Dance as History

Starting in late 2022,  Tara Zahra, Homer J. Livingston Professor of History, and professional dancer and dance instructor Meredith Dincolo collaborate to develop new forms of embodied historical and artistic practice, including new methods for historical research and for representing and transmitting history, as well as new choreographic vocabularies for conveying narrative and storytelling. 

Their project contains two components: 

First, a course for undergraduates, with both a classroom and studio/movement component each week. Developing the course through conversation and analysis will shape studio practice into classroom discourse, and to translate classroom discourse into studio practice. 

Second, the creation and performance of an original choreographic work by Meredith Dincolo (with Tara’s participation), inspired by the coursework. Phrases and movements generated in studio sessions will inform the final work, and students will have the option of participating in the choreography/performance.