Compare and contrast your application of Fundamental A to that of one of the dance artists or group of artists in a video we watched for this class.

Based on a dance created using any of the dance fundamentals that we have read about, danced, or discussed in this class: mobility/stability, finding stability through moving; breath support, using breath as a source of power; core support, using your core to support your periphery, and vice versa; dynamic alignment, integrating body parts and mind; or exertion/recuperation, finding your personal rhythm, using the beginning of a phrase to influence the resolution.

a. A descriptive title (may be the title of your dance).

b. Introductory paragraph that states your thesis and briefly previews the main points in your paper. In this case, your thesis should be in the form of a question along the lines of, “How do dance fundamentals underlie my movements and my life?” Your paper is your answer to this question. Say what you are going to say, with about one sentence for each paragraph in the body of your essay. Encapsulate your main points; don’t just describe what you plan to talk about. (For instance, write “I used a recurring motif phrase with jagged lines to represent anxiety.” Do not write, “I will explain how I represented the primary metaphor of my dance.”)

c. Describe your experience of performing this solo. What were your physical sensations as you performed? Which body parts did you use most often? Which emotions came up for you as you danced? What else did you observe? Include a link to your solo in your paper.

d. What did you express in your solo? What themes did you represent through movement? Which emotions did you show? Include a close physical description (at least three sentences describing body parts in motion, e.g. hand waves like a geyser, leg spokes to the sky, etc.) of a short (5- to 25-second) movement sequence from your own dance in which you expressed yourself. Explain what you expressed, and when, during this sequence. Include time markers for your observations.

e. (At least 2 paragraphs) In your own words, define the dance fundamental that inspired your dance (hereafter referred to as Fundamental A). Break down Fundamental A into representative characteristics, identifying key aspects (at least 3) from your textbook chapter, your online movement class, your powerpoint assignment, your dance video assignment, or your exercise reflection, and explaining why these characteristics are necessary to understand Fundamental A. These aspects should each be equally significant to you for understanding Fundamental A. Don’t forget: Synthesize these elements, explaining what they all have in common.

f. Put Fundamental A in the context of your everyday life. Tell an anecdote from your personal history (something you have experienced or witnessed directly, rather than heard or read about) in which you applied or identified an example of this dance fundamental, and explain why this represents Fundamental A. (You may not repeat an example that you have already included in an assignment for this class.) For instance, as an example of exertion/recuperation, you might describe how walking breaks allow you to run longer.

g. How did you apply Fundamental A in your dance? In which ways did you make use of Fundamental A in your movements? How did it come in handy, or inspire your choices? Include a close physical description (at least three sentences describing body parts in motion, e.g. hand waves like a geyser, leg spokes to the sky, etc.) of a short (5- to 25-second) movement sequence from your own dance that demonstrated Fundamental A. Explain how the sequence represents Fundamental A. Include time markers for your observations.

h. Compare and contrast your application of Fundamental A to that of one of the dance artists or group of artists in a video we watched for this class. With specific evidence from the video, prove that Fundamental A is represented in the work of this dance artist. How did the artist apply Fundamental A differently from you? How did you each apply Fundamental A similarly? What did you learn from this artist that you applied to your own dance? Include time markers for your observations.

i. (At least 2 paragraphs) In your own words, define a second dance fundamental (hereafter referred to as Fundamental B). This fundamental must be from one of the last two modules of this class, mobility/stability or dynamic alignment. Break down Fundamental B into representative characteristics, identifying key aspects (at least 3) from your textbook chapter, your online movement class, your powerpoint assignment, your dance video assignment, or your exercise reflection. These characteristics should each be equally significant for your understanding of Fundamental B. Explain why these characteristics are necessary to understand Fundamental B. Don’t forget: finally, synthesize these elements, explaining what they all have in common.

j. Put Fundamental B in the context of your everyday life. Tell an anecdote from your personal history (something you have experienced or witnessed directly, rather than heard or read about) in which you applied or identified an example of this dance fundamental, and explain why this represents Fundamental B. (You may not repeat an example that you have already included in an assignment for this class.) For instance, you might describe how mobilizing through exercise helps you focus or stabilize on a difficult task like writing a paper.

k. A fundamental is a building block, a basic element. Therefore, the dance fundamentals presented in this class underlie almost any dance. Pick one of your favorite dance videos on youtube (must be at least 3 minutes long, may not be one of the videos we used in class, and may not be a series of clips strung together) and describe how Fundamental B is represented in this dance. Include a link to this dance video! How do you interpret the meaning of this dance, and how does Fundamental B reinforce that meaning? How did the artists apply Fundamental B in movement? Include a close physical description (at least three sentences describing body parts in motion, e.g. hand waves like a geyser, leg spokes to the sky, etc.) of a short (5- to 25-second) movement sequence from the video that demonstrates Fundamental B. Explain how this sequence represents Fundamental B. Include time markers for your observations, and a link to the video.

l. Explain how Fundamental B may be applied to your own solo. With specific evidence from your video, prove that Fundamental B is represented in your work. Even though it was not the main idea of your dance, how does your dance reference Fundamental B? How did you apply Fundamental B differently from the artists in your favorite dance video? What did you learn from these artists that you might apply to your next dance? Include time markers for your observations.

m. Reflect on the fundamentals that you rely on in your daily life. Identify one concept, instruction, piece of advice, or personal value that helps you navigate the twists and turns of your life. What do you rely on to keep you moving when you hit an obstacle?

n. End with a concluding paragraph in which you recap the main points of your paper and, succinctly, answer your thesis question based on the evidence you provided in the body of your paper. Say what you said, with about one sentence for each paragraph in the body of your essay. Encapsulate your main points; don’t just describe what you talked about.

Final Project Rubric (content):

Student has…
1. Applied in practice a range of expression in your dance while exhibiting rigorous standards of technique by dancing a full-length, well-rehearsed solo, and by reflecting on this experience, and identifying what you expressed, in your essay.

2. Demonstrated content knowledge of dance fundamentals through an analysis and synthesis of representative examples, ideas, and skills by analyzing and synthesizing two different dance fundamentals, with personal anecdotes.

3. Articulated by appropriate means the ways in which theory and practice meet in the creation of dance by describing your applications of two different dance fundamentals (Fundamentals A and B) to your solo (1 point each), and identifying a personal fundamental.

4. Shown how history, aesthetics, form and composition, techniques and/or pedagogy contribute to the process of creative development by comparing your applications of Fundamentals A and B in your dance to the applications of two different choreographers.