about Dance Research Course

For this purpose, we have designed our course with (1) a general programme and (2) individual projects. In the general programme, we are holding symposiums and workshops by inviting guest speakers from inside and outside Japan in order to learn about the most recent dance research. In the individual projects, we are dealing with【Ⅰ】a contemporary dance project (the analysis of works and performances, and the history mainly of contemporary dance) (Kataoka Yasuko), and【Ⅱ】a classical dance project (ballet history mainly focusing on Russian ballet and baroque dance research) (Suzuki Sho). Moreover, we will hold lectures on "cultural studies of dance" (Ishii Tatsuro) and "ethnographical studies of dance " (Kikkawa Shuhei).
Additionally, collecting documents and visual materials, we intend to deepen the methodologies employed, in association with European and Asian Theatre research.
We encourage the associate fellows (the doctor course students) to write papers and earn their degree by providing a favorable supervision system for them. Our plan is to invite authorities who can support the associate fellows to make presentations in academic conferences inside and outside of Japan, and to publish papers in international academic journals. We actively support our fellows, with their excellent research results, to participate in networks overseas, and to study at international universities which have the faculty of dance research, using the system of foreign exhange. This backup is intended to educate international dance researchers.
The 2008 international conference "Dance Research Today - focusing on the crossing point between theoretical research and analytical research" was an expression of our efforts. In addition to a number of workshops and academic presentations, the conference consists of lectures by our guest speaker, Janet Landsdale (Emeritus Professor of University of Surrey), and a symposium entitled "Nijinskys Choreography << Le Sacre du Printemps >> Revisited".