photography by Emma Petersen<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Loyola\u2019s dance program heavily focuses on the concept of dance as research. Research in dance is a practice-based process. In an article by Brad Haseman, \u201cA Manifesto for Performative Research,\u201d<\/a> this research is described as a qualitative process. The traditional process of gathering findings follows a quantitative process that involves high levels of structure. However, Haseman highlights the messiness and unknown that comes with researching through personal experience and other qualitative means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Loyola Research in Dance course has been exploring a qualitative process through attending the American College Dance Association conference<\/a>. ACDA gave dancers the opportunity to participate in classes, perform work and present choreographic work, and watch pieces by other students, faculty from other universities and works by guest artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Below are testimonies from five dancers who have gotten to present work at ACDA, the Loyola University Museum of Art<\/a>, Insaide Dance Festival<\/a> and J e l l o<\/a>, respectively, and will have the opportunity to present their work on Saturday, April 13th<\/sup> at 11:30 a.m. at Loyola\u2019s Undergraduate Research Symposium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Five Herstories<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Five Herstories, choreographed by Loyola senior Isabelle Taylor, explores how history can shape the identity of individuals and communities. Specifically, Taylor said she was interested in how the movement and energy of male-dominated vocal groups, particularly during the Motown era, could be appropriated into the female equivalent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oftentimes, practice-based research is described as messy. Taylor saw this through her process. Even though she had ideas and had planned for rehearsals, Taylor said the real research came from exploring ideas in space with the dancers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnlike traditional, academic research, findings in dance are continuously evolving,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cSpecific to this process, I found it really interesting how the meaning of the piece really developed with time. Time provided increased nuance, which brought so much more depth to the performance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Five Herstories was presented at Loyola\u2019s 2018 Dance Composition Showcase, Loyola\u2019s 2018 Annual Dance Concert and the 2019 ACDA regional conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mind of Movement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Senior dance major Sarah Fluegel began a research process almost a year ago. Fluegel received a Provost Fellowship to help fund a four-week long Gaga intensive at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance during the summer of 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fluegel choreographed a portion of a solo before attending the intensive and choreographed the other portion of the solo after. Fluegel said she decided to do this because she was hoping to find movement that lived in her body unconsciously through practicing Gaga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy experience has been that practice-based research is a fantastic way to approach an actual research topic, while taking into account the context that surrounds that research,\u201d Fluegel said. \u201cFor dance specifically, time, place, setting, audience members, what I ate that day…anything and everything can affect the research I do on stage and the results I find.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to presenting Mind of Movement at ACDA, Fluegel also performed at J e l l o refresh. According to Fluegel, presenting practice-led research more than once, in unique circumstances is important to the research process as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n