The Internet As A Medium for Promoting Dance Practices and Its Effects on Human Lives
This is an annotated bibliography mainly dealing with how the internet is used as a medium for preserving and promoting the various dance forms.
I aim to look into the various forms of dance practices, and try to analyse how the emerging new media, that is the internet specifically, contributes tremendously to ensuring the fact that dance practice and choreographic styles reaches out to the masses, and also how it affects people's lives at different levels. For further in-depth knowledge of the listed material, one may take a look at them online by following the links given and typing in 'dance and the internet' on the required fields.
Section 1
Sita Popat, Jacqueline Smith Autard (Feb 01' 2002), Dance-Making on the Internet: Can On-Line Choreographic Projects Foster Creativity in the User-Participant?, Leonardo, Volume 35, Number 1, Pg nos 31-36
[source: http://0-ejournals.ebsco.com.brum.beds.ac.uk/direct.asp?ArticleID=46E0B8FEB65C4C8A08D0] [accessed on 4th May'2011]
In this article the authors, Sita Popat and Jacqueline Smith Autard predominantly deal with the varying levels of creative involvement which a participant experiences while trying to create dance by using the internet, trying to make it as user friendly as possible. Since the internet is used by people with varying levels of knowledge and understanding of how to really use online resources, this article particularly deals with, and explains with the help of a survey, the various interactive and ongoing online projects which require the user to be an active participant in the entire creative process of making dance.
Of particular interest in this article is the knowledge that there are only five websites which actually deal with interactive online dance teaching methods. But this study only deals with three of these studies. They are:
(1.) Stephen Koplowitz's Webbed Feats, and its presentation 'Bytes of Bryant Park',
(2.) Richard Lord's 'Progressive 2', and
(3.) Amanda Steggel's 'M@ggie's Love Bytes'.
Through the course of this study it was found out that communication is the primary element of an interactive dance making process. The more involved a person feels with with the on-going process of dance making, the more effective is the communicating medium. The entire procedure should have the capacity to retain its flexibilty of developing over time and according to the participants' needs. It should ideally be a two-way communication.
Though this study was carried out during the years 1998 and 1999, its findings are still relevant since there have been very few developments in this particular field.
This article may well be used in my wiki because of its informative nature of describing the nature of online, interactive dance practices which are not known by many people, but which is slowly and steadily spreading itself amongst the masses, creating in them an awareness that creativity is not just limited to the physical proximity of individuals with one another. There are various means to express one's creative self, one of them being the emerging new media, that is, the vast online world of the internet.
Sita Popat. The TRIAD Project: Using Internet communications to challenge students' understandings of choreography. Research in Dance Education, Volume 3, Number 1 (2002), Page nos. 21-34
[source: http://0-ejournals.ebsco.com.brum.beds.ac.uk/direct.asp?ArticleID=4X0C2UFA7PWWHHNDVU8N], [accessed on 4th May' 2011]
Sita Popat takes anexample from the Transatlantic Realtime Inter Active Dance(TRIAD) project which spanned from January 2001 to April 2001between 40 dancers aged between 9-19 years, and all hailing from schools based in different countries. In this case the participating schools were from Britain (a school based youth dance company), a high school in Portugal, and a youth community dance group based in Madison, USA.
With the upcoming drive in schools to introduce Information and Communication Technologies into each and every aspect of their offered curriculam, the use of computers has increased greatly, and anyone not using them in their subject area are at a risk of getting their particular subject area being classified as 'old fashioned'. As far as dance is concerned, the online video technology is being commonly used in classrooms to view previous performances by other pupils, as also to record the older performances for the future reference of a pupil in order to analyse themselves personally, and also for external examinations.
Of particular interest in this article is the knowledgeof how this project tried to create a kind of platform for everyone to share their experiences of learning about different dance forms and their understanding of the various choreographic styles. It is interesting how this project aimed to challenge the students ideas of dance style and choreography by using asynchronous internet communication.
Since the dance backgrounds were different for the three participating groups, it would also enable a rich , cultural exchange between them, as each of them had their own choreographic, dance styles. Through the continuous making and sending of dance videos to one another , it was seen that most people in the three groups were learning newer things about other dance forms, which in turn made them more open to several other dance based approaches.
