Matching Items (60)
Description
Places That Shape You documents the development and experience of composing and presenting Places That Shape You, an evening-length dance performance examining the relationship between culture and urban spaces, inspired by the physical parameters that cities provide for our lives. In the performance, a blend of postmodern contemporary movement vocabulary, text, projection, a mattress, 12 phonebooks and an overhead projector were used to a tell a story through the contrast of objects both obsolete and current. Musical collaborator, Austen Mack, created an original score that worked in partnership with the movement, advancing the unfolding of concepts about public and private spaces, community, memory, expectation and abstraction. In collaboration with six dancers, the choreographer conducted movement and archival research investigating personal stories, urban theory, somatic experience, place-making, and memories left in the spaces people inhabit, culminating in an evening length performance.
ContributorsWillcox, Halley (Author) / Fitzgerald, Mary (Thesis advisor) / Lerman, Liz (Committee member) / Rajko, Jessica (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2019
Description
This document explores a community dance project at an orphanage in Mexico and the investigations following. This project researched how dance can be used to create a transformative and empowering experience for the participant and what discoveries of identity are made through dance. The research took place at an orphanage in Texcoco, Mexico and at Arizona State University. The participants in this research include three dance artists from Arizona State University and 10 ten-year-old children from Mexico. The portion that took place in Mexico was conducted in daily three-hour classes over the span of two weeks. For five months following the two weeks in Mexico, weekly rehearsals were held and a culminating concert was performed on November 20th–22nd of 2015.
ContributorsMay, Emily Ann (Author) / Fitzgerald, Mary (Thesis advisor) / McMahon, Jeff (Committee member) / Rex-Flint, Melissa (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2016
Description
Purple World was a choreographic project that investigated improvisational, compositional, design, and technological experiments to research movement possibilities in interdisciplinary and interactive settings. In developing the work, the dancers exchanged different individual perspectives through "movement recall." This movement recall was inspired by the sensations associated with their physical memories from childhood, conditioned movement patterns, and the ways dancers can use their bodies to creatively problem-solve the philosophical questions in their lives. The work united dance, interactive work, structured improvisation, props, and installation. The intersection of discussion with collaborators, creative methods inspired by other artists, and the elements described above provided a structure for the artist to investigate his choreographic artistic identity by cultivating individual movement vocabulary in himself and his dancers.
ContributorsKikuchi, Fumihiro (Author) / Fitzgerald, Mary (Thesis advisor) / Jackson, Naomi (Committee member) / Kim, Marianne (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
Description
"Linked Together" is a choreographic piece inspired by at-risk youth and their ability to learn, grow, and transform their lives through dance. The idea for the piece originated from dance programs implemented with under-resourced populations in Virginia, Panama, and India. My teaching experiences in these places sparked the development of a longer, more comprehensive dance program in Arizona, with a Boys and Girls Club. The Arizona dance program included specific somatics exercises, focused on the integration of mind and body, as well as other types of improvisations, to help the participants learn about movement concepts and develop original movement.
The title "Linked Together" suggests that all people are connected in many ways, regardless of personal differences such as socioeconomic status or language. The dancers included myself, Arizona State University (ASU) dance students, as well as Boys and Girls Club dance program participants. For the concert, all dancers portrayed stories and concepts related to empowerment through emotionally charged movement, and thereby provided audience members with a visceral lens through which to see the transformative powers of dance. The data collected from this project through observations, surveys, and interviews suggest that constructive behaviors that are internalized through dance can flow seamlessly into the non-dance world, encouraging people to think creatively, collaborate with others, gain a sense of ownership, and feel empowered in all parts of life.
The title "Linked Together" suggests that all people are connected in many ways, regardless of personal differences such as socioeconomic status or language. The dancers included myself, Arizona State University (ASU) dance students, as well as Boys and Girls Club dance program participants. For the concert, all dancers portrayed stories and concepts related to empowerment through emotionally charged movement, and thereby provided audience members with a visceral lens through which to see the transformative powers of dance. The data collected from this project through observations, surveys, and interviews suggest that constructive behaviors that are internalized through dance can flow seamlessly into the non-dance world, encouraging people to think creatively, collaborate with others, gain a sense of ownership, and feel empowered in all parts of life.
ContributorsDaniel, Chareka (Author) / Fitzgerald, Mary (Thesis advisor) / Britt, Melissa (Committee member) / Manning, Linda (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
Description
ABSTRACT
This study intended to provide people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder a creative outlet to experience dance and other art forms as a way of expressing themselves. Other potential benefits were observed throughout the exploration, including social interaction, coordination, and confidence. An interpretive phenomenological research model analyzed participant and parent verbal reflections, written feedback, and video recorded movement sessions to understand and interpret the participant's experience and the potential value of creative movement. The study was conducted over a seven-week period, which included 13, 30-minute movement sessions held biweekly along with interviews, discussions, surveys, and journaling. The research revealed dance empowered each participant to explore his/her creativity and exercise personal expression. The feedback received from the participants and parents through interviews and reflections revealed the participants did exercise and discover social, physical, emotional, and creative expression throughout the study.
This study intended to provide people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder a creative outlet to experience dance and other art forms as a way of expressing themselves. Other potential benefits were observed throughout the exploration, including social interaction, coordination, and confidence. An interpretive phenomenological research model analyzed participant and parent verbal reflections, written feedback, and video recorded movement sessions to understand and interpret the participant's experience and the potential value of creative movement. The study was conducted over a seven-week period, which included 13, 30-minute movement sessions held biweekly along with interviews, discussions, surveys, and journaling. The research revealed dance empowered each participant to explore his/her creativity and exercise personal expression. The feedback received from the participants and parents through interviews and reflections revealed the participants did exercise and discover social, physical, emotional, and creative expression throughout the study.
