About

Description

Description of Our Project:

Title of the Project:

Toward Innovative & Transdisciplanary Methodologies: Re-Analyzing & Re-Presenting Social Science Data through Dance

The proposal was initially submitted to the 2011 Creative Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Competition, VP Office of Research. We subsequently submitted proposals in 2012 and 2013.

Purpose of the Project:

The objective of this project is to make public, by re-analyzing and re-presenting social science data through live dance performance, traditionally privatized negotiations of women’s ideologies and experiences of singlehood, marriage, and motherhood. The performance draws on two separate qualitative data sets – one study focused on newly married women transitioning to be wives and the other focused on women choosing to be single and/or childfree. (For more information about the datasets, see the informational sheets featuring the datasets.) Our project emphasizes bodily knowledge and lived experience as lenses through which to view, interpret, and re-present data, and identifies new analytical possibilities with a view to developing an emergent methodological tool emphasizing the use of rejection as an analytical framework. The initial primary objectives were:

Use a transdisciplinary approach to discover & uncover processes at work in analyzing data Introduce dialogues & re-presentations about data to audiences external to the academy Produce an evening-length dance concert for public presentation based on social science qualitative datasets

Timeline:

Fall 2011: Awarded funding to work together to produce an evening-length dance concert from social   scientists’ two qualitative datasets.

Spring 2012: The lead chorographer examined data sets & began sharing her analysis with the social scientist.   Theatre & dance excerpts were created & discussed.

Summer 2012: CO-PI’s presented a portion of the analysis at an international conference

August 2012: Pilot Dance Performance: Data were collected on Audience Responses (N=44)

Fall/Spring 2012: Based on Pilot Data, modifications & additions to the performance

March 2013: Final Dance Performance presented at TTU campus

March 2013: Final Dance Peformance presented at Virginia Tech

March 2013: Elizabeth Sharp and Genevieve Durham-DeCesaro Visiting Scholars/Artists at Virginia Tech

Process

Statements about the collaborative process of representing data through dance:

In the following posters, each Choreographer provides a statement about her work. The Researcher follows with a statement about the work in relationship to data. The Artistic Director and Researcher then offer the joint statements on each dancework as way to provide the audience a glimpse into some of the challenges we have encountered and how we have worked (or are still working) to resolve them.

Pilot Performance (August 2012) Audience Feedback:

In August 2012, we had a pilot performance that included four of the dances in tonight’s concert (I was Happy in the Pictures, A Thin Line, Dressed Part 1, With Doubt) and an extended dialogue about marriage at the beginning of the concert. Using a survey, we collected data about the dances and the concert as a whole from 44 audience members.   We asked audience members to share their interpretations and impressions of the marriage dialogue and dances, as well as what they liked and didn’t like about the performance.

 

Based on audience feedback, we made major modifications to the concert including:

Making single women more visible: Many audience members interpreted the entire dance concert as focused on marriage and assumed all the dancers were married. A few audience members explicitly mentioned how they felt single women were invisible in the concert.

Eliminating the lengthy marriage dialogue at the beginning of the concert: Audience members thought it was too long and we (GDD &EAS) believed that the text set the tone for the entire concert and inadvertedly guided the audience to interpret all of the dances with a marriage frame.

Avoiding any suggestion of satirizing the data in the dialogues: Audience members had indicated that the marriage dialogue made the women seem silly and immature

Adding another dance from the single women dataset: This resulted in the creation of To Find my Voice.

Adding theatrical piece featuring single women: This resulted in the creation of Brave.

Adding text from the singlehood data: We added significant portions of text from this dataset throughout the concert.  

 

After analyzing audience feedback, the researcher became more comfortable with and pushed for abstract dances. The abstract dances allowed the audience to engage with the dance in a wider variety of ways, encouraging more freedom to interpret ways that were meaningful for them.

