MoMentUm
Dance Theatre: an international investigation - Conference
The term 'Dance Theatre' encompasses a wide range of contemporary
practice, but repeatedly eludes definition because of its constant
pushing against traditional boundaries. An opportunity to raise
issues and debate the implications of this slippery term is long
overdue, and it is the purpose of this conference to provide a
platform for this to happen, and documentation to facilitate
continuing debate.
Dance Theatre is, arguably, an area of the most interesting,
innovative and challenging work in dance in the late 20th century.
This international conference at the Manchester Metropolitan
University is the first of its kind, and is to bring together
academics and practitioners from all over the world to discuss,
debate, workshop and perform ideas and issues. 'Dance Theatre' has a
long and interesting historical trajectory, but it is a term which has
been adopted by contemporary and avant-garde practitioners ranging
from London Contemporary Dance Theatre to Pina Bausch's Tanztheater,
and which has spawned - in England alone - variants and developments
such as Yolande Snaith's Theatre Dance Company and DV8 Physical
Theatre. The boundaries of Dance Theatre as a genre are constantly
being stretched and blurred,and other practitioners who might come
under this broad umbrella are Javier de Frutos, Rui Horta, Anna Teresa
de Keersemaeker, William Forsythe, Wim Vanderkeybus, Mats Ek, Angelin
Preljocaj, Efva Lilja, Cesc Gelabert, Matthew Bourne, Maurice
B�jaert....
This international conference aims to explore the boundaries of
DanceTheatre practice in academic discourse, especially through the
examination and interrogation of contemporary work (and seminal
past work), and the testing of appropriate theoretical perspectives
such as theories of performance, gender and subjectivity, politics,
aesthetics and marketing. It is intended to incorporate live
performance and workshops/demonstrations to further the practical
exploration of issues and to encourage the participation of
practitioners as well as scholars and academics from all over the
world.
This conference is being funded by North West Arts Board, Dance in
Greater Manchester, Cheshire Dance Workshop, IDEA and The Manchester
Metropolitan University.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
MoMentUm
Dance Theatre Conference
Proposals for contributions are welcome under the following headings:
o Individual research papers. These should be based on a topic of
original research relating to some issue pertaining or relevant to
Dance Theatre. They should be of no more than 20 minutes duration,
including illustrative material, if used. Please send THREE COPIES of
your proposal, which should not exceed 400 words in length, together
with a list of key texts. Please indicate any requirements you may
have e.g.. video (VHS/PAL only), OHP, CD player, Tape Recorder, Slide
Projector etc..
o Practical workshops. These should be of no more than 120 minutes
duration (or shorter - please indicate your preferred length). The
proposal should include a written description of the content of the
workshop, the contribution of individual presenters (if more than
one), space requirements, appropriate dress for participants - THREE
COPIES).
o Research panels. Three or four applicants may propose a
research panel, where areas of research are related. Each participant
should submit an abstract (THREE COPIES - see above, under Individual
Research Papers), and a covering letter should be included to explain
the rationale of the panel.
o Lecture-demonstrations/Illustrated performances. These should be of
60-120 minutes duration (please indicate preferred length), and the
written proposal of 1-2 pages (THREE COPIES) describing the material
to be included, bibliography, time, technical and space requirements.
If more than one presenter is involved, the contribution of each
should be explained. Also, if other participants are involved, e.g..
performers, the number of participants and their names should be
noted.
o Interviews. Please indicate whom you would interview, the area of
interest/research/practice, the style of presentation (formal,
informal), technical requirements, and the preferred duration of the
interview (THREE COPIES).
As the major outcome to this ground-breaking conference, it is
intended to produce an edited collection both of papers and of
documentation of practical contributions. This will be the first of
its kind in the field and will be invaluable both in terms of
encouraging continuing debate of the issues, and as a unrivalled
resource for scholars, academics, students, and all those interested
in dance and theatre, theory and practice. Applicants should indicate
whether or not they wish their paper/submission to be included in the
Proceedings.
Form for potential contributors to fill in should include boxes for
the following information:
Name
Affiliation
Position
Address
Telephone, fax, email
Please indicate which type of presentation (as listed on the Call for
Papers sheet)
......................................................................
.................................................................
Please indicate whether or not contributor wishes her/his
paper/documentation to be included in the Proceedings.
......................................................................
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Note to remind contributors to include details as required.
Deadline for proposals - 17 March 1999
Contact: "Bev Stevens" ([email protected])
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Suggestions or corrections may be sent to:-
Barry Russell, [email protected]Created 28 April 1996. Last update 25 February 1999