It is also interesting to note that apart from online dance based learning which, was the main motive of the project being carried out, the groups also had exchanged amongst themselves a cultural understanding of one another, and how it could feel to be a young person in a completely different country.
This article is useful for my wiki since it gives a clear picture about the fact that cultural exchanges can occur across boundaries, in this case over the wide, online world of the internet.
Section 2
Gniady, Jennifer, Dance Teacher, Shop Talk: Virtual Studio, Step by Step Ways to Move Your Dance Studio to Cyberspace, Vol 19, No 1 (Dec 1999), Pg nos 51-53, Raleigh, NC: Macfadden Performing Arts Media, LLC, USA
Jennifer Gniady in this article particularly deals with providing step by step pointers as to how one can set up their own virtual dance studio.
Since our idea of a dance studio is typified by an image of a room with four walls, wooden floors and lots of mirrors surrounding all around, this article aims to change all of that by providing dance studio owners with an online home for their choreographics to reach out to the masses. But, setting up an online studio, specifically a dance studio may not be as easy as it may seem. As the internet is spread over every aspect of our lives thesedays, for one to start off on their own may not be that easy. to begin with, one must do a thorough background study about the various other online sites relating to dance, as well as several other non-dance sites, so as to get a list of ideas.
To begin with, it is important to decide first as to what content the site will have, and what it can be used for. A rough idea can be drawn by visiting other such online sites and deciding which are the the things we may like or not like in the websites. Once the do's and dont's are taken care of, it is important to find out a good internet service provider who would be willing to host the website.
This article may be particularly useful to my wiki, as it provides a well presented, easy to follow, and step by step account of how to set up a virtual dance studio, which is the first and foremost requirement of an online dance teaching, as well as learning experience.
Legg, Joshua, Dance Teacher, Teaching: Higher Ed: New Dance Recruits,, April 2007, ProQuest Direct Complete, Pg nos. 89, 91-93, Raleigh, NC: Macfadden Performing Arts Media, LLC, USA
This article particularly deals with the key role advertising and public relations play for any business or program to work successfully. It predominantly highlights the importance of Relationship Management for the successful, and smooth running of any business. It states, that while it is important to nurture relationships with the faculty, staff and students(both past and present), it is also equally important to nurture the relationship that one shares with the administrative staff, both on and off the campus. Closely reading this article, one can get a clear idea that the public relations and marketing team members of any institute play a pivotal role in attracting students into the institution. Hence, it is of primary importance that they have a clear picture about the various concerning departments, in this case dance.
It is interesting to find out that the advent of the internet has made it extremely important for every institution to rely on the electronic medium for a wider publicity of themselves.
It is important for dance schools or universities offering dance degrees online, to keep themselves constantly upgraded with the ever evolving world of the internet. Of particular interest in this article is the constantly re-asserted fact as to how a new website can be effective if it is updated on a regular basis with the changing needs and demands of the people who maybe using it.
Since the young brigade whole heartedly embraces technology and are completely sold on it for doing even the smallest bit of work, it is a challenge for the online dance instructors and programmers to make it as appealing and interesting as they can.
All these factors maybe an interesting contribution to my upcoming wiki which would be dealing with dance practices through the internet.
Section 3
Kane, Nancy, Dance Teacher, Dance for the Millenium: Dance and Technology, July-August 1999, Pg nos: 52-53, Raleigh, NC: Macfadden Performing Arts Media, LLC, USA
Whether we may like it or no, it is a truth well known these days that technology has become a predominant part of our lives. It has even spread out to change the original aspect of the Hitdance in Hitthe over the past 20 years. Performers who are technologically sound, that is computer literate choreographers, educators, composers, administrators, theorists, visual artists, are becoming extremely aware of the need to be in tune with the vast, and ever evolving world of technology, which in turn has made them all become a part of the fast growing Hitthe, Hitdance world.
In the 1970s, dancers in Hitthe started to think about ways in which they could take advantage of the new technologies, since at that time computers were not programmed well enough to handle complex graphics. It was on further research at different universities that it was found out that the programs for Hitdance notation were able to to take advantage of two-dimensional pictures and texts.
with the changing times, as faster, and more advanced computers became available, the Hitthe programmers began adding exciting graphic components, then began to work with different ways of modeling Hitthe human body to create computerized animation for choreography.
