Dance Concert Critique Guidelines

Your reaction paper must be type-written, a minimum of 2-3 pages, double-spaces with a clear and legible typeface (Times Roman is one that I prefer). Font point size should be 12-13 points, not larger please. Begin your paper by including the name of the performance, where and when it took place. You should include your overall impression of the concert. Choose at least 2 dances to discuss in depth, using the following questions to stimulate your critical and evaluative skills. Don’t merely answer these questions but use them as a guide to develop a comprehensive, well thought out paper.

Regarding the Dancers Did the dancers perform with internal or external focus? Explain. Did the dancers seem committed and assured in their performance of the choreography: Did the dancers work well together as an ensemble? Were there solos, duets, trios, etc.? Comment on their development. Did the dancers display technical virtuosity? Was it intended in the choreography and did it enhance the dance? Regarding the Choreography Did the dance interest you? Capture your attention? Disappoint you? Confuse you? Make you laugh? Make you angry? Evoke some emotional response? Did the dance remind you of something or some experience you can relate to? Was there a unifying theme that you could identify? In your opinion, was the intention of the dance to tell a story? If so, did you follow the story line? If not, was the dance merely about enjoying movement for it’s own sake, or did it evoke some mood or reaction from you? Was the dance too long, too short, or just about right in the amount of time it took to make its presentation?

Did the choreography display various qualities of movement (such as, lyrical, athletic, rhythmic, eclectic) or basically stay with one movement quality? How did the dance use the stage space? Was there floor and aerial work? Describe.

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Was the movement inventive, original and visually interesting? Could you identify any movement vocabulary from your dance experience with this class or previous dance courses? Regarding the Production Elements How did the dance relate to the sound score? Was the choreography connected or disconnected to the music in its rhythmic and melodic structure?

If text was used, how was it integrated into the movement? Were the production elements (lighting, costumes, props) used well in the dance? Did any one element stand out as being essential to make the dance work? Overall Reaction What was the most successful part of the dance for you? Least successful? Summarize your impressions in a few sentences. Remember that your papers must be at college level English writing standards only in order to be acceptable. Use your critical thinking skills and imagination and describe thoroughly what you experience from this dance event!

If you need help with writing please refer to the Writing Lab on campus for assistance. Above all, be sure to proof read your paper before turning it in and use your spell check and grammar check. Points are deducted for these errors that can easily be avoided if you take the time to proof your papers. A good rule of thumb is to read it aloud to hear any wrong sentence structure, etc. Your papers should be turned in one week after the event in order to keep the impressions fresh and stay in your mind! Thank you for your cooperation by turning your papers in at a timely manner.