# HDP Spring Film Project **Harvard Dance Project [TDM 90DR]** is a production-based course focusing on professional movement exploration, choreography, and process. For the Spring 2022 season, Aysha Upchurch, Jeffrey Page, and LROD were in choreographic residence with the enrolled company at the Harvard Dance Center. The Harvard Dance Project offered the enrolled company an in-depth experience working closely with choreographers’ diverse methods and practices in the dance production universe while simultaneously examining the intersections of dance and performance studies, choreographic processes, and intermedia. The Harvard Dance Project culminated in an end-of-term performance and production experience at Farkas Hall. In Spring 2022, Jessi Stegall held a joint fellowship as Teaching Fellow for Harvard Dance Project and a Media-Design Fellow for the [Learning Lab](https://bokcenter.harvard.edu/learning-lab) at Harvard University Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning. As a result, the Learning Lab was able to support the Harvard Dance Project in a number of ways: ## HDP Process Film-Documentary 1. For her main project, Jessi + the Learning Lab are creating a 25-30 minute process film that will document the process, ideas, philosophy, and outcomes of HDP in Spring 2022. This film will serve as a thorough archive for HDP, as well as a resource for future studets to be better understand the nature and funtion of this course, especially as it takes new direction under LROD. Film Objectives include: - **Documenting creative process + product** Through filming rehearsals and shows, as well as student & choreographer interviews, this film will capture the experience of participating in the Harvard Dance Project over the course of the semester, tracking shifts in learning for student, the evolution of choreographic research in the classroom, and the community building found in the HDP April production. - **Documenting individual & collective learning shifts** Included in the film but existing as a project of their own, student interviews were conducted at beginning & end of semester. Questions at the beginning of the semester asked them about their backgrounds in dance, identities as artists, hopes for the course, connections between their dance life and other studies, and philosophies around shared movement (as aligned with course objectives). At the end of the semester, students are able to watch their original answers from the first interview, and respond with how their thinking, feelings, and understandings have shifted througout the semester. Both interviews are edited together as a filmed document of learning outcomes and student experiences. - **HDP philosophy and aims** A filmed Interview with LROD gives us insight into her approach to teaching Harvard Dance Project, her reflection The film will be equal part about the course itself (teaching philosophy, values, learning objectives) as well as an in-depth look into this Spring's production. **Film inspiration**: - https://vimeo.com/102171968?embedded=true&source=vimeo_logo&owner=3764167 - https://vimeo.com/14577849?embedded=true&source=vimeo_logo&owner=3764167 - https://vimeo.com/39707383?embedded=true&source=vimeo_logo&owner=3764167 **Footage requests:** - 2 days initial student interviews @Bok - 4 days HDP course/rehearsal time w/ LROD @HDC - 2 days rehearsal time w/ Aysha @HDC - 2 days rehearsal time w/ Jeffrey @HDC - 3 days tech @ Farkas @HDC - 3 days shows @ Farkas @HDC - 1 day choreographer interviews @Bok - 2 days final student interviews @Bok ## Documentation of Learning & Growth Along with capturing the essence and experience of HDP this semester, we also aim to track learning shifts for the students in accordance with particular learning objectives through [filmed student interviews](https://hackmd.io/cNTmO9ctSWm7k2eMQU4bng). The targeted learning objectives are: - *Dance/Movement Literacy* - Students will be able to articulate their thoughts, feelings, and questions about dance and choreographic work, using shared vocabulary and their knowledge of movement discourse. This literacy will be visible in both responding to others' work and ideas as well as in the articulation of one's own ideas and creation. - *Individual Artistic Agency* - Students will be able to articulate their own creative interests, including themes and questions, mediums, feelings, etc. They will be able to talk about their own inspiration, as well as their strengths in artistic creation. They will understand who they want to be as an artist, with an emphasis on their moral agency