What is experimental

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Permalink Reply by santiago on March 16, 2009 at 3:19pm

Experimental is the ability to interpret rare music on the spot with a unique movement vocabularly that, while may draw upon certain defined disciplines, is highly individualistic. I don't think a dancer can learn an experimental movement technique, it is more a philosophy and intuitive response to newfound sonic collages. Check out MIXED MOVEMENT at St. Marks Church to see experimental in motion.

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Permalink Reply by Lil Bit of Caramel..a on March 16, 2009 at 3:33pm

I agree with the fact that a dancer can't learn an experimental movement technique, but I believe that one should use technique to farther express and MASTER IT for honor and respect toward dance.

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Permalink Reply by Jon on July 6, 2009 at 3:26am

Who Coined this word Experimental to define this form of dance?

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Permalink Reply by santiago on November 25, 2009 at 2:49am

All I can say is that in terms of House Dance International, I coined the term, selected the music the first couple of years, and said, let the dancers come and define what they view as experimental to these tracks. And we went from 10 to 50 contestants in two years. How the term Experimental is used outside of the context of House Dance International - can't say I know.

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Permalink Reply by The Imperial House Of Waacking on August 11, 2009 at 8:48pm

I thought experimental was a form of modern dance.

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Permalink Reply by santiago on November 25, 2009 at 2:45am

I think what's misunderstood about the term "experimental" is that the music is what drives it. There is no set technique or movement vocabulary that one could really describe as experimental. IMHO. It is unique, spontaneous, in-the-moment interpretation that forces dancers to draw upon a variety of vocabularies and techniques. If you were to really break down "experimental" movement, you would find that Experimental is simply an extreme variation of an existing style, such that it no longer fits within the defined parameters of the accepted style.

In the end, this discussion raises the point that these labels for contemporary forms of dance are socially constructed and not really REAL. Within virtually every move we see in Hip-Hop and House, a well-educated dancer could most likely find a parallel move in the vast nomenclature of traditional West African or Diasporic dance. Hip-Hop, House, Vogue, Capoeira, anything performed in response to the beat of the drum , these forms are simply modern variations of African dances that have been practiced for millenia in one form or another.

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