Dancing In My Abode: A Study on the Space Struggles of the Online Dancer

Proponent/s Name/s (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)

Atasha Gabrielle D. Ramos, De La Salle University Integrated School (Manila)

Document Types

Arts and Design Research Presentation

Research Advisor (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)

Jayrald P. Magat

Abstract/Executive Summary

As the COVID-19 pandemic deemed performing artists unable to rehearse and perform in studios and theaters, space has become a big struggle for dancers, especially for those who train in Ballet. This dance piece is an original ballet variation created for a small space that interprets the difficulties and experiences of online ballet dancers. The researcher interviewed a dance teacher and a dance student about their space struggles, adjustments made for online dance, and their experiences. The struggles of both dance students and dance teachers include; internet connection, lag, hanging videos, disconnection, screen time, camera angles, attention span, lack of focus, academic workload, equipment, and space. Meanwhile, the adjustments both dance student and dance teacher made were to procure better devices and equipment, as well as to modify the class structure for dancers in small spaces. The former recommended that dance schools be more careful in teaching dance online to beginners. Meanwhile, the latter tried to find new ways to be able to engage her younger students in class. This dance piece aims to show what dancers have to adjust in order to perform in a small space. Moreover, the researcher aims to use the data collected in this study to aid in developing the online dance set-up.

Keywords

online dance; COVID-19; space; Ballet; home

Research Theme (for Paper Presentation and Poster Presentation submissions only)

Dance and Movement Art (DNC)