Practice Module

Performance Innovations Practice
Module code: APP003N
Module Leader: Jane Turner
j.turner@londonmet.ac.uk

Module Summary

Through a range of self-reflective and group activities participants will explore and develop their skills and project ideas gaining new understandings of their potential as part of an enterprising vocational future.

We will consider our influences and mentors, personal interests and histories, our skills and ambitions, in identifying and clarifying our core creative ideas, practical skills and particular strengths towards developing and refining individual performance practice. This may be as a tutor(in a dance style for example) or leader/director (of commercial or community projects/productions), or creator (choreographer, director, composer) of new performance innovations.

These processes will be contextualised in a culture where digital networking practices are commonplace in a diverse globalised culture. We will examine a number of innovative artists towards identifying the core components of a successful creative practitioner and use mentoring as a developmental activity. Students will explore aspects of their practice in a supportive, collaborative environment developing ideas towards a final presentation of a performance innovation project relevant to their entrpreneurial intentions, for example, the presentation of a short performance or interactive event that utilises a range of performance strategies that may integrate digital audio-visual systems.

The module will mostly be delivered through practical sessions and workshop intensives in studios and the digilab. Independent research tasks will take place in university and industry environments supported through blended learning, mentoring and group tutorials. Performance presentations will be documented using a range of digital media and analysed as part of progressive learning strategies.

Module Assessment

PRACTICAL (PRA) Performance presentation: 70%
COURSEWORK (CWK) Evaluative written work: 30%
Students will be required to research and develop a 10-20 minute performative presentation of a developed project idea in a relevant context that acknowledges its target audience and that utilises digital or technological media. Performance Presentation: date to be decided
This will be supported by a piece of evaluative written work of 1500-2000 words that draws on elicited feedback and research into relevant innovative practitioners and contextual research.
The module will be delivered across the spring and summer terms.Written work deadline: to be decided.

Select Reading List

Adewole.F, Matchett, D. and Prescod,C. Eds 2007 Voicing Black Dance: The British Experience 1930s-1990s (A Reader Produced for the ADAD Heritage Project )
Birringer, J.2000 Performance on the Edge: Transformations of Culture, Imprint, London Athlone, Claid, E. 2006 Yes? NO! Maybe… Seductive Ambiguity in Dance Routledge
Cooper Albright, A. & Gere, D. Taken by surprise : a dance improvisation reader, Wesleyan University Press, 2003
Dixon, L. 2003 Play-acting. A guide to theatre workshops Methuen 2003
Etchells, T Certain Fragments: Contemporary Performance and Forced Entertainment, London: Routledge
Forsythe, William [CD-ROM] 2000 Improvisation Technologies : a tool for the analytical dance eye Cantz : Hatje
Graham, S. & Hoggett, S. 2009 The Frantic Assembly Book of Devising Theatre, Routledge
Thomas, Helen (ed.) 1997 Dance in the City, St. Martin’s Press, NY

www.davidparrish.com
www.londondance.com
www.itc-arts.org
www.thisisliveart.co.uk