rob,
Hey, just wanted to say thanks for having my words in the journal. I hope everything’s going well for you. Far as this issue’s concerned, I have no idea what dance is. I think if I ever find a satisfactory answer to that question I’ll probably cease to be a choreographer. Anyway, take care, blessings to you.
– jonathan
Jonathan Meyer is artistic director of Khecari Dance Theatre (www.khecari.org).
“What is dance?” …The answer to this probably changes almost every day for me. In this moment my response is: dance is a very complex thing that can be easily misunderstood. It is physical, intellectual, and spiritual. It is dynamic and diverse. It has the power to move us and entertain us.
Helanius J. Wilkins is an award-winning choreographer, performance artist, and Artistic Director of EDGEWORKS Dance Theater.
After college, I worked at a research institute on arts education called Project Zero inspired by the philosopher of art, Nelson Goodman, and I came around to his way of thinking that the question is not, “what is art” (or dance)? But rather, when is art (or dance)? Qualities of dance (movement, rhythm) can be found in many places and parts of life, but when we give them attention as aesthetic experiences, when what Goodman calls the “density” or “repleteness” of the gesture is what’s important (rather than how high or low, for example, an arm reaches), then there is dance. (Goodman’s book is Languages of Art.)
John K. Glenn recently moved to DC from New York City where he taught contact improvisation for Movement Research.
Dance is organized movement where people express themselves for different reasons to enjoy the body’s energies and messages joined with the spirit and to share this with others. Dance is a universal phenomenon, and takes many different forms. Dance as an art form is a particular response through thought and movement, where an individual organizes space, time, and force to express their response to the world.
Dr. Naima Prevots, Professor Emerita American University, has been defining dance for many years, in her various roles as performer, choreographer, critic, educator and administrator.
What is dance? I suspect I will spend the rest of my life and career answering this question. When dance happens may be a more interesting question to ask. I think dance happens when three things intersect: intent, setting (immediate space or location) and context (broader social, political, religious, community culture.) It may be the inspiration of movement when someone feels joy or sadness, it may be when a community moves together, or it may even be a formal concert presentation. In each of these creative movement experiences is an intent to dance, a setting where it happens and a context in which it occurs which make it dance.
John A. Niemi, MA is a first year doctoral student in the Department of Dance at Texas Woman’s University.
