{"id":14153,"date":"2023-05-19T13:18:05","date_gmt":"2023-05-19T17:18:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/?p=14153"},"modified":"2026-03-31T09:26:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T13:26:36","slug":"watching-music-hearing-movement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/watching-music-hearing-movement\/","title":{"rendered":"Watching Music, Hearing Movement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A collection of video about music and movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"SMT-V 07.2 &quot;Dance as Music in George Balanchine&#039;s Concerto Barocco,&quot; by Kara Yoo Leaman\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/495091183?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Nice piece of scholarship about Bach, Balanchine and the &#8216;divisions of 12&#8217; from the Society for Music Theory.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Margaret Beals<\/strong> has been performing as improvising dancer for many years. (She is actually a friend of Dawn&#8217;s.) Here she is with sitar player and jazz musician <strong>Colin Wolcott<\/strong> (who participated in the groups Oregon, The Paul Winter Consort and Codona to name a few). There is a documentary, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/dancingwithoutsteps.com\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/dancingwithoutsteps.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Dancing Without Steps<\/a>, about her life and work releasing soon. She is introduced in the film by Meredith Monk. Though both Wolcott and Beals seem very connected in this clip, they make little effort to match or mimic each other&#8217;s phrases. I appreciate that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/32vUyGkVg2g?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sonny Rollins and Savion Glover<\/strong>: Two master improvisers, both perhaps the best living exemplars of the respective art forms are in dialogue in this clip. Rollins, a fountain of invention known for 30 minute+ solos, generously gives Glover the spotlight here, creating the framework for his poly-rhythmic pyrotechnics. Attitudes towards tap dancing have had a varied history of regard in the jazz community, but here the two artists are (pun intended) on equal footing.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VU64O5celyM?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Yvonne Rainer<\/strong>: Rainer was part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Judson_Memorial_Church\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Judson_Memorial_Church\">Judson Dance Theater<\/a>, along with Steve Paxton (creator of contact improvisation), Trisha Brown and many others. I don&#8217;t believe this dance is improvised (though I&#8217;m not sure &#8211; anybody know?), but I love it because it feels like it could have been. It makes me want to run to the dance floor and move. I love playing to it, too (it was presented without music). When I do, it is very close to what I feel when Dawn and I rehearse over Zoom.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_vHqIMFDbQI?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Nancy Stark Smith and Mike Vargas<\/strong> (and company): Smith was part of the same group of dancers as Rainer, also closely involved with the creation of contact improvisation. Vargas has provided music for improvised events for years, and has an interesting and useful <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mikevargas.net\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"http:\/\/www.mikevargas.net\/\" target=\"_blank\">perspective<\/a> on playing for them. Watching this, I can imagine why improvised dance and music have not left a larger mark. These are ephemeral sand paintings meant to disappear. While it can be electrifying to watch performers invent on the spot, the results can be like a good cup of coffee: after 15 minutes in the cup, it&#8217;s not exactly coffee anymore. That is not to take anything away from the high wire act presented in this clip (or old coffee, as long as it is iced :-). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KL9IOLLS-_M?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;start=428&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A collection of video about music and movement. Margaret Beals has been performing as improvising dancer for many years. (She is actually a friend of Dawn&#8217;s.) Here she is with sitar player and jazz musician Colin Wolcott (who participated in the groups Oregon, The Paul Winter Consort and Codona to name a few). There is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[116,18,84],"class_list":["post-14153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-projects","tag-essays","tag-improvisation","tag-projects"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9ohMj-3Gh","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":69,"url":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/69\/","url_meta":{"origin":14153,"position":0},"title":"Improv Sonata, 2009","author":"Michael Joviala","date":"August 21, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"In June of 2009, the Bloomingdale School of Music presented a composition of mine which I called 'Sonata for Improvised Piano'. An excerpt appears above. The piece exists in two versions, one completely written out, and the other written with a combination of graphic and conventional notation. The piece was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Projects&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Projects","link":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/category\/projects\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/first-page-improv-sonata-edited1-300x166.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":362,"url":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/what-were-working-on\/","url_meta":{"origin":14153,"position":1},"title":"For Parents: Classes for 4-5 year-olds","author":"Michael Joviala","date":"October 8, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Parent: \"What did you do in class today?\"Child: \"I was a cat.\"Parent: \"Oh.\" It is difficult for young children to express exactly what they are 'learning' in a Dalcroze classroom. What happens in the room after we take off our socks and shoes and close the door? Of course, in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Dalcroze Reference&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Dalcroze Reference","link":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/category\/dalcroze-reference\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":19118,"url":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/locomotors-at-windhover\/","url_meta":{"origin":14153,"position":2},"title":"Locomotors at Windhover","author":"Michael Joviala","date":"August 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"My improvisational music and dance group, Locomotors, is performing at the Windhover Center for Performing Arts in Rockport, MA on September 5th, 2025. Here's a brief history of our origin and evolution. I first had the idea for Locomotors while finishing my DMA at Stony Brook: a group based mostly\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Projects&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Projects","link":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/category\/projects\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2025\/08\/dawn-michael-marty.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2025\/08\/dawn-michael-marty.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2025\/08\/dawn-michael-marty.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2025\/08\/dawn-michael-marty.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15829,"url":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/its-all-a-charade\/","url_meta":{"origin":14153,"position":3},"title":"It&#8217;s All a Charade","author":"Michael Joviala","date":"October 22, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Classic Party Game as Music and Movement Portal for 3rd-5th Graders Last week, I came across a passage in a book by Elizabeth Vanderspar that stopped me in my tracks. (The book was originally published as \u201cPrinciples and Guidelines for Teaching Eurhythmics\u201d and is now available as Dalcroze Handbook:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Dalcroze Reference&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Dalcroze Reference","link":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/category\/dalcroze-reference\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":369,"url":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/curriculum-focus-attention\/","url_meta":{"origin":14153,"position":4},"title":"Curriculum Focus: Attention","author":"Michael Joviala","date":"October 23, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the most important aspects of the Dalcroze work is the training and development of attention. There are many different forms of attention: focused, sustained, selective, divided, alternating have been identified by motor learning researchers. Like many other motor activities, music utilizes all of them, and\u00a0in the Dalcroze class\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Dalcroze Reference&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Dalcroze Reference","link":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/category\/dalcroze-reference\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/juggling_turbo-ball-orange-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2958,"url":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/improvisation-workshop-finding-your-sound\/","url_meta":{"origin":14153,"position":5},"title":"Improvisation Workshop: Finding Your Sound","author":"Michael Joviala","date":"May 13, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Ever hear some music, maybe a jazz pianist who has a great command of the instrument, or a piece by Debussy that seems to take wing, and think, \"If only I could improvise like that!\" I have felt that many times, and I still enjoy trying to capture and take\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Projects&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Projects","link":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/category\/projects\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14153","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14153"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14153\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19194,"href":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14153\/revisions\/19194"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14153"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}