Maia Correia-Fill, “Creative Composition and the Correlation to the 21st Century American Contemporary-Dance Field”
Mentor: Mair Culbreth, Dance, Arts (Peck School of the)
Performing Arts: 9:15am Union Cinema
As the American contemporary dance field transitions into its next “era” due to evolving technological integrations, patrons desire new approaches to engage with original choreographic compositions. Within this adaptation, there is a call to investigate how dance artists can apply the tools within their artistic “toolbelt” to adapt to the unique needs, and future trends which define and shape the contemporary dance field. The following study investigates how creative compositional tools correlate to the unique mediums of the field, specifically within the post-covid-19 era, where dance artist practice their choreographic engagement within the physical and metaphysical world. This research contributes to the body of knowledge through the investigation of choreographic structures applicable in the 21st century. In addition to the study of compositional tools, this research aims to address trends in consumer behavior by investigating impactful ways to present one’s artwork within a technologically autonomous environment. The research methodology is structured to use a qualitative descriptive model that employs auto-ethnography as the primary method of data collection. Over the course of 8 weeks, eight to ten participants will engage in seminar-style studio practice courses, where participants will be exposed to different compositional tools, then asked to reflect upon the perceived effectiveness for composing original work within technologically integrated mediums. This methodology is built upon Skains 2018 methodology for practice-based research in the fine arts. My research and composition of this new dance has allowed me to continue to deepen my knowledge of composition tools codified within the era of post-modern dance, and how to wield them into the new and unique mediums of the 21st century.