 

Collaborators

Elizabeth Sharp

Elizabeth Sharp is an Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies and an affiliate faculty member of Women’s Studies at Texas Tech University, USA. She is currently the Chair of the Texas Tech University Gender Equity Council, under the Office of the President and was the Chair of Feminism and Family Studies Section of the National Council on Family Relations. She recently held a two-year Honorary Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Study and was Visiting Scholar in the School of Applied Social Sciences at Durham University, England. She has published broadly in the fields of Human Development and Family Studies, Sociology, Psychology, and Family Therapy. Her work has been cited in several media outlets, including the New York Times, the Toronto Star, and Women Forbes.
Elizabeth Sharp is an Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies and an affiliate faculty member of Women’s Studies at Texas Tech University, USA. She is currently the Chair of the Texas Tech University Gender Equity Council, under the Office of the President and was the Chair of Feminism and Family Studies Section of the National Council on Family Relations. She recently held a two-year Honorary Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Study and was Visiting Scholar in the School of Applied Social Sciences at Durham University, England. She has published broadly in the fields of Human Development and Family Studies, Sociology, Psychology, and Family Therapy. Her work has been cited in several media outlets, including the New York Times, the Toronto Star, and Women Forbes.

Genevieve Durham DeCesaro

Genevieve Durham DeCesaro is the Head of Dance and Associate Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. Her choreography has been commissioned nationally by Whitman College in Washington, Grand Valley State University in Michigan, Old Dominion University in Virginia, Spelman College in Atlanta, Dallas’ Repertory Dance Theatre of Texas, Texas Woman’s University, South Carolina’s Litchfield Dance Academy, Atlanta’s Zoetics Dance Company, Stephen F. Austin State University, Ballet Lubbock, and Oklahoma City’s Perpetual Motion. Honorary presentations of her work include a performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. and American College Dance Association Gala performances at Florida State University, Hollins University, and the University of Texas at Austin. Professor Durham DeCesaro has presented her peer-reviewed research at numerous national and international conferences and has published, with her research partner Dr. Elizabeth Sharp, in the journals Forum: Qualitative Social Research, the International Journal of Social, Political and Community Agendas in the Arts, and the International Journal of Qualitative Methods. Professor Durham DeCesaro is the elected Regional Director of the South-Central Region of the American College Dance Association. She is also a former Chair of the Texas Commission on the Arts Grant Review Panel and a former member of the Ballet Lubbock Advisory Board. She continues to serve on the Advisory Boards of the Roots Music Institute and the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts in Lubbock. Professor Durham DeCesaro continues to choreograph and perform professionally with Lubbock’s Flatlands Dance Theatre. Professor Durham DeCesaro holds a BFA in Theatre from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, and an MA and MFA in Dance from Texas Woman’s University, where she was honored with an Excellence in Teaching Award in the Department of Dance. At Texas Tech University, she has been recognized with the Alumni Association’s New Faculty Award, the Student Government Association’s Outstanding Professor Award, the President’s Excellence in Teaching Award, and the President’s Academic Achievement Award. Professor Durham DeCesaro, a Phi Beta Kappa Charter Member at Texas Tech University, was invited to be the keynote speaker at the TTU Phi Beta Kappa induction ceremony in April 2010, and was elected in April 2011 to the Teaching Academy at Texas Tech. She was named as one of twelve Integrated Scholars at Texas Tech University for the 2012-2013 academic year and was among the inaugural cohort of the President’s Leadership Institute for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Genevieve Durham DeCesaro is the Head of Dance and Associate Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. Her choreography has been commissioned nationally by Whitman College in Washington, Grand Valley State University in Michigan, Old Dominion University in Virginia, Spelman College in Atlanta, Dallas’ Repertory Dance Theatre of Texas, Texas Woman’s University, South Carolina’s Litchfield Dance Academy, Atlanta’s Zoetics Dance Company, Stephen F. Austin State University, Ballet Lubbock, and Oklahoma City’s Perpetual Motion. Honorary presentations of her work include a performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. and American College Dance Association Gala performances at Florida State University, Hollins University, and the University of Texas at Austin. Professor Durham DeCesaro has presented her peer-reviewed research at numerous national and international conferences and has published, with her research partner Dr. Elizabeth Sharp, in the journals Forum: Qualitative Social Research, the International Journal of Social, Political and Community Agendas in the Arts, and the International Journal of Qualitative Methods. Professor Durham DeCesaro is the elected Regional Director of the South-Central Region of the American College Dance Association. She is also a former Chair of the Texas Commission on the Arts Grant Review Panel and a former member of the Ballet Lubbock Advisory Board. She continues to serve on the Advisory Boards of the Roots Music Institute and the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts in Lubbock. Professor Durham DeCesaro continues to choreograph and perform professionally with Lubbock’s Flatlands Dance Theatre. Professor Durham DeCesaro holds a BFA in Theatre from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, and an MA and MFA in Dance from Texas Woman’s University, where she was honored with an Excellence in Teaching Award in the Department of Dance. At Texas Tech University, she has been recognized with the Alumni Association’s New Faculty Award, the Student Government Association’s Outstanding Professor Award, the President’s Excellence in Teaching Award, and the President’s Academic Achievement Award. Professor Durham DeCesaro, a Phi Beta Kappa Charter Member at Texas Tech University, was invited to be the keynote speaker at the TTU Phi Beta Kappa induction ceremony in April 2010, and was elected in April 2011 to the Teaching Academy at Texas Tech. She was named as one of twelve Integrated Scholars at Texas Tech University for the 2012-2013 academic year and was among the inaugural cohort of the President’s Leadership Institute for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Kyla Olson

