Self Reflective Essays / Publication / Modern Dance (R)

 

1

 

Emotion, Experience, and Meaning

Ashley DeBartolo 

Dan 211 has been very rewarding to me as a student. I have been dancing my whole life (gymnastics, ballet, cheerleading, etc), however I have never experienced learning about dance like I have in this class. For once, dance class wasn't all about choreography and moves. I loved being able to learn about different people who were influential to dance history, different ideas, forms of dance, mindsets, goals, and personal progress. In the past, I never learned about dance. I was just taught the 'how' and the moves to entertain. This class has taught me how to develop putting emotion, experience, and meaning into the moves I created.

I can apply many of the things I have learned in this class to the future. I am business student - which in turn requires no dancing. However, it does require problem solving, thinking on your feet, and taking time to yourself when you need a break. This class was a wonderful way to take that break for myself and put all of my stress and emotion into a fulfilling form of exercise. In addition, I learned a new way to problem solve. We choreographed very lengthy pieces in what felt like such a short period of time. We were taught to always keep going, even if you mess up or forget the moves we created. Stick to your gut, improv, feel the music, and it will become a piece better than you had initially planned.

Working in a group was both challenging and rewarding. Just like in my business classes, it is difficult to work in a team when everyone has different schedules. Sometimes we would each show up on a different day or not all be on the same page about what we remembered, choreographed, etc. However, this experience was more fulfilling than anything and the pros outweighed the challenges. We were able to put together a 2-minute group ensemble that we were very proud of. It was different than any of the previous pieces I've performed and I loved it. Overall, this class was a wonderful experience.

 

2

 

How to Do What My Body Tells Me

  Anna Taber

My whole life I've been all about precision. Every little finger and toe all had to be in the right place, and at the same place as everyone else's. If everyone wasn't together for all 3 minutes of the dance, we'd have hell to pay. Every movement had a precise time it needed to happen, and if you were off by even a second the whole dance would be ruined. Because of that, music became my best friend. I listened to every little beat in every song so I knew exactly when each movement came. I like intricate choreography that hits every little beat in the music. So, when I came to UM I knew I couldn't just stop dancing, so I signed up for modern 2.

The class was not what I expected, I'll admit. I thought everyone would be advanced dancers and I thought I would really be pushing myself to keep up, but it was quite the opposite. Over time, I had to learn to let go because of the care-free nature of the class. I've been told every day not to look in the mirror when I dance. I couldn't help it for so long, but eventually I got the hang of it. I had to learn to choreograph with no music, no beats to hear— only the ones my head came up with. Everything I'd ever known about dance became reversed, but it helped me grow as a dancer.

I've been able to learn how to do what my body tells me. Fall, recover. Fluid, bound. Spiral, walk. On and on my brain used to think about what the coolest or most interesting thing I could do next was, but now I don't care. I let my body tell me what it wants to do and I listen, all thanks to Modern 2. 

 

3

 

 

 One's Body in Space and Gravity

Alexa DeBartolo 

 

DAN 211 has not only been an amazing experience that differs significantly from the classes I have taken throughout my undergraduate career, but has also inspired self-reflection and self-confidence. I have never been particularly flexible, graceful, or musically inclined, yet I have come to understand through this class that dance as a concept is subjective rather than objective. It comes from within oneself and is a reflection of one's emotions, rather than a projection of another person's view on what dance should be. Through the teachings of many of the dancers we studied such as Laban, Wigman, Duncan, and more, I have learned not only about the history of modern dance but also extremely intricate and beautiful movement patterns that I had not attempted previously. My favorite class was when we discovered the relationship between one's body in space and gravity, where we attempted to use the floor as our guide. It was something I had never considered before as part of a dance, but made our pieces even more impactful.

Throughout this semester, despite retaining factual information, the most important takeaway that I may apply to other classes is self-discovery through movement. In such a way, it has relaxed me and helped with stress (which is a factor I find completely out of my control given the complexity of my major). Accounting is mentally challenging, and dance is physically challenging, but the combination of the two results in balance.

