Honors College Dance Majors Lead Multidisciplinary Discussion of Dance as an Art Form

Dancers do more counting than we realize, from counting their breath, to counting their steps, to counting on each other.

On Wednesday, March 27th, a cohort of Dance students led a multidisciplinary conversation about dance as an art form.  The dancers discussed their unique research methods, while pointing out societal misperceptions about their field.

Sarah Zucchero, Ariel Goussak, Olivia Link, Amelia Stork and Erin Cervelli facilitated the conversation.  Each athlete offered insights on their experiences merging dance with academic excellence.

One popular method by which dancers research and expand their art is called lineage.  “Essentially, lineage is seeing who has influence from who,” said Goussak, a senior Dance major.  Goussak explained that dance has an oral history, with traditions and influences passed down through verbal communication.

Tracing how instructors pass down their expertise from one generation to the next helps dancers understand the foundations of various choreographic styles.

“You then ask yourself, ‘How do I innovate from that?’ ‘How do I expand upon the art?’,” adds Goussak.  This inquiry-based line of reasoning reflects the critical thinking skills that dancers need to evolve their art form and discover new things about tradition.

Cervelli, a sophomore, notes that the subjective viewing experience of dance can sometimes be clouded by societal misperceptions.  She described that because the human brain is generally programmed to seek concrete, objective answers, sometimes viewers may think they are watching a dance “the wrong way."

“People are afraid of the unknown,” explains Cervelli, emphasizing the subjective nature of dance compared to activities with more immediately identifiable objectives like team sports.  Relative to other athletic activities, physical education curricula rarely expose school-age children to dance.

“Sometimes people will ask dancers, ‘what is your goal?’,” says Cervelli, who encourages others to see that there is no right or wrong way to experience dance.

The Dance students enriched their discussion by highlighting other misconceptions about their field.  One major myth is that dancers have minimal use for applying quantitative reasoning skills to their performances.

“We take an entire class on counting music,” explains sophomore Amelia Stork, who is pursuing original research with the Dance department athletic trainer. “We change tempos, which requires awareness of breath cues,” adds Stork.

Dancers rely on each other to count accurately and effectively under pressure.  One misstep can sometimes cost a group their cohesion on stage, leading to noticeable mistakes.

Hours of intense practice reinforce dancers’ muscle memory, strengthening their kinesthetic learning through movement.  When mastering techniques, dancers learn by latching onto details through mental visualization.  Such strategies help ease the challenging audition processes that these athletes endure.

“In an audition, you’re shown a phrase two to three times. Then you have to do it,” says Stork. 

“A lot of it is a mental game. But part of dancing is saying to yourself, ‘I’ve got this.’”

Amelia Stork

Sarah Zucchero and Olivia Link, both seniors, shared insights into the pieces from the Spring 2019 Mason Dance Company Gala.

“One performance begins with the dancers looking at the backdrop, feeling hesitant and unsure,” says Link, emphasizing the emotionally-riveting nature of this piece. “It concludes with them feeling sure of themselves,” continues Link, who says the performance’s choreographic style reflects a traditional modern approach.

“Another piece, created by Lucinda Childs, visually illustrates the music along with the dance,” Zucchero explains.  Zucchero highlights that this piece’s choreography is uniquely designed to mirror the music’s soundscape and emotional impact.

“Don’t be afraid if it puts you in a trance,” adds Goussak. “There’s no way to watch it wrong.”

Embracing subjectivity is key to appreciating the humanity expressed through the art of dance.  “It’s important to be honest with your opinions,” says Stork. “You create your own opinion. That’s what’s great about art.”

Original reporting and photography by Jimmy O'Hara