NEW GLOSSARY 4 NEW DANCE: “PAREIDOLIA PARADISE: DANCE IS THE NEW INK BLOT, aka, ‘APOPHENIA ME’”
A glossary that integrates the inkblot concept and its application to dance preparation and instant dance production … some key terms that will begin the inclusions …
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| inks by SCHOOL OF NATURAL DANCERS participants, First Sunday, January 7, 2024 |
1. Inkblot Interpretation in Dance:
• Apophenia: The tendency to perceive patterns or connections in ambiguous stimuli, like inkblots. Applied in dance, it involves interpreting movement in nonchoreographic styles, encouraging subjective perception and diverse interpretations.
2. Dance Preparation Techniques:
• Inkblot Exercise: A creative activity involving the creation and interpretation of inkblots. Applied to dance, it fosters spontaneity, encourages diverse movement exploration, and stimulates subjective interpretation among dancers.
3. Instant Dance Production:
• Nonchoreographic Dance: A style emphasizing spontaneous movement and rejecting predetermined choreography. Drawing inspiration from inkblot interpretation, it allows for organic, free-form dance expression.
• Creative Mapping: Utilizing inkblot-inspired exercises as a framework to generate movement sequences or themes during instant dance production.
4. Science and Psychology of Inkblots:
• Pareidolia: The psychological phenomenon where the brain interprets familiar patterns or meaningful images in random stimuli. Relevant in dance as it influences how movement is perceived and interpreted by dancers and spectators.
5. Interpretative Dance Technique:
• Subjective Movement: Embracing the individual’s personal interpretation and expression in dance movements, akin to how individuals interpret inkblots differently based on their perceptions and experiences.
This glossary merges the psychological aspect of inkblot perception, its application in dance preparation for instant dance production, and the overarching concepts related to nonchoreographic movement exploration in dance.
about using inkblots in dance workshops and instant dance practice
the concept of apophenia plays a significant role. When dancers engage with inkblots, their minds naturally exhibit apophenic tendencies by seeking patterns or meanings within these abstract images. This process parallels how spectators, in the context of nonchoreographic dance, perceive and interpret movements without predefined choreography.
The use of inkblots encourages dancers to tap into apophenia, allowing them to explore the diverse and subjective interpretations of these abstract patterns. Similarly, in nonchoreographic dance, spectators rely on their own apophenic perceptions to interpret and connect with the spontaneous movements presented by dancers. Embracing apophenia in both scenarios fosters a creative environment where the mind finds connections, significance, and meaning within abstract forms—be it in inkblots or the fluid movements of nonchoreographic dance.