In actually choreographing the dances, I had a lot of fun in being able to express creativity, which I do not normally get to do on a daily basis. Each new style promoted greater thinking, both critically and creatively, to come up with a piece representing the emotions and story we hoped to portray as a group. The theme of our piece, "The Theory of Evolution," was inspired by the lesson we did on Greek culture, which I have a fascination with. It came together better than I expected, and while I am disappointed in the outcome of my injuries, I am thankful we have a video of the piece that exceeded my expectations and is timeless.

Overall, I had a wonderful experience this semester and am sad to be graduating, but know I will take these lessons with me into grad school! 

 

4

 

 Growing as an Artist and Dancer

Shirley Gelman

I had a lot of fun in this class! I loved learning about the history and the different modern dancers. I have been a dancer my entire life and never learned about why we moved the way we do. Also, I always did contemporary and lyrical dancing so focusing on just the modern style was fun. When I used to take dance class we always stretched and then learned choreography and steps. This was the first time in my life that I learned through organic movements and created my own steps with just a simple prompt. It challenged me in a way as a dancer that I never have been before. It forced me to be more creative and step out of my comfort zone. Dancers are so used to just practicing ballet techniques and doing different tricks so it was really refreshing.

I can use what I learned in this class in my future. The first way that comes to mind is how this class took me out of my comfort zone. It made me think more creatively. If I am at work or in a situation where I am stuck and not feeling creative, I can always just think about this class and how I was able to take a tiny idea and make it into a huge art piece. Also, I think I may do more tai chi. I really enjoyed the slow, flowy movements and can see myself doing this once I graduate from the University of Miami as a way to relieve stress and anxiety.

Overall I had an amazing time. I will really miss dancing especially in this class. My favorite quote that we learned about was surrounding how dance is the only artwork that is in the moment. Every other artwork is tangible and lasts forever. This makes dance so unique, special, and fragile. I love this about dance. I know I will look back at this class and appreciate the hour and 15 minutes I set aside twice a week to forget about anything else that was happening in my life and just focus on me and growing as an artist and dancer. 

 

5

 

 Owning Your Space

  Johnathan Zach

I think this class was overall very fun to take. There were many obstacles along the way, and this semester was rather difficult on my end, but the times I was in person for class was always very fun and I learned a lot, even more than what I have learned from taking Modern Dance 1.

This class was a bit of a struggle for this semester due to work issues and COVID complications. I had to quarantine twice and miss a lot of in person classes along the way. I think this overall affected how exactly I interpreted the course because dance is all about connecting with people and moving with others in a space. Without being able to do that each week, things were rather difficult when it was time to do so.

I think the biggest take away I have gotten from this class is the idea of occupying your own space. Several of the dancers we have studied have talked about owning your space, whether that be taking up a large amount of space in a whole room or just the small box that you are in. This applies to everyday life as well. When you are walking through the world there are times you have a lot of space to yourself and there are times where you are surrounded by so many people. You have to learn how to be comfortable in your own space, whether that space be small or huge.

In regard to my psychology degree, I think this class provided another way to look at how people function. I have taken many courses that study how people think, how people behave, and what people do. I think watching people move and how they take up space can be reflective of how they behave and how they think of themselves as people. The more space people occupy and the more they move around the space, the more extroverted and confident the person probably is and vise versa.

Overall I would totally take this class again if the time was right and there were not a ton of complications. I want to experience everything in person and really get to know the full concept of modern dance. However, I am grateful for what I was able to take away from the class and I am excited to see where the knowledge from this class takes me into the future. 

 

 6

 

 

 

 A Necessary Confidence-Builder

Caitlin Kaplan 

On the first day of class I did not know what to expect. I had looked through the syllabus and skimmed the textbook and this class seemed to be incredibly technical. Upon arriving to class I found that this was not the case. The textbook and readings were not nearly important as having a mental presence in class. The way to succeed is to try to be mentally present and commit yourself to the art of dance. I was not able to grasp the entire concepts from Wigman and Laban from the videos, but I understood their importance once I created my own movements. The importance of stretching before doing any kind of movement is imperative to warm up your joints and muscles, but also to get into the creative headspace. This was something that was consistently stressed to us.

