MD6082

MA CHOREOGRAPHY FOR CAMERA

Choreography for Camera - Spring Semester

A/Y 2024/25

MD6082 (ECTS 3 Credits)

Course Director: Dr. Jenny Roche

Lecturer: Lucy Dawson

The Module starts on Week 4 - Monday 17th of February

In this module outline section, you will be introduced to the module lead, view the module handbook, and be introduced to the module learning outcomes and some of the key module dates and assessment details. Please familiarise yourself with all of this information ahead of the start of teaching.

Rational and Purpose of the Module

To provide an overview of the development of choreography-for-camera within the context of contemporary dance/arts practices; to introduce students to the range of aesthetic and technical approaches to choreography-for-camera through analysis of key representative works in this field of practice; to prepare students to work technically and creatively through this medium.

Syllabus

Students will attend lectures and workshops during which they will study aesthetic/theoretical and practical aspects of choreography-for-camera.

A series of lectures/workshops, film viewings, discussions and experiential exercises

introduces students to the rapidly developing strand of dance practice; choreography-for-camera. Through theoretical and practical examinations students are prepared technically and creatively to create work in this medium. A survey of this field’s development and analysis of key works develops students understanding of how their own creative work is informed by others working in the field. Building on previous knowledge of editing and camera skills students investigate further the specific relationships between choreography, cinematography, editing and sound in the creation of a short work dance film from concept through to completion.

Learning Outcomes

Cognitive:

Identify a range of aesthetic/theoretical and practical approaches to creating a choreography-for-camera with a reference to the canon of existing works in this field. Demonstrate an ability to critically engage with the canon of work and also with the process of creating a choreography-for-camera. Experiment with a number of approaches to filming and editing material.

Affective:

Demonstrate an ability to conceive and develop an idea/theme for a choreography-for-camera. Synthesise the theories and practices studied in the lectures and workshops in order to create/produce short dance films.
Critically engage with their own work and that of their peers.

Psychomotor:

Demonstrate an ability to skillfully use a camera to produce high quality footage. Demonstrate an ability to edit filmed material using up-to-date editing suites.

Taught Curriculum:

Contextualising dance for camera; an overview and history. Viewing and discussing selected examples of historical and current works.
Examine the emergence of video art and its relationship with the body / dance / dance film today.
A critical appreciation of screendance theory / practice.
The roles / skills of Choreographer, Performer, Cinematographer, and Editor.
The creative process from pre-production through to post production of dance filmmaking.

Key Module Dates and Schedule

Week 4

Immersion week with Lucy Dawson: 17-19 Feb

Mon 17 Feb – 12:30 – 13:30 / 13:30-14:30 Lunch / 14:30-17:30

Tue 18 Feb – 10:30 – 13:00 / 13:00-14:00 Lunch / 14:00-17:30

Wed 19 Feb – 10:30 – 13:00 / 13:00-14:00 Lunch / 14:00-17:30

Sessions will take place in IW2.25

During this week, you will explore conceptual and theoretical foundations for Screendance as well as participating in practical and technical workshops to explore given themes.

Some video and audio recording equipment will be provided, however please feel free to bring in any equipment you own that you would like to use during the workshops.

Weeks 6,8,10,11,12

5X Mentoring sessions with Lucy Dawson

Thursdays 2pm to 4pm in IW2.39 (Mac Lab)

Week 13

Submit Final Screendance Project

Deadline: Thursday 8th May by 4pm

Continuous Assessment - Ongoing in class - 40%

Assessment 2 - Screendance Study (3-5min) - 60%

Assignment - Screendance Study

Students will each create a short screendance study between 3-5 minutes in length.

Each student will be assessed on his or her progress and development and on

their ability to produce this study. (concept/ thematic concerns will be discussed in class)

Submission

Students will transfer their film files via OneDrive, Google Drive, WeTransfer, Swisstransfer, the link for which should be pasted in a word document and uploaded to the Brightspace Assignment.

Film files should ideally be in .mp4 format in either 1080 or 4K horizontal resolution.

Assessment Criteria

Engagement with the process of generating and developing ideas in the creation of a kinesthetically driven dance film work.
Ability to engage practically and critically with different compositional approaches drawn from dance and film.
Ability to apply skills of editing as a process of choreography.
Ability to engage with feedback.
Ability to creatively integrate elements of choreography, camera, editing and sound in the realisation of the piece.

Feedback mechanisms

Verbal feedback will be provided on project drafts throughout the semester and written feedback will be given once grades are released.

Repeats Process

Repeats will take place over the summer.

Plagiarism

The UL Student Charter at UL (under Integrity, page 6) states that: The University expects students not to plagiarise (i.e., present another’s ideas or writings as their own), fabricate or falsify data, commission others to complete assessments or engage in academic cheating in any form whatsoever. Project work undertaken by the student on a taught program should be clearly defined, well-planned and where necessary, have Research Ethics approval.

For more information, visit Academic Integrity | University of Limerick (ul.ie)