Feb 3 / The Body: Emotions

 

Unit: The Body

Theme: Emotions

 

I

Introduction

Emotions can be expressed in dance improv. The dancer can get in touch with his/her emotions to generate gestures and movements that combined can become phrases.  The idea is that the dancer can make use of the stereotypical was of expressing emotions as well as more authentic movements. Because this class encourages the cultivation of the inside-out dancer, the goal is to find expressions that truly express the dancer's emotions.

II 

Learning Objectives

 

• Understand the connection between body and emotions
  
• Explain the creative process involved in the expression of emotions
• Gain awareness of the use of movement to transition from the word to the emotion
  
• Experience ensemble movement when integrating all the emotions
• Reflect on the creative process at the end of the process
  

 

III

Warm Up

 Stretching

 

IV 

Main Lesson

 

 1

Sesame Street: Emotions through Dance with Alvin Ailey Dance Theater

 Question 1

What was you impression about the way these dancers express emotions through dance? Explain

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2

Book:

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Taken_by_Surprise/OYbHhwUpxAMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dance+Improvisation&printsec=frontcover

 

Book Link:

Taken by Surprise: A Dance Improvisation Reader

By  Ann Cooper Albright, ‎David Gere

 

A dancer and a scholar, Ann Cooper Albright is Professor and Chair of the Department of Dance at Oberlin College. Originally an undergraduate philosophy major at Bryn Mawr College, she received her MFA in Dance from Temple University and a PhD in Performance Studies from New York University.

 

David Gere, Ph.D., is the founding director of the UCLA Art & Global Health Center and is a professor in the UCLA Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance, where he teaches courses in arts activism. His extensive writing and global curatorial projects address arts-based public health interventions and projects. Art & Global Health Center programs operate across five continents and engage and encourage local artist communities to take on public health issues in accessible and entertaining ways.

 

Question 2

After reading the Introduction to the book, what would improvisation mean to you?

 

 

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  V

 

Read the Article

 

 

The Nikolais/Louis Dance Technique: A Philosophy and Method of Modern Dance

Read: Defining Improvisation

Murray Louis and Alwin Nikolais

 https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Nikolais_Louis_Dance_Technique/Q8sGDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dance+Improvisation&pg=PA35&printsec=frontcover

VI

 

Activity

Dance the following emotions

1. Vanity

2. Surprise

3. Greed

4. Sadness

5. Hate 

6. Happiness

7. Fear

8. Love 

 

Question 3

 

In which way do emotions relate to improvisation as explained the introduction of Taken by Surprise?

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VII

Writing Activity

 

Write a one paragraph reflection about your experience in class today in terms of movement and reading about dance improvisation. 

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VIII

 Journaling

 

IX

Glossary

 

X

Sources

 

XI

Students' Work 

Academic

William Brodsky

Although I missed this class session, I spent time exploring the material independently and found it to be one of the most profound units so far. Watching the Alvin Ailey dancers express emotions on Sesame Street reminded me that even the most complex feelings can be distilled into simple, recognizable movements—but what makes those moments powerful is their authenticity. 

In reading Taken by Surprise, I resonated with the idea that improvisation is not just freedom of movement, but the act of trusting the body to express emotion before the mind over analyzes it. When I tried embodying emotions like sadness, vanity, and love on my own, I noticed how each feeling had a rhythm, weight, and breath pattern of its own. Love felt expansive and upward; greed became closed, almost hoarding; fear had a kind of scattered tension I hadn’t anticipated. 

This exercise made me aware of how deeply emotion lives in the body, and how dance—especially improvisation—can become a direct and honest outlet for those emotions. It also taught me that improvisation isn't about performing what I think an emotion should look like, but letting it arise from memory, sensation, and instinct.

 

Gabriele Pernigotti

 

• What was your impression about the way these dancers express emotions through dance? Explain

• I think they made a very clear impression of their happy emotions through dance. By being multiple of them also helps with expressing emotions in a more effective way. 

• After reading the Introduction to the book, what would improvisation mean to you?

• improvisation would mean more than just dance. It means we can open our mind and improvise in many ways and art forms, not just with the body. Improvisation helps foment creativity and self awareness. 

• In which way do emotions relate to improvisation as explained in the introduction of Taken by Surprise?

• for improvisation you need both the body and the mind, the body thinks, the mind dances. This helps us understand that emotions travel through the body and mind and come out in forms of improvisation based on what we are feeling in the moment. 

• Write a one paragraph reflection about your experience in class today in terms of movement and reading about dance improvisation. 

• When reading more and more about dance improvisation I understand it is less about only the body and more about a combination of emotions, thoughts and body movements that allows dancers to successfully improvise. 
  

 

Kennedy Cameron

1. The dancers expressed emotions through clear, powerful movements that matched each feeling perfectly. Their body language, facial expressions, and gestures made emotions like joy and sadness easy to understand without words.

2. Improvisation, to me, means exploring movement freely without strict rules, allowing emotions and creativity to guide the dance. It’s about being present, responding to the moment, and expressing authentic feelings through movement.

3. Emotions fuel improvisation by inspiring spontaneous movement. They help dancers express genuine feelings, making each improvisation unique and personal.

 

Jaye Lis

Question 1: Dancers use every part of their bodies to express emotions. They use an extensive number of techniques like speed and fluency of their movements to express emotions. They also made sure to use facial expressions as well which are always important to express emotions! 

Question 2: Based on the introduction of Ann Cooper Albright's book, improvisation in dance can be thought of as spontaneous movement that can be utilized in social activism; as David Gere, Ph.D., teaches courses in art activism! Extending this, improvisation isn't just personal expression but a strategy that uses the body to educate and inspire change. 

Question 3: The introduction emphasizes emotions being central to the art of improvisation in dance! The text additionally stresses how improvisation isn't just a physical or intellectual exercise, but is actually deeply emotional. Dancers tap into their emotions and utilize them as fuel for their movements and performances.