Something that I will take away from this class and can use in other dance classes as well as everyday life, is the importance of the kinesphere. As a person above the average height, it can feel like I need to make myself smaller to be accepted. That is simply not the case. I have a kinesphere and I should fill it to the best of my ability in every situation I am faced with. I should take pride in my height and in the movements my body can create. Another takeaway from my time in DAN 201, is the importance of spirituality and purpose in movement. Every piece we watched had a purpose and a story behind it. Even movement for the sake of movement has purpose and emotions to be transmitted.

I took this class as a fun class with Ashley and Alexa. When I found out we were going to be doing a group dance, I immediately knew I wanted to be in a group with them. It was so fun choreographing with them because it never felt like a chore in the way that other group projects can be. We had fun working in a group dynamic and coming up with all the components of our dance. However, I felt more vulnerable with the idea of choreographing and performing a solo piece. As a non-dancer in a dance class it was easy to "hide behind" my more-experienced group members. Performing a solo was nerve wracking, but ended up being a necessary confidence-builder. I found confidence in my movements and in my height with limb extension moves. As a non-dancer, while performing my solo, I felt like a true artist.

Overall, I am proud with my performance in this class. It was difficult at times, but the class was so much fun and I would totally do it again.

 

7

 

 

 No Judgment, Just Movement

Adanna Byrd

 

The title of my solo is “Me Myself and I.” It was just about myself and flowing. Being from a gymnastics and cheer background most times the choreography is so rigid and non-creative. I feel like  I  just  moved,  glided,  and  flowed  throughout  my  piece.  It  was  fun  dancing  to  no  music  for once. I purposely improved the last 4 movements to just see what my body could do and what felt natural. Often times we do unnatural things as humans to just fit in with society, it is kind of sad. I felt like a child in this class, no judgment just movement.  

 

This class has definitely helped me open up and look at movement in a different way. I am  used  to  having  choreographers,  days  blocked  off  just  to  learn  a  dance  or  routines,  and having  hours  of  practice  for  like  a  1-3  minute  routine.  So  I  think  this  was  the  first  time  I choreographed my own dance piece, after almost like 20 years in the cheer, dance, gymnastics world.  I  will  carry  this  feeling  of  being  open  and  listening  to  my  body  into  the  world  when  it comes to work or just daily life activity.

 

I always enjoy classes in which we are let to truly be ourselves and in which the professor is understanding of certain situations we have going on. I feel so calm and a lot of patience in this class, I definitely hope to take that with me in the future and apply it to life. It’s important to have patience and just be kind to people no matter who they are, students or not.  All in all I have really enjoyed this class and its teaching style.

 

I loved working on the ensemble  after  we  got  a  few  kinks  out  later.  It  was  fun  to  put  together  and  listen  to  the  ideas Shirley  and  Ava  had  in  the  dance.  I  think  we  all  contributed  a  fair  amount.  I  also  enjoyed watching everyone else’s solos and ensembles. This class is fantastic and I am glad it is here. I liked  watching  the  videos  of  the  dancers  because  I  have  never  heard  of  them  or  their techniques. Even  though  some  of  them  were  strange,  I  kept  an  open  mind  about  it.  Also  you don’t  have  to  like  every  style  just  to  see  the  beauty  in  the  movement.  I am thankful for an awesome class!

 

8

 

 

 

 Nothing But Warm Hearts and Open Arms

 Xavier Restrepo-Padgett 

 

This class has been nothing but amazing! What I’ve learned in this class was how to use my body correctly and how to fully control my body. I’ve learned different styles of dance and multiple movements of dance that I’ve never even thought were part of dance.
 

Secondly, I would like to talk about how the things I learned in this class helped me in other parts of my life. In football, when I go to make a diving catch, I know how to land soft and prevent injury. It has helped me so much because all of a sudden, right when I started taking this class, I started to dive a lot in football for some weird reason. All things, from falling to even catching momentum in football, have been enhanced due to the things I’ve learned in class. 

Last, but my certainly not least, my experience! I thought coming into this class would be always and just weird because I didn’t really know anyone. What a long way I came though! All of my groups have been amazing and welcoming. Nothing but warm hearts and open arms from everyone. I would so recommend this class to someone who hasn’t taken this class before. I love this class so much and the people in it! 

