Dance Critiques
or Reviews
Purpose
This assignment asks the
student to articulate her opinion of choreographic works seen live
or
on videotape. The student will analyze, interpret and evaluate each
work,
and write an organized, unified paper, using standard written American
English. The paper should be written in the past tense. It should not
be
a plot summary. Instead, the paper should perform the following three tasks:
Analyze the performance by examining how the parts (movement, choreography,
costumes,
scenery and music) combine to form a whole (mood created).
Give specific
examples.
Interpret by asking what the piece means (intent of the work,
symbolism involved)
and referring to specific elements.
Evaluate by asking if the choreographers were successful in
communicating their
intent. Explain your reasons by giving evidence of strengths and weaknesses.
Helpful Web Sites
The following links provide helpful information about writing a dance review:
