OVERVIEW

The course offers an overview of the history of western dance, primarily intended in its European (and Italian), Russian and American forms. Along with a general historical framework, based on major artistic movements, protagonists and works, the course aims at stimulating a discussion on the complexity of the dancing body, conceived in its technical-biological, aesthetic and socio-political dimension.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims at providing students with: a) basic knowledge of the history of western dance; b) tools for approaching dance both theoretically and critically; c) insight on certain phases in the history of western dance, with a special interest in the XX century.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Ability to place dance phenomena in their historical context, both identifying their features and analyzing major dance performances.
• Ability to grasp the socio-anthropological dimension of dance techniques, even with a view to hybridization of languages, genres, disciplines.
• Ability to navigate today’s international dance landscape, with an emphasis on the different socio-economic contexts and cultural traditions.

PREREQUISITES

There is no prerequisite for this course.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures with power points presentations and video projections.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The first part of the course concerns techniques, poetics and contexts of Western dance, starting from its origins in Italian Renaissance courts, moving on through XVIII and XIX century ballet and ending with XX-XXI century experimentations on dance and performance. The final part of the course focuses on the Italian case, investigated from the beginning of the XX century until its current layout. A constant attention will be paid to the issue of the interplay between theory and praxis in dance studies, together with an interest for the connections between dance and the socio-political dimension of life.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

1) Elena Cervellati, Storia della danza, Torino, Pearson, 2020.

2) Slides of the lessons.

3) The following open access essays:

• Sayaka Yokota, Il corpo danzante del futurismo: storia dell’aviazione e tentativo di volare danzando, in “Danza e ricerca. Laboratorio di studi, scritture, visioni”, 2012, p. 61-84, https://danzaericerca.unibo.it/article/view/3268.
• Giulia Taddeo, “Imparare dai propri allievi”. Ideologia, ricostruzione e trasmissione del classico nelle pagine della rivista «Balletto» (1955-1962), in “Danza e ricerca. Laboratorio di studi, scritture, visioni”, 2018, p. 55-84, https://danzaericerca.unibo.it/article/view/8713.
• Elena Cervellati, “A rare event”. La nuova danza alla III settimana della performance (Bologna, 1979), in “Danza e ricerca. Laboratorio di studi, scritture, visioni”, 2013, 163-198, https://danzaericerca.unibo.it/article/view/4202.
• Dora Levano, Nuova danza italiana/Danza d'autore, in “Danza e ricerca. Laboratorio di studi, scritture, visioni”, 2013, 117-162, https://danzaericerca.unibo.it/article/view/4201.
• Olivia Giovannini, Strategie di spiazzamento: la sottotraccia politica della danza di MK, in “Danza e ricerca. Laboratorio di studi, scritture, visioni”, 2011, 153-186, https://danzaericerca.unibo.it/article/view/2418.
• Rossella Mazzaglia, La danza delle lucciole. Oralità e trasmissione nell’opera di Virgilio Sieni, in “Danza e ricerca. Laboratorio di studi, scritture, visioni”, 2012, 91-120, https://danzaericerca.unibo.it/article/view/2509.

At the beginning of the course a list of recommended videos will be provided.

Non-attending students will choice one of the following volumes:

• Concetta Lo Iacono, Il danzatore attore. Da Noverre a Pina Bausch, Roma, Dino Audino, 2007.
• Elena Randi, Protagonisti della danza del XX secolo. Poetiche ed eventi scenici, Roma, Carocci, 2014 (3° ristampa, 2020).

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GIULIA TADDEO (President)

ROBERTO CUPPONE

LIVIA CAVAGLIERI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

February 2023

Class schedule

DANCE HISTORY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral interview.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The evaluation will be determined by: a) learning of the content of the course; b) critical capabilities in elaborating the course programme; c) personal insight.

Exam schedule