Kyla Olson is currently an Assistant Professor of Practice in Dance in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Texas Tech University. Prior to this appointment, she was working as an Instructor for the Dance Program at TTU. She received her MFA from Sam Houston State University and she obtained a BFA from West Texas A
Kyla Olson is currently an Assistant Professor of Practice in Dance in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Texas Tech University. Prior to this appointment, she was working as an Instructor for the Dance Program at TTU. She received her MFA from Sam Houston State University and she obtained a BFA from West Texas A&M University. Ms. Olson has danced with Ballet Lubbock, Lone Star Ballet and the Kista Tucker Dance Company. She has worked as a performer in the outdoor summer musical Lone Star Rising at Lake Meredith in Fritch, Texas. In 2004, she participated in the Open Look Dance Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia, performing with companies from all over the world. Ms. Olson has also worked with such artists as Joy Kellman and Natalia Kasparova and has studied with Suzanne Aker, Yvonne Racz, Neil Hess, Edward Truitt, Dana Nicolay, Jennifer Pontius, Jonathan Charles, Dr. Cindy Gratz, Melissa Wynn and Kista Tucker. She has also presented original choreography and taught master classes at the American College Dance Festival over the past decade. Ms. Olson is a resident choreographer for Lubbock Moonlight Musicals and Moonlight Dinner Theatre. She has choreographed their productions of White Christmas, Annie, High School Musical, The King and I, Forever Plaid, Three Redneck Tenors, Camelot, My Son Pinocchio, Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Damn Yankees, Peter Pan, Annie Get Your Gun, Little Shop of Horrors, South Pacific and Titanic. In August 2013, Ms. Olson had her first directing and choreographing experience with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Ms. Olson currently serves as the Executive Director, as well as a choreographer and company dancer, for Lubbock’s professional dance company Flatlands Dance Theatre. Most recently, Flatlands Dance Theatre was invited to perform Olson’s trio Dissections at the PILOT: Choreographers Take Flight Festival in Dallas. See The Modern Woman, a work by Olson and Genevieve Durham DeCesaro, was invited to perform at the 254 Dance Festival in Waco, Texas. Flatlands Dance Theatre recently produced a concert with Texas Tech University titled Ordinary Wars, featuring a work by Olson. The show was performed on the TTU campus and toured to Virginia Tech and University of Detroit.

