THE SCHOOL

We observed high school students on their third day at the Governor's School for the Arts. Young artists from all over the state were immersed in the creative process, successfully blending traditional and contemporary forms of technology to develop their original art works. Students participated in workshops for dance, theater, music and the visual arts.    

Relating the Standards

Governor's school students are required to produce, perform and exhibit continuously throughout their five week stay. Analysis and evaluation of their work occurs through reflective group critiques and written evaluations. This analysis and evaluation process utilizes both traditional and contemporary technologies.

Student Knowledge/Understanding Before Governor's School

         After                                                  

Leopard Photo Caption
THE CLASSES

The visual arts classes include drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics and computer aided design.  Figure drawings, portraits and still life paintings were made using traditional mediums of charcoal, ink, and paint.  

Student artists working in 3D used clay to hand build figures, faces and architectural forms. Others were constructing figurative abstracts with wire, burlap and plaster. Contemporary technology was used to throw pots and vessels on the wheel. Computer generated drawings    were created using the Adobe Photo-shop software program.    Young dancers were engaged in rehearsal during modern dance class.  As they rehearsed in groups and individually, a mirror was used for self critique and group feed back.  An archival video clip was also used to show the dancers how professionals  interpreted and danced the same piece.

At the Governor's INSTITUTE we had a short, "teaser" performance from the New York City based dance group, Troika Ranch.  At the Governor's SCHOOL we saw the group in an afternoon rehearsal and  in an evening  performance.  This group incorporates several forms of modern technology in their work.   Large scale images are projected against the back of the stage and onto the dancers.  Recorded sounds are integrated into the piece as well as computerized music.  An interesting use of computer technology allows the dancer to create and determine the direction of the music with sensors worn on the dancers body.

OUR TASK

Part of our task in Learning Community #7 was to  create a performance using Laban notation software. We had a unique experience combining contemporary technology with performance as our group created an original dance. Laban notation resembles a geometric, native American design. Each shape represents a direction of movement, which is assigned to a body part/parts and is used to choreograph. We each were responsible for sections of the dance. We then performed our individual sections for each other, divided into three groups of three and taught each other our individual sections.

THE GRANDE FINALE

We performed the dance in a sequence. Inspired by Troika Ranch dance company, we had our group leaders videotape us dancing and then project the video onto a screen behind us while we performed the dance, giving the audience a live and recorded performance simultaneously. Having this experience of our own gave us an even  deeper understanding of the endless possibilities for artists combining traditional and contemporary technologies.