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Encouraging creativity through expressive movement DESCRIPTION Movement Improvisation: In the Words of a Teacher and Her Students describes how to teach expressive movement by helping students recognize and release the creativity inside them. In this outstanding text, Georgette Schneer, former director of the Harlem Dance and Theater Company, shares the knowledge she has gained in more than four decades of teaching dance. Future dance educators will learn the many benefits of movement improvisation, the principles involved in teaching it, and the techniques used to stimulate it. Schneer uses nontechnical language to describe how to conduct a creative movement class. She provides many ways to create an atmosphere of trust and establish group unitytwo critical components of any improvisation class. She also offers tips on working with adult beginners and people who are shy, forward, or fearful. One of the most significant features of Movement Improvisation is its collection of 135 classroom-tested themes, which are excellent for eliciting genuine impromptu responses. Each theme is categorized by level (for beginners or experienced improvisers) and by number (for solo, duo, trio, quartet, or group improvisation). What makes this collection unique, however, is that it also categorizes themes according to their purpose: artistic, emotional, imaginative, social, or technical. This section of the book also includes 28 special themes to use for holidays, integrating an individual into the group, and welding a group together. All of the themes are presented in an easy-to-use table so readers can quickly find an appropriate theme for the selected experience level, purpose, and number of people. The book also features 136 illuminating quotations taken from student interviews over the years. These quotes, highlighted throughout the text, illustrate how the concepts in the book work in practice and give instructors an idea of how students react to improvisation experiences. The students comment on personal and group experiences and such topics as body image, inhibition, risk, discovery, development, and growth. AUDIENCE Text for future dance instructors and reference for dance teachers (K-12)
CONTENTS Preface
Part I: What Is in This Book?
What Is Improvisation?
Credo
Part II: Benefits of Movement Improvisation
Benefits of Improvisation to the Individual
Benefits to the Group
Enhancing Creativity
Integration of Improvisation and Artistry
Freedom From Fears and Inhibitions
Part III: How to Teach Movement Improvisation
Principles of Movement Improvisation
How to Create Emotional Safety
Class Procedure
How to Build the Group: From Individuals to Entity
Part IV: Themes
Introduction
Organization of Theme Section
Themes
Special Themes
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Georgette Schneer has been teaching modern dance technique and theory for more than four decades. Her background includes interpretative dance with Bird Larson and Duncan dance with Irma Duncan as well as studies in the Humphrey, Wigman, and Graham pioneer idioms of modern dance. She has been director of her own studio since 1973. Georgette, along with some of her experienced students, has led open workshops outside her studio since 1981. Known as The Roving Workshop, this seasoned group of improvisers travels to popularize the benefits of movement creativity. The group conducts presentations at professional conferences and in-service sessions for art, dance, drama, and music therapists. Georgette is a member of the American Dance Guild and former director of the renowned Harlem Dance and Theater Company, where she helped youngsters shape dances from their lives. She received a fellowship from Rhode Island Creative Arts Center in 1983 to write about her teaching experiences. Georgette teaches and lives in New York City. WORDS OF PRAISE "[Georgette Schneer] predictably responds to questions about improvising: Start from the heart and move from what moves you. This lively and living book will enrich your teaching, your art, and your spirit." Judith B. Alter, EdD
Professor of Dance Education, UCLA, Choreographer, Author
"A wonderful resource book, highly useful for any therapist or teacher."
Barbara Melson, MS, ADTR
Dance-Movement Psychotherapist & Creative Dance Teacher, Private Practice, Soho Parenting Center & Williamsburg Developmental School, New York Schneer, G., Movement Improvisation, a
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