COPA4205

Your body, your voice, your music, your humor and your fear. This is the DNA of an improvisational encounter and the departure point for the work of the Improvisational Artists Lab. This collaborative course between Jazz, Drama & Mannes explores the outer reaches of how student performers from different disciplines interplay using the common language of improvisation. The course draws inspiration from personal narratives through weekly explorations of text, composition, soundscape and movement. Students will be guided on a journey through spontaneous improvisation, dramatic text, music composition and intuitive play. From time to time world-class guest artists in theatre, music and dance will be invited to work with the class and offer critiques. Over the course of the semester students will form creative teams developing student work that culminates in a final project. By exploring diverse inter-art collaboration and improvisational process this course will provide students with new resources to meet contemporary performance challenges.