1. ODC/DANCE &Educating Dance Audiences (EDA) Brenda Way
Founder, Artistic Director, ODC KT Nelson Co-Artistic Director,
ODC
2. What is ODCs I Speak Dance? Project aims to cultivate
fluency and life-longinterest in dance among a young adultaudience.
Focus is on regional college students for whomwe created a portable
mini-curriculum aimed atproviding exposure and first-hand
interactionwith live, high-quality professional dance.
3. Four Components of I Speak Dance: Film Immediate Dance
Unplugged Performance
4. QuestionsPost Film Post Unplugged Dance Describe something
you remember Describe something you remember e.g. "I e.g. "I
noticed...", "I wonder about..." noticed ...", "I wonder about ..."
In a few words, describe your In a few words, what is your
impression of the work? impression of ODC. Did anything surprise
you? Did anything surprise you and if Did anything confuse you? so,
what? How did the performance make you feel? Did anything confuse
you and if Were you engaged while watching the so, what?
performance? Describe something you learned fromPost Immediate
Dance watching this performance. Have you ever performed before?
What was your favorite move? Post Performance Did anything surprise
you? What did you like most about the experience? Did anything
confuse you? How did the performance make you feel? What was most
challenging? Did you discuss the work during Do you think this will
affect the way intermission? you see dance? Would you attend a
concert again? Why? Were you engaged while Were you engaged while
watching the participating? performance?
5. Part 1: Film Love on the RunView the 6 minute film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blpArhFUcOk
6. Film Findings Did Anything Surprise You? Fall 2010 Spring
2011N NY Y0.00% 20.00% 40.00% 60.00% 80.00% 100.00% 0.0% 20.0%
40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0% It surprised me that even though they made
simple movements it looked interesting. The transition from
pedestrian movement outdoors to dance movement on a stage. How
everyday movements can be turned into dance. I was surprised that
you can find traces of modern dance and dance in general in
everyday routines/actions. Did Anything Confuse You? Fall 2010
Spring 2011 N N Y Y 0.00% 20.00% 40.00% 60.00% 80.00% 100.00% 0.0%
20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0% Ending left me uncomfortably
ambiguous.
7. Film Findings Were You Engaged? Fall 2010 Spring 2011N NY
Y0.00% 20.00% 40.00% 60.00% 80.00% 100.00% 0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0%
80.0% 100.0% Interesting to see how people have different views on
what modern dance is. Because I could easily relate my everyday
movements to dance. The simplicity of the movement had a large
impact on me. The choreography was intricate and intense, it kept
me hooked. The movements were surprising, unpredictable,
captivating.
8. Part 2: Immediate Dance
9. Immediate Dance Findings Will This Affect The Way You See
Dance? Fall 2010 Spring 2011 NN YY 0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0%
100.0% 0.00% 20.00% 40.00% 60.00% 80.00% 100.00%I love bringing
together different disciplines = looking at dance through the
lenses of visual arts and vice-versa.I appreciate dancers more than
I already did. I now know how much goes into a performance It gave
a behind the scenes look at how dance is made An instantaneous
production IS possible! It has demystified the dance world a bit as
far as the leap between professional and academic learning A lot of
aspects are present in dance, not just the usual. Theres a mental
& emotional aspect too. Even the simplest moves can be turned
into a dance move. Were You Engaged? Fall 2010 Spring 2011N NY
Y0.00% 20.00% 40.00% 60.00% 80.00% 100.00% 0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0%
80.0% 100.0%I was mentally engaged as well as physically All the
collaboration and sharing of ideas helped keep me engaged. I was
excited to see all my peers participate in the entire piece and
seeing how everything came together. It was a team effort and i
wanted to support and engage the team
10. Unplugged Findings Did Anything Surprise You? Fall 2010
Spring 2011N NY Y0.00% 20.00% 40.00% 60.00% 80.00% 100.00% 0.0%
20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0% How effortless it looked How well
they were able to express situations and feelings The male-male
partnering! Loved it! How does one remember so much choreography
The use of air movements and the risks taken by the dancers Did
Anything Confuse You? Fall 2010 Spring 2011 N N Y Y 0.00% 20.00%
40.00% 60.00% 80.00% 100.00% 0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%
Some of the messages could have many meanings I had a little
trouble deciding what the right interpretation of the piece
was.