ContributorsFinlayson, Kelsey (Author) / Fitzgerald, Mary (Thesis advisor) / Murphey, Claudia (Committee member) / Brown, Karen (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
Description
“shiFT: An Exploration of Empathy” is a document detailing the process of
creating the evening length dance performance, “shiFT,” through the theoretical,
somatic, kinesthetic and choreographic research of empathy. This research specifically
addressed the ability to consciously take on an empathetic perspective and the change
that must occur within oneself to co-create empathy. It focused on the factors that
impede empathetic function and the role of vulnerability in experiencing empathy.
Throughout the creation of this concert, the choreographer employed empathy building
exercises and concentrated creative processes constructed from her research into the
neurological, emotional and physical aspects of empathy with a cast of ten dancers.
Choreographer and dancers worked collaboratively to create an empathetic
environment, a pre-show film installation titled GREY MATTER, and the culminating
evening length concert piece “shiFT.”
creating the evening length dance performance, “shiFT,” through the theoretical,
somatic, kinesthetic and choreographic research of empathy. This research specifically
addressed the ability to consciously take on an empathetic perspective and the change
that must occur within oneself to co-create empathy. It focused on the factors that
impede empathetic function and the role of vulnerability in experiencing empathy.
Throughout the creation of this concert, the choreographer employed empathy building
exercises and concentrated creative processes constructed from her research into the
neurological, emotional and physical aspects of empathy with a cast of ten dancers.
Choreographer and dancers worked collaboratively to create an empathetic
environment, a pre-show film installation titled GREY MATTER, and the culminating
evening length concert piece “shiFT.”
ContributorsWitt, Rebecca (Author) / Fitzgerald, Mary (Thesis advisor) / Standley, Eileen (Committee member) / Heywood, William (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2018
Description
Through ideologies of gender identity, gender as performance, sexuality, and the transgressions thereof, this document serves as a memoir inside of a memoir. I made a pop concert dance piece through a western dance aesthetic with my thesis paper detailing the experience. What did that look like? Throughout this paper, I will explain my thought process, expectations, and experience through writing, which is a more challenging task for me. I am not an academic writer, but rather a rebel with a cause. My cause is to transgress the system in any way I’m able - through words, dance, and expression. As opposed to the artistic dance piece itself, this paper’s purpose is one of both selfish intent and catharsis. Given this, I approached my thesis paper with the same mindset used when developing my piece, in that I rebel fighting against the heteronormative standards that have run my life. I don’t fill this document with regurgitated theory. Moreover, this document morphed into a cathartic platform for me, a purging of counter-hegemonic principals and ideals.
ContributorsCruz, Felix (Author) / Fitzgerald, Mary (Thesis advisor) / Rex, Melissa (Committee member) / McMahon, Jeff (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2017
Description
“In Spirit - An Archetypal Journey of the Soul” is a document illustrating the process of creating an evening length autobiographical aerial dance theater performance, In Spirit, through the investigation of theoretical, kinesthetic and choreographic research of archetypal symbolism, as well as aesthetic, choreographic and pedagogical aspects of aerial dance. The Jungian research specifically informed the identification of symbolism and the roles that archetypes play in creating a clear storyline within aerial dance theatre. In addition, research of aesthetic voice and current aerial dance practitioners became important and gave perspectives on creative pedagogical engagement in contemporary dance and aerial dance-making. For the duration of the process of creating In Spirit image-based creative tools, tarot symbolism, Jungian archetypes, aerial dance training and collaboration were explored with the cast of ten dancers. Through this research and embodying the spirit of collaboration, the choreographer and dancers worked diligently to train dancers with no previous experience in aerial dance to perform in aerial roles. The evening-length performance of In Spirit synthesized contemporary dance, aerial dance, theatre and symbolism regarding rebirth.
ContributorsReed, Elisa M (Author) / Fitzgerald, Mary (Thesis advisor) / Schupp, Karen (Committee member) / Winnemann, Christopher (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2020
Description
“Mix Mix Tayo: The Many Pieces in Our Stories'' is a written reflection, exploring the creation of the dance documentary, Carried Across the Water as well as the community event, Mix Mix Tayo. The ideas behind these works are centered in storytelling, filipino american identity and community. This research explores the use of film, dance, event production and the mixing of elements to create new wholes in order to communicate these ideas. These works were imagined in response to a call that was felt from people actively searching for healing, community and ancestral knowledge.
ContributorsCurry, Nicole (Author) / Standley, Eileen (Thesis advisor) / Fitzgerald, Mary (Committee member) / Nascimento, Eliciana (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2020
Description
Manopoly: The Documentary details the process of creating a 30 minute documentary-style dance film that highlights the diverse experiences of postsecondary education male dance students. The film provides a glimpse into the rehearsal process of Manopoly. This is the third iteration of this creative work and is the emphasis for this document. Several arts-based research methodologies, including narrative inquiry, choreography, and filmmaking are used in the process of creating Manopoly: The Documentary. Personal and communal interviews are used to provide insight into the experiences of the dance cast. The choreography seeks to embody, and reflect upon, the lived narratives, perspectives, and experiences of young men participating in postsecondary education dance. The written document serves to also articulate what is witnessed in the culminating dance film, expressed in interviews with the cast, and offer an opportunity to re-think, interrogate, question, and enhance preconceived understandings and values towards gender in dance as well as society.
ContributorsHerring-Harman, Michael Nicholas (Author) / Fitzgerald, Mary (Thesis advisor) / Schupp, Karen (Committee member) / Bailey, Marlon (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2021