March 23, 2007

Sharing Works-in-Progress and Seeking Feedback Online

Sometimes dancers and dance companies participate in showcases of their works-in-progress. This way they can perform their unfinished pieces in a safe environment and receive helpful feedback and critiques from a live audience.

There's no reason that this concept cannot be ported to the online world so that dancers can receive feedback and reactions from fellow dancers, critics and dance enthusiasts around the world.

Here's a possible model for Internet-based showcases of works-in-progress:

1) Communication mediums must be selected. The obvious choice is video in conjunction with text, pictures and audio. Since many dancers already shoot video of rehearsals, this shouldn't be difficult in most cases.

2) All participants (dancers and those giving feedback) need a private environment in which to share videos and provide critiques. If a public platform is used where all Internet users can participate, then the goal of creating a safe environment to showcase and discuss works-in-progress is defeated.

3) Following-up on the item above, only people who are personally invited get to join-in this online discussion.

4) Ground rules must be set in terms of how invited guests participate and how content (primarily video) can be used or not used outside of this private online setting. For example, dance writers might be invited, but in terms of their writing these forums do not exist.

By creating this safe environment for conversation and feedback, I think that dancers from around the world will benefit in significant ways. Most valuable is that it becomes possible to share works with dancers around the globe with whom you would probably never have collaborated. And in the process, you'll probably hear a diverse range of reactions that may prove very helpful in the on-going development of your work.

Tools and Applications

Here are some thoughts on what software applications and tools could be used for this project.

In terms of video, it is necessary to use a web-based video application that allows you to decide who can and cannot access your videos. YouTube has this functionality other video sharing applications probably do too.

Here's a screen shot from one of the video upload screens on YouTube. There are two important features here. First, you can set a video to "private." And you can also indicate whether your video can be embedded in other websites. For this project you want privacy and the ability to embed. Click for larger image:

Next, we need a group bloging platform or social networking site where it is possible to determine which people get access to this online discussion and video content. Once again, there are probably many options. I was just taking a looking at the Vox blogging platform that touts its privacy settings.

Finally, a lot of thought has to be given to how to structure and conduct the discussion about each work-in-progress. This is new territory because there has been little discussion about the art of sharing constructive criticism in the online world. For example, what types of feedback are the most helpful? What types of feedback do choreographers and dancers actually want? And at what intervals should these on-going discussions take place?

In terms of building a blueprint for these facilitated discussions, I think that a good place to start is with a publication from Liz Lerman Dance Exchange called "Critical Response Process," which is written by Liz Lerman and John Borstel. This book provides a framework for how to facilitate conversations about art in a meaningful and productive manner. So I think this publication would be a good springboard for thinking about how to facilitate these discussions online. (I do Internet consulting for Dance Exchange).

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