Date of Award

5-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

College/School

College of the Arts

Department/Program

Theatre and Dance

Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair

Stefanie Batten Bland

Committee Member

Apollinaire Scherr

Committee Member

Susan Pope

Abstract

The Rite of Movement —The Creation of John uses the lens of choreographers of the Judson Dance Theater lineage and era to honor the values and practices of Christian sacred dance. This thesis investigates where these two seemingly unrelated topics intersect and how a non-religious view of composition can direct the dance-making process of a sacred dance. Using elements of postmodern dance such as pedestrian movement, gesture, and inquiries regarding weight offers a new pathway to participate in Christian sacred dance, making it accessible to all congregation members. John was composed, pulling inspiration from dance works, Trio A (Rainer), Chicken Soup (Cummings), The Man Who Grew Common in Wisdom (Hay), Satisfyin Lover (Paxton), and the movement practice Contact Improvisation. Inspiration also came from the writing “No Manifesto” (Rainer). The Rite of Movement —The Creation of John investigates dance as worship, evangelism, and the accessibility of sacred dance, encouraging all types of bodies and skills to participate in dance worship and sharing Christian ideas with contemporary audiences. The Rite of Movement — The Creation of John incorporates community offerings that include a movement experience, sharing of food, and space to ask, “What need can we help meet”?

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