Dance as literary criticism: Literary analysis and dramaturgy in a dance theatre choreographic process.

摘要

In my research into interdisciplinary choreographic processes, I found there to be a lacking representation of recent scholarship dedicated to exploring the relationship between literature and dance. As a dance theatre choreographer who often utilizes textual sources as impetuses for artistic creation, I have employed methods of traditional dramaturgy in my practice and, in seeking scholarship on this subject, have noted a need for clear examples of dance dramaturgy in practice. In this thesis study, I employed methods from literary studies and dramaturgy in the process of adapting a work of short fiction by Kurt Vonnegut for the stage. I documented my process and have structured the information for the benefit of those who may read it. The artistic product of this research was presented to an audience in direct relation to its literary source. At the conclusion of this research, I posit that dance can function as literary criticism.