 

 

 9

 

 

Flow With My Body

Trajan Bandy

 

DAN 211 has been such a rewarding and amazing experience. Throughout my undergraduate career I have taken three dance courses. Even though I have had previous dance experience with the courses I have taken, I still did not know what to expect when Modern Dance II began this semester. After attending the first session of class, I thought Modern Dance was going to be a little tough, which kept me on my toes the first few weeks. However, once I started attempting the movements and practicing, I realized I needed to listen to my body and ultimately, just flow with my body.

 

Sometimes taking dance courses can be a little overwhelming or embarrassing because you have to step out of your comfort zone and perform in front of people that you may not know. For me personally, Modern Dance II forced me to step out of my comfort zone, but also created, at the same time, a new comfort zone that I could explore . It is always rewarding to go into something unfamiliar and come out finding a new interest you never knew you had. The general enthusiasm and genuine care for students experienced in class also played a big role in allowing me to open up and let loose.

 

My favorite part of class was the time we took for stretching and breathing exercises. Every time I was stressed out or in a bad mood before class, I knew stretching and breathing in class would help ease my mind. I learned that stretching and breathing play a huge role in the healing of the mind. They allowed me to be in control of myself and my thoughts, which is definitely something I can use from this class in my everyday life. As someone who works out a lot and plays a sport, stretching is critical. Additionally, Modern Dance II allowed me to really focus on my flexibility through performing different movements, which is also very important to me and my career.

 

Allowing myself to just flow with my body through stretching, breathing and performing always helped me relieved any stress or tension I was carrying before I walked into class. Modern Dance II allowed my classmates and I to get creative and learn about the different aspects of modern dance, all while genuinely enjoying the space we were in and spending time with each other. I enjoyed being able to learn about the history and movements of modern dance and then taking what we have learned to create our own choreography. This allowed us to be vulnerable while expressing ourselves, knowing we were in a welcoming and free-spirited zone. 

 

 

10

 

Out of The Comfort Zone
Nesta Silvera

Dan 211, has been very very interesting for me as a student. I had an injury in the beginning of the semester which caused me to have surgery. And throughout my whole recovery process this class has definitely been the most accommodating. I really appreciate that because it does not have to be like that. I enjoyed every discussion board post that I had to make, just being able to interact and see the classes in zoom and all those other things.

There are many, many ways that I can apply these things that I’ve learned in this class in my future life, as an athlete and as a student. I am a football player and I see how my peers stretch and take time to meditate and do some things. And I really appreciate that because, it just shows that there is a concern about the mental health of students which many courses do not take the time to do and help. I really wish I could have participated more in the group work as far as dancing goes.

 

I’m sure I will have another dance class and I really hope I’m able to participate in it. I have noticed that this class takes students out of their comfort zone with different dances and I appreciate that!

11

 

 

Moving Your Body Through Space 

Eli Cortes-Schiffbauer

I've taken several dance classes before. As a little kid, I began dancing for various reasons but specific ones. Yes, I've loved to dance ever since I learned how to walk, but honestly, it was my parents who forced me to join those embarrassing after-school activity children’s fitness dance classes due to my lack of physical activity. As I grew, I began to view dance as a fun way to work out, so I joined more advanced classes. From then on, my relationship with dance was all over the place, but it was still the one thing I turned to whenever I needed the feel of comfort. Yet there was one problem. Since the beginning, dance was all about confidence, and I had zero.  

Years later, I find myself learning about Laban’s Pattern of body connection and Cube, about Mary Wigman and Expressionism, next to just about the most amazing people that I had met 3 months ago, flapping my wings and rolling around, feeling more confident than ever. And it truly amazes me to think that this class was everything better than I expected. Through the teachings of our incredible professor, Jorge Morejon, and his way of adapting the dance room into a safe space, I have been able to explore dance in ways that my brain and body had never seen possible. I appreciate how every day was different and valuable. I also appreciate the way I learned how to appreciate my body, love my body, my mind, through movement. I learned that every crack in my back, like Jorge, says, is my body saying “Yayyyy!!!”, that every inhale and exhale is food to my organs. I learned that dancing doesn't necessarily have to be dependent on music, it instead has to depend on what you feel; essentially, I learned how to express my feelings through my moves.  