HitThe is the most successful computer choreography program till date.
As personal computers became the norm in Hitthe, during the '80s, techno-savvy educators pioneered Hitthe creation of computer-aided instruction (CAI) programs for Hitdance .During the early to the middle '90s, interactive performance possibility, together with CD-ROMs for Hitdance education were developed, taking advantage of improved graphics capabilities and faster computers. Artists and computer scientists created interactive performance environments that let dancers trigger sound and light cues while performing.
Feeling overwhelmed by Hitthe body electric? There is no need to fear. HitDance specialists should take advantage of new technologies, alone or in collaboration with other artists. In the future, HitThe world will need Hitthe dancers of to reveal the Hitthe humanity behind Hitthe machinery.
This article may well be used in my wiki since it provides an insight into the Hitthe dance form, the perspectives of which completely changed with the advent of the internet.
Janson, Maureen, Distance Makes the Dancer Grow Stronger, Dance Teacher, July 2004, Pg nos: 46-48, Raleigh, N. C.: Macfadden Performing Arts Media, LLC
This article predominantly deals with how the innivative video, satellite and computer technologies have been intrumental in changing the face of the Hitdance education, making it possible for students and dance instructors to communicate and work together inspite of long, geographical distances.
When it comes to something as physical as Hitdance , it may strike most people as to how education can be effective without direct interaction. Several programs, including TPL, have tackled this dilemma with streaming video and other real-time technologies. Already at the forefront of interactive video technology, TPL has been able to facilitate master classes, coaching sessions and other types of exchanges between institutions in different locations.
Setting up videoconferencing in a Hitdance studio takes serious collaboration. Each site is typically equipped with one or more fixed cameras, plus a handheld camera operator to film movement from all angles. Up to six people work together within a studio to arrange an ''exchange.''
It was noticed that students easily adapted to this style of training and preferred it more, because the technology allowed them to being corrected from three dimensions.
As the use of technology in Hitdance education can be applied in many ways, HitDance teachers concerned with the program should not be intimidated by the fact that they need to be technologically more sound before attempting to incorporate it into their work processes.
This article may or may not be used in my wiki. But I have included it in here for the simple reason that it provides an interesting and informative read about the use of technology in something as physically challenging as dance.
Section 4
This website, powered by YouTube is one of its kind in the world of learning dance forms from the comfort of one's own home. It offers the advantage of learning various difficult dance forms, ranging from belly dancing, hip-hop, swing, lindy-hop,hustle, tap dancing, and many more. It even offers the basic knowledge that one needs to have about the dynamics of various dance forms, as well as the art of applying make up during dance competitions.
Initiated and directed by the famous and celebrated former seven times un-defeated US Champion, two times open to The World Latin Champion, and a Pro-Am Champion of the World, Mr. Corky Ballas, one can be assured of receiving high quality expertise and guidance at all times, and at every step.
Since I am dealing with online dance practices, this website may be of good use to my upcoming wiki.
http://www.kinerenterprises.com/blog1/
One of the newest to join the bandwagon of the online dance world is the Kiner Enterprises Inc, an international online dance teacher staffing network running throughout the world. It was started in 2007 in the United States. This company predominantly helps dance teachers get access to more jobs, and also provide support to dance studio owners for hiring good dance teachers. They also offer dance consulting, advice, tools, and resources for dance teachers and dance studio owners through their exclusive membership website, blog, internet radio show, and online videos.
It is the first online Social Media Success Training and Resource Center for Dance Studios. The Kiner Dance Studio Success is a website specifically created to give dance studio owners all of the tools, techniques, and resources necessary to run your own, successful, social media campaign.
Though this website is not really important to my wiki which would be predominantly dealing with online dance practices, but, it is important in its own right since no dance classes can be held without a good, and skilled teacher. this is where this network comes into the forefront, providing anyone interested in dance with a highly skilled teacher who can guide them.
I hope the final wiki would be an interesting and knowledgeable read about the little explored world of online dance practices.
