The TRIAD Project: Using Internet communications to challenge students' understandings of choreography

Abstract

The TRIAD Project presents an innovative approach to the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the teaching of choreography. The project involved over 40 young dancers, aged 9-18, from Britain, Portugal and America. They formed an Internet dance community, sharing their choreographic ideas via movies and text, and developing an original dance work. The asynchronous method of communication encouraged a reflective attitude that supported the learning situation. Through their efforts to explain their creative processes to peer groups via the dynamic Website, the young dancers developed their personal understandings of choreography. The need to communicate clearly via text and movies led to increases in the students' usage of dance-based critical vocabulary, and encouraged objective appraisal of creative work. Discussion of the work by the other peer groups challenged the students to deal with different dance styles and other choreographic approaches.