11. Unplugged Findings Were You Engaged? Fall 2010 Spring 2011N
NY Y0.00% 20.00% 40.00% 60.00% 80.00% 100.00% 0.0% 20.0% 40.0%
60.0% 80.0% 100.0%I wanted more even though the dance was over
Watched with open eyes and open heartEverything was so beautiful
the literal interpretation and the not so literal was balanced
wellHearing the background story and ideas behind the piece allowed
me to be even more engaged.the combination of music, lighting,
pauses, and dance was in perfect synergy. The dance reallyreminded
me of that painting of the sculptures A lot of nice texture. At the
same at the veryvery beginning. When youre illustrating sound. I
like that instructional illustration. I felt like itwas really
great visual repetition and like I never got tired of seeing this
sort of vignette that kindakept happening.
12. Part 4: Performance
13. Performance Findings Did Anything Surprise You? Fall 2010
Spring 2011 N N Y Y 0.00% 20.00% 40.00% 60.00% 80.00% 100.00% 0.0%
20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%The use of the space was so
innovative, every section was unexpectedThe audience laughed! It
was wonderful I enjoyed how different each piece was from the
others.The movement in the second piece was very different from
what I am used to seeing from ODC. Iliked it a lot! I enjoyed how
different each piece was from the others. Did Anything Confuse You?
Fall 2010 Spring 2011N N Y Y 0.00% 20.00% 40.00% 60.00% 80.00%
100.00% 0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0% I just always wonder
about the meaning behind movements and dances The dances hold too
much content for me to perceive in one performance
14. Performance Findings Were You Engaged? Fall 2010 Spring
2011 N N Y Y 0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0% 0.00% 20.00%
40.00% 60.00% 80.00% 100.00% Loved that the performances seems
immediate and personal Level changes, intricate movement. Eager to
see what happened There was this element of play in the second
piece. VERY FUN! Loved the energy, music, jumps and turns. Very
interesting to see how they use the different shapes of the body
and I enjoy the stories. It made me want to get up and dance Would
you attend a concert again? Fall 2010 Spring 2011Maybe Maybe N N Y
Y 0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0% 0.00% 20.00% 40.00% 60.00%
80.00% 100.00% It is unlike anything I have seen before - yet
somehow, familiar Thought-provoking and creative It was different
& raised thought on many controversial issues. The performance
was a reminder to embrace the arts - the performers heightened my
awareness I would bring a friend with me again next time
15. Performance Findings Did you discuss the work at
intermission?NY0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0%
90.0% 100.0%
16. Conclusion1. We did not see a significant preference for
one or the other means of access.2. We found a correlation between
repeated feedback opportunities and increased complexity and ease
of response, even after these few activities.3. We found that the
students cross-referenced events.--- ie. Although different in
kind, cumulative dance experiences enriched responses to individual
activities.4. We did not figure out how to test the hypothesis that
a social dimension increased receptivity although comfort and
appreciation levels were high.Five thoughts come to mind:1. While
we did find some apprehension about modern dance among the general
public, not so among the university cohort--- or perhaps we did not
adequately tease this attitude out at the outset We should have
asked directly, did you expect to like this experience?2. In
contrast to our assumption that computers or smart phones would be
the best communication tools, we found that responses were best
elicited by written questionnaires or small group discussion.
(although we must note, we didnt have access to student email or
texting addresses)3. Our program did not seem to prepare the
students for less familiar fare but even so, it did provoke
interest in the art form;4. We should launch a four year followup
to see how many participants actually attend dance in the future.5.
Confusion is not necessarily a negative; a measure of ambiguity
even seemed attractive.