Ali Duffy

Ali Duffy (Artistic Director) is an Assistant Professor of Dance at Texas Tech University, where she also teaches in the Honors College. She is currently pursuing a PhD at Texas Woman’s University, and she holds an MFA from UNC Greensboro and a BA from UNC Charlotte. Ali has toured internationally with Stiletto Entertainment and Holland America Line. She has been invited to show choreography and perform in American Dance Festival’s Acts to Follow, Central Park’s The Gates exhibit, the Colorado Dance Alliance Open Stages, Choreo Collective, Houston Fringe, and {254 Festival}, among others. She has also been commissioned to choreograph for the NC Dances Festival, Dance Nova Company, and the National Dance Alliance. She received the 2009 Kristina Larson Excellence in Choreography award. Ali has been invited to teach at Lindenwood University, Leverage Dance Theater, Colorado Mesa University, Elon University, Hollins University, Troy University, UNC Greensboro, Ballet Lubbock, the NC Dance Project, and National Dance Alliance. With the North Carolina Dance Theatre, she developed educational curricula for university dance programs. As a writer, Ali has been published in Research in Dance Education, Ballet-Dance Magazine, Dance Spirit Magazine, The World and I, and The Longwood Guide to Writing. The Dance Critics Association named her their honorary Gary Parks Scholar and she was elected to its National Board of Directors in 2010. Her written research has been presented internationally, including in Australia, Hungary, Northern Ireland, and Hawaii. Texas Tech has honored her with the 2012 New Faculty Award, the 2010 Gloria Lyerla Research Grant, and induction into the Teaching Academy.
Ali Duffy (Artistic Director) is an Assistant Professor of Dance at Texas Tech University, where she also teaches in the Honors College. She is currently pursuing a PhD at Texas Woman’s University, and she holds an MFA from UNC Greensboro and a BA from UNC Charlotte. Ali has toured internationally with Stiletto Entertainment and Holland America Line. She has been invited to show choreography and perform in American Dance Festival’s Acts to Follow, Central Park’s The Gates exhibit, the Colorado Dance Alliance Open Stages, Choreo Collective, Houston Fringe, and {254 Festival}, among others. She has also been commissioned to choreograph for the NC Dances Festival, Dance Nova Company, and the National Dance Alliance. She received the 2009 Kristina Larson Excellence in Choreography award. Ali has been invited to teach at Lindenwood University, Leverage Dance Theater, Colorado Mesa University, Elon University, Hollins University, Troy University, UNC Greensboro, Ballet Lubbock, the NC Dance Project, and National Dance Alliance. With the North Carolina Dance Theatre, she developed educational curricula for university dance programs. As a writer, Ali has been published in Research in Dance Education, Ballet-Dance Magazine, Dance Spirit Magazine, The World and I, and The Longwood Guide to Writing. The Dance Critics Association named her their honorary Gary Parks Scholar and she was elected to its National Board of Directors in 2010. Her written research has been presented internationally, including in Australia, Hungary, Northern Ireland, and Hawaii. Texas Tech has honored her with the 2012 New Faculty Award, the 2010 Gloria Lyerla Research Grant, and induction into the Teaching Academy.

Flatlands Dance Theatre

Flatlands Dance Theatre is a professional dance company founded in 2010 and based in Lubbock, Texas. The company is comprised of 14 dancers, 7 choreographers, and 5 apprentices. FDT produces full seasons of formal dance concerts, community engagement activities and classes, and also participates in national touring events.

Mission: Flatlands Dance Theatre produces and promotes innovative and diverse dance and provides educational and engagement initiatives to community members in West Texas through a collective of working artists.

Vision: Flatlands Dance Theatre seeks to enrich the West Texas cultural community by producing innovative and diverse dance works performed by professional artists.

 

www.flatlandsdance.org

Artistic Director, Ali Duffy

Executive Director, Kyla Olson

Production Manager, Joshua Whitt

Community Engagement Coordinator, Sarah Mondle

Board of Directors

Nicole Ashley
Dani Brady
Valerie Komkov Hill
Rachel Keco
Judy Mayfield
Jake Morgan
Evan Sanford, Board President
Charles Skibell
Peter Smith
Frank Stogner