Teaching Dance Improvisation serves as an introduction to, and a springboard for the author’s theories, practices, and curriculum building of dance improvisation as a technique. By taking a similar approach to teaching ballet, modern, jazz, tap, or hip hop, this book supplies its reader with an easy-to-follow roadmap in order to begin building and incorporating dance improvisation into dance studios/classrooms and curriculums.
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter 1
What is Improvisation?
Chapter 2
The 10 Rules of Improvisation; Plus 1
Chapter 3
Rule #1 - There is No Right or Wrong…but Sometimes There is a Better Choice
Chapter 4
Rule #2 - Follow Your Impulse
Chapter 5
Rule #3 – Start with What You Know
Chapter 6
Rule #4 - When in Doubt, Go Back to the Beginning
Chapter 7
Rule # 5 - The Moment You Check Out, Someone Gets Hurt
Chapter 8
Rule #6 - It Takes a Village to Raise an Improvisation
Chapter 9
Rule #7 - The Hardest Part Isn’t Knowing When to Start; It’s Knowing How to Start
Chapter 10
Rule #8 - Everything You Need Exists in the World around You
Chapter 11
Rule #9 - Continual Movement In and of Itself is not Necessarily Improvisation
Chapter 12
Rule #10 - Be Wary of the Black Hole
Chapter 13
Plus 1 – Repetition is Comfort Food
Chapter 14
Additional Considerations and Concluding Thoughts
Chapter 15
Sample Class Curriculums
Index
Biography
Matthew Farmer is Chair of the Dance Department at Hope College and the Dorothy Wiley DeLong Endowed Professor of Dance. He is the former Co-Artistic Director of R.G. Dance Productions, current Co-Artistic Director of H2 Dance Co., and Co-Author of the book Introductory Modern Dance: A Teaching Manual. Matthew received his MFA from the University of Michigan in Dance Performance and Choreography, and his BA in Theatre and Dance from Hope College. Matthew was a company member of The Peter Sparling Dance Co., company member and Associate Director of LehrerDance, and has performed as a solo artist in the United States, Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. Farmer’s choreography has been produced by college and university dance programs, professional dance companies, international festivals, theaters companies, dance competitions, and musical theater venues throughout the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Mexico, France, and Ecuador. As an educator, Matthew focuses on modern dance, contemporary dance, jazz dance, improvisation, partnering, and dance composition.
