This same student: the exercise was to write a letter to someone they were separated from. In the letter they had to express love, fear, what they would like to change and what they dream of.
These letters were confidential but they had to tell the story of the letter in the form of movement or gesture. Gesture equates to meaning. One student did a gesture that represented to her breaking down a wall – however, she did it balletically with pointed toes and straight leg and high extension; which took us away from her intended meaning. She succeeded finally but had to be reminded, “don’t make it look pretty… find a way to express the emotion that was included in the letter.”
After videotaping the rehearsal, we had the students watch their own creation. Even then it was hard for them to perceive imagery in the movement. It could have been shyness or fear of being wrong. Hard for them to understand that there isn’t sometimes a correct answer.
In each school I’ve taught, it doesn’t matter the level. But there is always this problem of assuming there is a right answer.
Sophie and Alessandra
I really want to thank you and especially your dancers for being in Dessau. It was such a great experience- for our students and for us teachers as well. The dancers not only performed their own pieces in the show, they cared for the students, helped them to get stronger, more self-confident and gave them the inspiration they needed to choreograph. That`s much more than only performing on stage. so thank`s a lot again and I hope we`ll meet again and can work together.
Gabriele Gruhn, Philanthropinum, Dessau
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