Concert Review
What is a Concert Review? Begin by reading these NY times reviews on live dance performances to get a feel for the different approaches to writing about dance. One of the most difficult and exciting aspects about writing about live performance is that once you view it, it no longer exists except for in the minds eye. Unlike a work of visual art, you cannot go back and view the same performance twice. This concept is referred to as “Ephemeral.” Dance reviews simultaneously provide the reader the opportunity to experience the event they could not attend in person, as well as serving as an important artifact of preservation. Note how the writers of these reviews use specific examples, colorful descriptive language, reference historical context, and weave in personal response. These also serve as your guide when you write your review! While each writer takes a slightly different approach, reviews generally include: Performance Information (Title of work, company, choreographer, and dancers when appropriate) Context (Providing history when needed, to help the reader understand the value of the work) Descriptive language (Describing what you saw- themes, movements, production elements, etc.) Personal Perspective (How the reviewer responded to the work, and supporting examples to WHY they had the reaction) Note: These reviews give an idea of the tone and terminology for writing about dance, however your review will be considerably longer and more in depth 4 pages, double spaced, 1 inch margin, .12 font Intro/Body/Conclusion, proof read and spell checked. Your review should include a thesis statement, providing your reader with a clear focus and contextualizing your findings. Cite sources as appropriate (page numbers for text, timestamps for video). MUST include specific movement examples to support your observations with timestamps. Include two sources (in addition to the concert) with concrete examples to support your analysis. Draw on sources from this module. Additional sources welcomed, however check carefully for validity.
