Choreography
Choreography is the term used to refer to the steps, groupings, and patterns of dance composition. An important component of choreography is the notation, or writing down, of information about what steps are done, what positions assumed, and what movements required of dancers. This ensures that a particular dance can be consistently performed and that it can also be recreated by others later.
The earliest known notation system for choreography was developed in the late 15th century and consisted of writing the initials of the names of steps under the musical notes in the score. The first widely used system was developed by Feuillet and Pierre Beauchamp* and published in Feuillet's Choreographie in 1700.
This system focused on the steps and movements of dancers about the floor since these were regarded as the most important component of the ballet; arm movements were indicated only occasionally. One reason for this development was the evolution of ballet to a profession, with trained dancers who could accomplish more intricate and advanced choreography. This more intricate choreography, in turn, required a more precise notation system with more information.
After that time, the system was extended until it became unwieldy and a need was felt for a more usable method. More than 80 other systems of dance notation have been developed, most of them in the 20th century.
ONELINER: Choreography
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BIBLIOGRAPHY:
<http://search.csmonitor.com/durable/1998/09/25/p51s1.htm> Christian Science Monitor e-Monitor website, Arts & Leisure, Karen Campbell, "Make the Leap Into Ballet," dated Fri., Sept 28/98.
<http://www.panix.com/~twp/dance/faq_5.htm> Ballet – Modern FAQ 5: Miscellaneous Questions, c1995-2002 Thomas Parsons, (part of Panix.com: Public Access Networks Corporation) "Is there a way of writing down dance, the way we write down music?"
<http://www.abt.org/education/dictionary/index.html> Ballet Dictionary, c2003 American Ballet Theatre.
Choreography is the art or practice of designing sequences of movements of physical bodies (or their depictions) in which motion or form or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself. A choreographer is one who creates choreographies by practising the art of choreography, a process known as choreographing. It most commonly refers to dance choreography.[1]
In dance, choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. Dance choreography is sometimes called dance composition. Aspects of dance choreography include the compositional use of organic unity, rhythmic or non-rhythmic articulation, theme and variation, and repetition. The choreographic process may employ improvisation for the purpose of developing innovative movement ideas. In general, choreography is used to design dances that are intended to be performed as concert dance.
The art of choreography involves the specification of human movement and form in terms of space, shape, time and energy, typically within an emotional or non-literal context. Movement language is taken from the dance techniques of ballet, contemporary dance, jazz dance, hip hop dance, folk dance, techno, K-pop, religious dance, pedestrian movement, or combinations of these.
Etymology and history[]
One of the first documents with choreographic signs is the Catalan manuscript of Cervera from 1496
The word choreography literally means "dance-writing"[2] from the Greek words "χορεία" (circular dance, see choreia) and "γραφή" (writing)....
In Renaissance Italy, dance masters created movements for social dances which were taught, while staged ballets were created in a similar way. In 16th century France, French court dances were developed in an artistic pattern. In the 17th and 18th centuries, social dance became more separated from theatrical dance performances. During this time the word choreography was applied to the written record of dances, which later became known as dance notation, with the meaning of choreography shifting to its current use as the composition of a sequence of movements making up a dance performance.[2]
The ballet master or choreographer during this time became the "arranger of dance as a theatrical art", with one well-known master being of the late 18th century being Jean-Georges Noverre, with others following and developing techniques for specific types of dance, including Gasparo Angiolini, Jean Dauberval, Charles Didelot, and Salvatore Viganò. Ballet eventually developed its own vocabulary in the 19th century, and romantic ballet choreographers included Carlo Blasis, August Bournonville, Jules Perrot and Marius Petipa.[2]
Modern dance brought a new, more naturalistic style of choreography, including by Russian choreographer Michel Fokine (1880-1942)[2] and Isadora Duncan (1878-1927),[7] and since then styles have varied between realistic representation and abstraction. Merce Cunningham, George Balanchine, and Sir Frederick Ashton were all influential choreographers of classical or abstract dance, but Balanchine and Ashton, along with Martha Graham, Leonide Massine, Jerome Robbins and others also created representational works.[2] Isadora Duncan loved natural movement and improvisation. The work of Alvin Ailey (1931-1989), an African-American dancer, choreographer, and activist, spanned many styles of dance, including ballet, jazz, modern dance, and theatre.[7]
Choreography today[]
Today, the main rules for choreography are that it must impose some kind of order on the performance, within the three dimensions of space as well the fourth dimension of time and the capabilities of the human body.[2]
In the performing arts, choreography applies to human movement and form. In dance, choreography is also known as dance choreography or dance composition. Choreography is also used in a variety of other fields, including opera, cheerleading, theatre, marching band, synchronized swimming, cinematography, ice skating,[7] gymnastics, fashion shows,show choir, cardistry, video game production, and animated art....