Finding an Alternate Approach to Narrative and a New Aesthetic in the Creation of Dances for the Screen

In recent years, the use of technology has been on the rise in the dance world as society as a whole increasingly has become digitized. One of these technologies popular among dance artists today is the camera. Dance created specifically for the screen can be better defined as screendance. In the realm of screendance, artists can choreograph a collaboration between camera and dancer that allows for the ability to express narrative in ways unique to film. In this research, I will argue that with the intentional use of framing, location, and editing in screendance, choreographers can tell if a narrative differs in ways from standard live performance. In the first section of this research, the idea of screendance and narrative, as well as dance filmmaking pioneer Maya Deren will be introduced. Next, the importance of framing, location, and editing choices to express an intended narrative to an audience, will be supported through research findings and screendance examples. Lastly, this research uncovers the possibility of screendance without narrative being questioned and explored through the structure of meta-narrative. Through this research process I have learned that the use of framing, location, and editing greatly affects and alters the outcome of narrative in screendance.