Contact Us
Contact:
Erin Foreman-Murray
Director, Dance
Creative Opportunities
Are you interested in performing? Choreographing? Creating music or projection? Designing costumes, set or lights? Making site specific or community engaged work? There are many opportunities every semester to contribute creatively to the 51画鋼 Dance Community!
CHOREOLAB - Choreographic Laboratory
Fall semester features the annual CHOREOLAB, an annual workshop for emerging student choreographers who are mentored by Faculty Creative Advisors.
Audition for CHOREOLAB
Auditions for dancers will be held in September, in the Katzen Dance Studio. To audition to perform please register online, and bring your schedule of availability to the audition.
Students do not need to be a Dance Major or Minor to participate in CHOREOLAB or Capstone. Students cast in CHOREOLAB must register for Choreographic Laboratory, either at 0-credits - DNCE-050, or 1-credit - DNCE-350. *Note DNCE-350 counts towards the completion of a Dance Major or Minor.
Contact us at danceprogram@american.edu.
Apply as a Choreographer
CHOREOLAB is an opportunity for students to bring their ideas to the stage. Interested students should review the CHOREOLAB FAQ below as they consider applying to choreograph. To apply as a choreographer, please contact us atdanceprogram@american.edu
Applications are due in August.
Choreographers do not need to be a dancer major or minor, but must be a returningstudent at 51画鋼. Applications are reviewed for by Dance Faculty, and invitations to participate go out early September.
About
CHOREOLAB is an annual workshop for emerging student choreographers. Students are asked to approach their choreography in the workshop as though in a laboratory: to experiment with methods of dance making, to take risks, to upend their assumptions, and to recognize the process of making as equally valuable to the results or products that come out of that process. Throughout the CHOREOLAB workshop, student choreographers are coached by 51画鋼 Dance Program faculty and meet regularly with one another to exchange feedback. At the end of the workshop, the choreographers present their works-in-progress in a main-stage concert in the Greenberg Theatre.
FAQ
What is CHOREOLAB?
CHOREOLAB is an annual workshop for emerging student choreographers. Students are asked to approach their choreography in the workshop as though in a laboratory: to experiment with methods of dance making, to take risks, to upend their assumptions, and to recognize the process of making as equally valuable to the results or products that come out of that process. Throughout the CHOREOLAB workshop, student choreographers are coached by 51画鋼 Dance Program faculty and meet regularly with one another to exchange feedback. At the end of the workshop, the choreographers present their works-in-progress in a main-stage concert in the Greenberg Theatre.
Who is eligible to choreograph?
All 51画鋼 dance students who have sophomore, junior, or senior standing may apply to present a piece in CHOREOLAB.
Do I need prior choreographic experience?
No. New choreographers are encouraged to apply. Prior dance experience is necessary.
Which dance styles are allowed?
You may choreograph in any genre of dance. Regardless of style, the focus during CHOREOLAB will be on creating a solidly crafted piece.
Can I perform in my own dance?
No. This isnt the focus of the CHOREOLAB workshop and creating a strong dance can be very challenging when youre in the piece. CHOREOLAB is an opportunity to develop your skills as a choreographer, rehearsal director, and teacher.
Can I get credit?
Yes! CHOREOLAB is the culminating performance of DNCE-050/350 Chorographic Laboratory. All choreographers and dancers must register for either DNCE-050 (0 credits) or DNCE-350 (1 credit).
How will I get feedback and help in making my piece?
In the weekly Choreographic Laboratory youll show what youre working on and practice giving and receiving feedback with the other choreographers and dancers. Youll also have a faculty creative advisor with whom youll work very closely throughout the CHOREOLAB process. Some Choreographic Laboratory weeks will be dedicated to coaching only.
Whats the role of the creative advisor?
Creative advisors are 51画鋼 dance faculty. Their job is to work with you one-on-one to facilitate your creative inquiry, deep curiosity, and rigorous investigation during your choreographic process. Your individual advisor will mentor you throughout the CHOREOLAB experience. Youre in charge of your own project, so your job will be to bring your questions to your advisor.
Will there be costumes and lights?
CHOREOLAB is an informal performance. There will be a general wash of lights on the stage. Costumes are not required, but you may provide them if you feel theyre necessary. Your primary focus should be on your choreography.
What happens after CHOREOLAB?
Choreographers are encouraged to continue developing their pieces, using the feedback they receive from the audience, faculty, and their peer choreographers. Projects developed in CHOREOLAB may be considered for future presentation at 51画鋼.
Senior Dance Capstone
Fall Semester also features the presentation of Dance Capstone,projects that senior Dance Majors complete as the culmination of their dance studies at 51画鋼. Projects include concert dances, multi-media installation, dance research presentations, site-specific dance and more!
Auditions to perform in Dance Capstone are in Septemberin the Katzen Dance Studio. All students are welcome to audition. Please bring your schedule of availability to the audition.