as artists. - *Connections between dance/movement and other interests* - Students will be able to articulate how their dance interests and practice inform other areas of their study and interest, and potential avenues for including movement research across disciplines ## External Filming **External Filming in General:** Bok Reps (Marlon, Casey, Luke) are needed to support the LLUFs in filming, as Jessi will need to divide her attention between the HDP students and the LLUFs. Further on in the semester it might not be as necessary to have one of them there, as the LLUFs will hopefully have done it a few times, but in the beginning it would be ideal to have someone to help them set up their shots, transfer equipment between Bok and HDC, and invite HDP students to try stepping behind the camera throughout the rehearsals. **External filming ideal story for Mondays 12-3PM:** Option 1: At 12PM, LLUFs + Bok Rep (Marlon, Casey, or Luke ideally) will meet at Learning Lab and carry necessary equippment (a few cameras, mics, tripods) to HDC. We will set up a few different shots, filming the HDP rehearsal from 12:30 - 2:30PM. At 2:30PM, they will pack up and bring the equipment back to Learning Lab. Option 2: Jessi + help will bring equipment to HDC the Friday before the Monday shoot date, and LLUFs + Bok Rep will meet at HDC at 12PM to set up shots, film HDP rehearsal from 12:30-2:30PM, wrap up and carry equipment back to Bok. **External filming ideal story for evening rehearsals (Tues/Wed 6-8PM):** Jessi + help will bring equipment to HDC a couple of hours before the rehearsal. LLUFs + Bok Rep will meet at HDC at 6PM and record from 6:30-7:30PM, wrap up and Jessi will retrieve equipment and bring back to Bok the following morning. | DATE | TIME | LOCATION | | -------- | -------- | -------- | | Monday 2/14 | 12-3PM | Harvard Dance Center | | Tuesday 3/1 | 6-8PM | Harvard Dance Center | | Wednesday 3/2 | 6-8PM | Harvard Dance Center | | Monday 3/21 | 12-3PM | Harvard Dance Center | | Monday 3/28 | 12-3PM | Harvard Dance Center | | Tuesday 3/29 | 6-8PM | Harvard Dance Center | | Wednesday 3/30 | 6-8PM | Harvard Dance Center | | Monday 4/4 | Evening TBD (1.5 hour) | Farkas Hall | | Tuesday 4/5 | Evening TBD (1.5 hour) | Farkas Hall | | Wednesday 4/6 | Evening TBD (1.5 hour) | Farkas Hall | | Thursday 4/7 | 6-8PM | Farkas Hall | | Friday 4/8 | 6-8PM | Farkas Hall | | Saturday 4/9 | 6-8PM | Farkas Hall | | Monday 4/18 | 12-3PM | Harvard Dance Center | **Total Filming Hours: 30.5** # LLUF Involvement [LLUFs will be involved](https://hackmd.io/cNTmO9ctSWm7k2eMQU4bng) in two ways: 1. Join the “core filming team” that will be brainstorming, filming & editing throughout the semester. This team will be resposible for filming the rehearsals & course time outside of the Learning Lab, at Harvard Dance Center and Farkas Hall. If you are interested and available at least half of the dates/times below, this will be a great fit! 2. Join design labs throughout the semester dedicated to researching & prototyping content for our project. We will spend time in the Learning Lab trying out different ways of filming dance, designing interview structures, playing with editing, etc. ## To -do: - [x] ~~Give [students release forms]~~(https://bokcenter.slack.com/archives/C02B00TUCQ1/p1643125038023200) ~~to sign & return for rehearsal filming~~ - [x] ~~Send out invitation for students to opt-in to participate in student interview portion of film~~ - [x] ~~Set dates for Bok filming of class & rehearsals @HDC~~ - [ ] Set date for panel interview with LROD, Aysha, and Jeffrey @ Bok - [x] ~~Set dates with Bok for students to come do initial interviews @Bok (1/28, 2/3, 2/4?)~~ - [x] ~~Meeting with Bok + LROD~~ - [x] ~~Test shoot for student interviews~~ - [x] ~~Create a slack channel to share references~~ - [ ] Create a Look Book for film - [ ] Set up footage exchange protocol between Bok & LROD ## 20220126 Attendees: Jessi, LROD, Christine, Marlon, Katie - Inspired by progress films - Three core objectives - Behind the scenes video - Learning shifts - what is your understanding of dance now, how does it shift over the course of the class/project - Summing up HDP dance philosophy as a course preview video. - Elements - Filming students at the dance center - Interviewing students at the LL - Get LL students and students in the class excited about the choreography of the camera - Schedule a designLab at the Dance Center, rally interested LLUFs - Pitch an interview look - Weekly footage review - Take a field trip to the LL for a workshop on a day when LROD isn't on campus.