Full Description
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.'
The updated and revised edition of 'A Choreographer's Handbook' invites the reader to investigate how and why to make a dance performance. In an inspiring and unusually empowering sequence of stories, questions, ideas and paradoxes, internationally renowned choreographer Jonathan Burrows explains how it's possible to navigate a course through this complex process.
It is a stunning reflection on a personal practice and professional journey, and draws upon many years of workshop discussions, led by Burrows.
Burrows' open and honest prose gives the reader access to a range of principles, exercises, meditations and ideas on choreography that allow artists and dance-makers to find their own aesthetic process.
It is a book for anyone interested in making performance, at whatever level and in whichever style.
Contents
Preface, 2nd edition
Dancing / Principles
Material
Habits
Repetition
Repetition
Repetition
Improvisation / Cut and paste / Choreography
Form
Exploration / Risk
Breaking the rules
Subject / Inspiration / Stealing / Familiar movement / Choreography / Referencing other sources
Research / How and what? / Dramaturgy / Theory / Curiosity
Contract / Performance space
Self-expression
Abstract dance
Interview / Unfinished business / Questions / Principles
Financial limitations / Studios / Funding applications
Collaboration / Audience
Preparation / Meetings / Rehearsal schedule / Heaviness
Originality / Ecology / Paradox
Technique / Parrot on your shoulder / Authenticity /
Dancing / Style / Fiddling
Virtuosity
Specificity
Daily practice
Hoarding / Beginnings
Endings
Keeping it going / Pacing
Change / Dub reggae / Simple material / Desperation
Predictable and unpredictable / Expectation
Stillness and silence
Minimal and maximal
Solos, duos, trios, quartets
Many bodies / States
Parallel Voices
Performance / Principles
Distracting the self / Paradox / Choreography / Performance / Electric guitars
Does it work? / Showings / Mentoring
Narrative / Ballet / Continuity
Continuity / Material / Make six things / Choreography / Flow
Relation
Relation / Time / Rhythm
Time
Counterpoint
Unison
Scores / Studios / Translation / Sequencing / Improvisation
Chance / Empty hands / Gamut of movements / Limitations / Laborious
work / Philosophy
Audience / Facing the front / Facing each other / Confrontation / Humour / Failure
Place or space?
Audience
Hierarchies / Dancer or choreographer? / In it or out of it? / Who owns what?
The marketplace / Earning a living / Administrating the work / Commercial work / Commissions / Academia
Music / Collaboration / Silence
Text
Lighting / Technicians / Collaboration / Costumes / Set
design / Nudity
Filming / History / Collaboration / Mirrors / Human-scale
Titles
How can I simplify all of this?
Forget all this