This class not only has expanded the realms of dance and its meaning in my life but it has provided me with skills that I know for a fact will be very useful to have in mind every day now. In terms of technical movement, one of the things that I will keep and be aware of forever is the importance of one’s kinesphere and occupying your own space. As Rudolf Laban defines, Kinesphere is “the sphere around the body whose periphery can be reached by easily extended limbs without stepping away from that place which is the point of support when standing on one foot” (1966, p.10). Within this notion of kinesphere, he believes that in dance, you should imagine a sphere around you and occupy it to your best. Technically, I believe this will be very useful in regards to improving my dancing skills as dance is all about moving your body through space, therefore, having in thought the spaces around you. Yet, I believe that it will essentially apply to my everyday life in a metaphoric way, considering how in life, it is key to be comfortable in your own space, and this is something that I have struggled with all my life until now that I have learned the true value of it. Thanks to this class, I have been able to crawl out of my comfort zone into my own space, literally.  

As mentioned previously, this class has been without a doubt my favorite class I have ever taken, and not only because I truly learned a lot about dance and my body, but because every single person made it so fun and easy to work with and around. Different from previous dance classes I've taken, every single second, every single move, or fall was accepted and cherried. I felt safe, I felt wanted and most importantly, I felt cared for and appreciated. We shared laughs, cries, injuries, moments of tension, awkwardness, anxiety, connection, and love. And never did I know this until I experienced it in this class, but without all of this support, I would have never been able to feel truly connected to my body in dance. I appreciate everyone in this class for making me achieve what I've been searching for all along through my dancing career; Confidence in moving, leading to a true connection between my mind and my body. Thank you friends and Jorge for making this class one I looked forward to every week. A class I was able to be myself in.  

I've taken several dance classes, and none of them compare to this one.  

12

 

 

 

Movements that Match a Theme

Ava Edwards

I learned a lot in this class this semester!! I was a dancer for nearly 12 years growing up, but stopped two years before college, so it was refreshing to get back at a hobby I used to love so much. This class taught me to be comfortable performing short pieces in front of a crowd even if it did not feel perfected or well rehearsed yet. It taught me to not make a dance based around the words or beat of a song or how I appear in the mirror, but to make movements that matched a theme and apply the music afterwards. I had never learned dance this way so it was very interesting. 

 

I also learned the importance of being able to create a dance with other people, finding a way to incorporate everyone's ideas into one cohesive piece that equally represents all of us. I learned that dance is not just narrowed down the the style, in this case Modern, but can be broken down into all the themes that we learned about, such as tai chi, emotions, and energy. 

 

I learned the difference between creating an ensemble, where you have multiple minds coming together to create a piece, and just creating a solo, where all the ideas have to be personal. Overall I learned a lot in this class and do believe it will help me in my future with dance.

13

Trying New Experiences

Jason Chapin

Overall, I really enjoyed taking Modern Dance 2. What I am proud of most about doing this course is that although I had prior music experience in high school with playing the clarinet in band, and singing in chorus, I had never actually taken a dance course before. When I came into the class, I had no idea what to expect. My original conception that I had about the class was that it was just going to be doing ballet. However, I could not have been more wrong about the content that was taught.

I really enjoyed learning about the different dancers. My favorite dancer that we learned about was Ruth St. Denis because I loved reading about how she established her own school along with her husband, and fellow dancer, Ted Shawn. It was also interesting learning about how some of the dancers covered in class opposed the idea of ballet, and wanted to establish their own styles.

It was also interesting incorporating the styles of the dancers that we learned about in class into our own dance routines. I think that the most challenging part about coming up with a group style dance was not being repetitive of styles. Several of the dance techniques that we learned about in class were starting to become repetitive in the routines that we were doing for the final project. It was challenging to come up with our own dances, utilizing inspiration from the dancers that were covered in lessons.

In addition, I really enjoyed coming up with my own solo piece. I thought that it was amazing coming up with my own story through movement and inventing what happens. The one difficult thing about dances is that every dance has its own interpretation. There is no way to tell what is going on sometimes, and for this reason, dance movements can be abstract. Everyone has their own take on art, which dance is a form of, and there usually is no right or wrong answer, depending on the circumstances.

