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Research and creative activity of faculty and students is ongoing and wide-ranging in the FSU Dance Department, owing largely to the diversity of expertises throughout the faculty.
Creative research projects, such as Jawole Zollar’s recent choreographic work, “Walking with Pearl”, which was inspired by her research into the life and art of dance pioneer Pearl Primus is in contrast, for example, to Tim Glenn’s “Aqueous Myth”, a full evening multi-media investigation into man’s relationships with water. This project spanned four years and collaborations of some seventy artists (resident faculty, guest artists, and students) and tested the capabilities of the new technology resources of the department’s new facilities. In the areas of dance history and American dance studies, our students are introduced to such projects as Professor Sally Sommers’ documentary film, “Check your Body at the Door”, an exploration of the New York City club dance scene. Together Dr. Sommer and Dr. Tricia Young have also pioneered a partnership between FSU Dance and the Jerome Robbins Dance Division of the New York Public Library on a project called “Library without Walls” which makes rare materials of the library available for graduate programs and curriculum across the country through the use of technology and the Internet. As part of their studies, several graduate students in the MA in American Dance Studies program, have had the opportunity to contribute directly to the project. Tom Welsh involves his students in his contributions to the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science while serving as Chair of the IADMS Research Committee and leading several research teams into publication of important research of particular value for dancers. Through the Department’s effort in historical preservation, students have been able to observe Eppes Professor Suzanne Farrell directing dancers from her company in the restaging of works from the Balanchine repertory. This has included such pieces as “Don Quixote” later performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Additionally, Ms. Farrell has set “Slaughter on 10th Avenue”, “Valse Fantasie”, “Elegy” and “In the Inn from Ivesiana” on FSU dance majors. FSU Dance faculty members Tim Glenn, Jawole Zollar, and Lynda Davis have demonstrated innovations in projects involving live video conferencing over Internet 2 technology providing real-time interaction between dancers and faculty from FSU and dancers and faculty at Wayne State University, Ohio State University, and the University of Utah in a variety of activities: live rehearsal coaching sessions, studio master classes, and creative jam sessions. These projects are a sampling of recent or ongoing research that make the Department of Dance at FSU not only a wonderful place to train as a dancer, but also a unique place to learn and contribute to new and important investigations and changes in the larger dance field. |