dance from one of these styles.
Trust me - I've graded (literally) thousands of these essays, and it does make it highly unlikely that you will earn a B or above if you start out with a dance that is created for entertainment value, without the multiple layers of high art.  

Now --- there are exceptions (maybe 3% of the papers each semester?)!