I had a really enjoyable experience in the class. It was fascinating coming up with our own dances. In addition, I enjoyed working with new people to come up with our routines. Without the dancers we learned about, some of the dance techniques may not be around today. Dance has evolved over a long period of time, and it will continue to change as long as people keep experimenting with their own styles, and being open to trying new experiences.

 

14

 

Dance Strides in Three Lines: Taking Turns to Go

Dylan Savage

Modern Dance level two was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise difficult and stress-filled semester. This was the toughest semester of my college career and I am so lucky that I enrolled in this course. Beginning the class with stretching was always calming and brought my mind at peace and my body and soul synchronized with the moment. In particular, I enjoyed the positive vibe of the course. The course always brings perspective to a negative situation.

 

Dealing with my own health struggles this semester, this course was always there to keep me afloat and release that mental tension that was eliminating my motivation to continue working toward graduation. Now that I am only two days away from graduation, I am beyond grateful for my time in the Dance studio and my only regret is that I did not take more Dance courses this semester (instead of theatre!).

 

Furthermore, my conversations after class regarding perseverance inspired me to continue despite my emotional state that wanted to quit. As far as the Dance goes, I think I refined my muscle memory when it comes to remembering a dance sequence. Although I found it difficult, I was able to keep up until we decided that the group was a bit impatient and wanted to move at a faster pace. This Dance course was the closest to normalcy that I have had at this university since before the pandemic and the in-person class enabled me to socialize with people that I would have otherwise never met.

 

Moreover, I particularly enjoyed the time when we could dance freely while changing directions, especially with the twirling baton. In addition, I enjoyed when we were practicing the dance strides in three lines and taking turns to go, three at a time. That was one of my favorite classes of the semester. In addition, I enjoyed when we sat around in a circle and improvised dance moves then eventually we were all in the middle performing our respective moves. All in all, I hope to keep in touch and I am forever grateful for the course’s kindness and support this semester.

 

 15

A Bigger Picture

Brianna Djonovic

                  

Modern dance has always been an outlet for me to express my emotions and tell stories that have happened in my life. DAN211 has helped me expand on the techniques and ways of expression for me to use in dance and throughout daily life. I took away a lot from this class, which I will keep with me for the rest of my life and in my studies here at the University of Miami. 

 

One thing I learned from this class is how to be in the zone. Previously, I have had trouble not caring about what other people think, especially when I am dancing. Being in the zone is an acquired skill that I think I have come close to mastering. I now know how to dance without looking for an audience but instead just moving my body and creating my own space to perform. Another lesson I learned from this class is how to turn emotions into movements. Instead of creating moves based on a song lyric or how I think would best represent it, I now focus on making movements based on how an emotion makes me feel and letting my body flow to the idea of it. Lastly, I was able to work off of other people’s emotions and interpretations of dance, which only helped to expand my range, especially when I had been stuck. Watching other people move in class allows me to also gain more confidence in my own ability to express and not worry about what others are thinking or judging of my dancing. Overall, I truly learned that dance is just a way to experience life and emotion rather than a competition. 

 

Many of the ideas I learned in this class will help with my field of study at this school and later on. I am currently majoring in Real Estate business, as well as minoring in dance. As for Real Estate, techniques from this class I learned is that I may just have to go with the flow and not focus too hard on one idea, but rather letting ideas morph and mold themselves. It isimportant not to just be set on one idea, but rather letting it create a bigger picture as in modern dance. Additionally, I know how to bounce off of other people’s ideas and work together when I am at a standstill and uncertain of what to do. Knowing how to work with other people’s ideas and expand will help me in the realm of business, as well as being able to create my own ideas and flow. Also, knowing how to be in the zone and having confidence in my ability to dance will help me further my knowledge for my minor in dance. 

 

My overall experience in this course has been overwhelmingly positive. At first, it is always a little bit anxiety-inducing having to dance with people you do not know and are not comfortable with. Although overtime I have made great new friendships with people I have met in this class and learned more about the world in terms of all the different people I have met. I am glad that I was able to expand on my dance knowledge and learn new techniques for expressing my emotions, and have a space for creating dances that come from my mind and heart. 

 

In the future, I will definitely continue to use dance as a way of expression and an emotional outlet. This class has just enhanced my love for dance and I am extremely glad I was able to take Modern Dance 2.