Week 7 Notes:
2/23, 2/25
-Bill T. Jones exercise
Assignment:
-Exploring the 4 phases
-Phase 1: Do the phrase
-Phase 2: Do the phrase and describe the movement with as much detail as possible
-Phase 3: Do the phrase and say whatever you’re feeling or thinking
-Phase 4: Do the phrase and allow what you say affect what you do
Reflection:
I learned a lot about myself during this exercise. Initially, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to connect emotionally in front of my peers. I was familiar with this exercise, but I never had the opportunity to physically do the exercise. I talked about my battle with being a student and a teacher. This semester I had personal issues with feeling like I belong in this department. Being surrounded by intelligent people daily made me question my own intelligence. I was reminded by my peers that no matter where my career takes me, I will forever be a student. During this exercise I also tapped into an issue that I continuously avoid; the battle of feeling deserving of opportunities. I have often been told that the opportunities afforded to me are based on my skin complexion or my height. This exercise helped me verbalize those thoughts and acknowledge my place in the world. I now have the confidence to trust myself and be proud of my accomplishments despite what other people think. This class is very therapeutic for me and I appreciate when we sit and discuss our insecurities together. To feel supported in our self-doubts has helped me trust myself this semester in my creative exploration.
Week 8 Notes:
3/2, 3/4
-Creating choreography from prompts
-Commandment Study
Assignment:
Research: The policing of black women’s body in America
The policing of women’s bodies is a form of oppression saturated in the culture of slavery, which has evolved in a way that has forced black women in America to fight for their place in the world. To recognize the metaphorical shackles that still inhibit black women’s bodies and availability to grow and move upward in society, we must acknowledge their oppressions and understand them as an act of survival and step towards taking back ownership of their bodies. The ways in which black and brown people have had to continuously navigate spaces being reminded that their existence is not sufficient for society. With all the complexities of being a person of color, as well as the multi-dimensional aspects of being a human and having beliefs that differ from the norms. Keep in remembrance that the systems in place were always in effect to keep people of color oppressed. Next time you see a black woman wearing tight fitted clothes and sexualizing herself, ask yourself these questions. How is she embracing her individual body? How is she breaking down stereotypes surrounding etiquette? And finally, how is she taking back ownership and rights of her body? The liberation of women of color especially in terms of sexuality and taking back ownership of their bodies and minds is the first step to healing and being able to be whole. With more women being able to walk that journey and pass on this newfound experience to their children, it may enact change in society to relinquish the negative stereotypes that are associated with the black female body. In 200 plus years, we have only come this far, but we have so much farther to go.
In class exercise:
Project 36: Commandment Dance Study
During Slavery:
Reacting to negative stereotypes
Break down the mother phrase to an ABA
Dancers will create their own phrase for the word given. In between each letter they will add their own phrase
Ex. Morgan creates a phrase for the word crushed. She will break up the mother phrase into 3 parts (ABA) She performs her A, then does her crushed phrase. She performs her B, then perform her crushed phrase. She performs her A, then does the crushed phrase.
Broken: Crushed, separated, split, demolished, fractured, fragmented, damaged
Present Day 2021
Taking ownership of your body
Sustained: Unbroken, steady, uninterrupted, peaceful, constant, continuous
Same idea as part A.
Why are black women angry or perceived to be angry?
What happened in history to create the narrative of black women being angry?
If black women let their guard down to deconstruct the stereotype, will they be ran over?
Where does the uncontrollable desire to touch a black woman’s hair come from?
Where did the term nappy come from?
Why does big lips and a big ass considered to be sexy?
Why are black women punished for their physical features?
Why has society put black features on the market for everyone to purchase
-ex: surgery, tanning
What’s the problem and what’s the overall objective?
What are you trying to give that wasn’t already there?
Notes:
George: Project #30 Image study
-Movement inspired from images created longer phrases
Derreck: Project #34 Sin study
-Define terms envy and gluttony, added text, define the terms, create adjectives/intellectualize
Morgan: Project #33 Pride study
-Created movement using the before and after
Reflection:
This exercise created an opportunity to explore how prompts can influence choreographic structures. I understand I have a lot of work to do in my research topic however, to relate my research to choreography stimulated ideas for the topic. Defining westernized beauty from a historical and theoretical perspective developed out of this exploration. I was advised to read articles on Sarah Baartman and Cornell west to support my research. I am interested in how society fetishizes women and how that trend has continued for centuries. Lawrence gave me the idea to pose the question of what people see when they see a female on stage. This week we also talked about creating a research tree and posing questions that branch out from my central idea. Incorporating the who, what, when, where and why was extremely helpful in this assignment.
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