Dancers Talking Dance: Critical Evaluation in the Choreography Class

Describing how to teach students to formulate critical responses to the dances they see, create, and perform, this text is written for teachers and dancers at all levels. It outlines a five-step, systematic approach to critical evaluation, with practical examples and explanations of the theories for each step. Practical tools aimed at helping the reader use the book to develop the critical process include: "think on it" ideas for writing and discussion, teaching/learning principles; teacher hints; chapter summaries; chapter objectives; sample assignments; and references. Particularly explored and outlined is the ORDER approach to critical evaluation - Observation, Reflection, Discussion, Evaluation, and Recommendations.

About the Author :
" Larry Lavender is Head of Dance at the University of New Mexico. He has taught dance at New York University, the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and the University of California at Irvine. He also has choreographed more than 30 dances and composed music for many of them. In 1984 he received the Distinguished Student Scholar Award from UC-Irvine for his original choreography and music of ""The Sleep of Reason."" Lavender has taught criticism to dance students across the United States and around the world, including England, Mexico, and New Zealand. He has published numerous articles on dance criticism for journals such as Impulse, Dance Research Journal, and Focus on Dance. Lavender earned a BA in humanities and a BA in dance from UC-Riverside, and an MFA in fine arts and dance from UC-Irvine. In 1993 he completed his PhD in dance and dance education at New York University. He is on the board of directors of the Congress on Research in Dance, and a member of the National Dance Association and the National Arts Education Association. Lavender lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with his wife, Elisabeth, and their daughter, Bridget. He enjoys hiking, music, and reading. "

Review :
" """We in the dance field need this material articulated. Particularly interesting is the setting up of a framework for the critique of dance studies, compositions and full choreographies from both objective and reflective perspectives.""" Loren Bucek Coordinator, Program in Dance and Dance Education, Teachers College, Columbia University "