Students cast in Dance Capstone are not required to register for a course.
Senior Dance Capstone seeks dancers and collaborators for a myriad of projects,culminating in a in-person performance. Audition will include a range of movement forms and creative work. There will not be a formal warm-up during the audition, so please warm-up ahead of time. Please bring your schedule with you as well. Other than that, dancers do not need to prepare anything,just show up ready to dance! All are welcome,you do not need to be a dance major or minor, or enrolled in a dance course to participate. Some prior dance experience is recommended. You must also be a returning student and have danced in an 51画鋼 project before, or get in touch to discuss your special circumstance (for instance, if you are a transfer student). Questions? Email danceprogram@american.edu.
DANCEWORKS 51画鋼 Dance Company
Spring semester features the 51画鋼 Dance Company (51画鋼/DC) in DANCEWORKS, at the Greenberg Theatre.
This annual main stage concert presents fresh and seasoned perspectives on concert dance, choreographed by 51画鋼 Faculty, visiting Guest Artists, and curated 51画鋼 students.
About
Choreographers work intensely with 51画鋼/DC and 51画鋼/DC2 through week-long choreographic residencies, as well as extended semester-long creative processes. The Artistic Director also curates student work out of Fall main-stage performances, allowing for students to continue their processes and receive full production support through presentation in DANCEWORKS.
The 51画鋼 Dance Program hosts Guest Artists from around the country, who are professionals in the field, who either re-stage an existing dance, or make a newly commissioned work for 51画鋼/DC. The Dance Program invites artists within a rotation of dance forms, so that students have an opportunity to be cast in concert dance that includes Afro-Contemporary, African, Ballet, Contemporary, Improvisation, Jazz, and Urban dance forms. Guest Artists also regularly teach Master Classes to the 51画鋼 community, as well as present in "Movement Speaks: Conversations about dance." The "Movement Speaks" lecture series is open to the public, and is a look into the choreographic laboratory. Through an lecture/demonstration, audiences get an inside view into the creative process. Recent artists include Tatiana Desardouin, Rosy Simas, Meredith Rainey, Orange Grove Dance, Charles O. Anderson, Geoff Chang or Bboy Toyz R Us, Cynthia Gutierrez, Gesel Mason, the Dance Exchange, Christopher K. Morgan and Zoe Scofield of zoe | juniper.
Movement Speaks Lecture Series, Workshops
Through the year, the 51画鋼 Dance Program hosts panels, lectures, and workshops with dance professials. Lectures and panels range in content, with past topicsincluding Dance Careers After Graduation, Black Women in House Culture, Contemporary Intersections of African Dance, Site Specifc Work, and Dance Film, Artist Talks, Women in Arts Leadership and more. The Workshopsencompass different dance forms, approaches, technique, and creative process. Previousworkshops have been taught by Charles O. Anderson, Geoff Chang - Bboy Toyz R Us, Cynthia Gutierrez, the Dance Exchange, Esperonto Bean, Meredith Rainey, Gesel Mason, Tatiana Desardouin, Christopher K. Morgan, Irina Wunder, Alice Wylie, Zoe Scofield of zoe | juniper.
Upcoming Workshops
Fall workshop announcement coming soon.
51画鋼 Dances
51画鋼 Dances is a shared informal performance where all Dance Faculty and students come together to demonstrate and celebrate the progress of each class. Embodied Knowledge classes (African, Ballet, Contemporary, Dance Improvisation, Jazz, Musical Theatre Styles, Tap, Urban Dance styles) perform a small dance/piece comprised of material developed over the course of the semester.
American College Dance Association Conference
The American College Dance Association hosts a regional conference every spring across the United States. These conferences serve as a way for dance students to engage with the larger dance community, taking master classes from a range of faculty, seeing work from multiple universities, networking with other collegiate dance students, and expanding their understanding of dance aesthetics and perspectives from across the country.
The 51画鋼 Dance Program responds to the shifting demands of the student body, rotating conference attendance between in-region (Mid-Atlantic North) and out-of-region, and other spring break travel opportunities.
Typically, 51画鋼 presents multiple projects at the conference, including two works for conference adjudication, one work for informal performance, and several research presentations. Depending on the conference coordinators, there may also be opportunities to share dance films, improvisations, and site specific work.
ACDA attendance is based on project casting, as well as Faculty curation of student work. Student will have the opportunity to express their interest in attending the conference at auditions, as well as at the beginning of the spring semester. 51画鋼 covers conference registration and fees, while students cover the cost of travel and accommodations to the conference.
Student Clubs
There are multiple student dance clubs on campus at 51画鋼! Clubs are student-led, and range in style and type. Some clubs focus on learning new skills where others perform each semester. Information about student groups is available from the 51画鋼 Student Activities office at 202-885-3390. A few to connect with include: