Writing with Video - New Approaches to Internet-Based Dance Writing and Criticism
Dance critics write reviews for the Internet in the same manner as they write for print publications. This similarity of approach is understandable given the relative newness of the online medium.
But given the ever-improving quality and greater availability of online dance videos, I think it is now a good time for dance critics and writers to consider new, alternative approaches to writing about dance for an Internet audience.
I would like to propose that dance writers begin "to write with video." Specifically, that when critics write about dance for the Internet, that they incorporate dance video clips in a very direct fashion into their posts or articles. So, for example, instead of indicating, in passing, that a reader can watch a clip of a dance company that is performing this evening, they explain in their article how a reader can view this clip in order to gain more insight and understanding about the performance they are about to see.
I've seen almost no examples of what I'm proposing except when it comes to dance on the camera or dance films--Anna Brady Nuse takes this approach in her Move The Frame blog.
I think that since there are a large number of videos for most types of dance and that it's easy to embed these videos in stories, that it is time to rethink the balance between words and video.
Also, by emphasizing the video watching experience, dance writers will be making the experience of reading dance articles and posts more self-contained. As things stand now the full potential of a dance review cannot be realized by a reader until he or she actually sees a live dance performance. The truth, of course, is that only a small percentage of review readers will see a specific performance. So the review, for a large percentage of readers is often about an experience that they will never have.
By focusing on the video, as I've proposed above, dance journalism for the Internet becomes an enjoyable and educational experience in and of itself (I'm not saying that readers can't enjoy well-written reviews if they don't see a performance. I'm simply saying it's a different type of experience). Say, a critic writes a video retrospective of Merce Cunningham using the many available clips on YouTube as source material. This online article will likely provide me and others with invaluable insights, historical background and questions to consider as I watch the curated clips. As things stand now, I think I'm the only one who has ever put together an online video retrospective of Merce Cunningham's works and I'm not the ideal person to be doing this.
For me, such an article would instantly improve my knowledge and understanding of Merce Cunningham. This article might further be enhanced if videos of other choreographers and dancers were included that showed what specifically influenced Cunningham and which choreographers he, in turn, influenced. The key to the success of this piece, I believe, would be the analysis and commentary that helped readers gain a better understand of Merce and helped readers better enjoy future live performances of his work.
By "writing with video," there are many paths that dance critics can take to writing about dance in new ways that will be invaluable to readers and will likely be read by larger audiences as well.
Before highlighting examples of different approaches to using video to write about dance, I would like to mention Tonya Plank's post from yesterday (also read the comments) in which she addresses the topic of dance writing and the relationship of words, pictures and video.
Possibilities for Writing With Video
Here are different approaches that can be taken to writing with video. As you'll see from my first suggestion, there are indeed many possibilities, but also challenges.
1) Dance Reviews
If you follow the recommendation of this post and decide to "write with video," the first question is how do you use videos in your reviews. Writing reviews with video happens to be problematic because writers will want to include video clips of the work or works that they saw performed. But these clips might not be available. And if they are available, they may be very short and, thus, not include the material you would like to highlight.
Here's a video clip uploaded by Jacob's Pillow to YouTube promoting a summer performance of Hofesh Shechter Company, which will perform "In Your Rooms" and "Uprising." But what is the name of the dance featured in this clip? When and where was it performed? I believe that presenters and dance companies ought to do a better job describing the videos they post online so that it's easier to write about this content.
By my questions about the above video, it may sounds like I'm saying it's too difficult to "write with video." That is not the case, I'm simply pointing out that of all the different types of dance stories that can be written for the Internet with video that reviews (followed by previews) represent the most challenges because critics need very specific video content for these articles and posts.
2) Dance Previews
Since there are many ways to write previews, dance writers have more flexibility than with reviews in terms of their search for optimal video. A writer, could for example, find two or three excerpts of different recent performances to highlight various aspects of a choreographer and provide context for thinking about the dance one is about to see.
Here's a clip of Keigwin + Company, uploaded by the Joyce to promote another summer performance. By the way, the Joyce did not indicate what this performance is, when it was performed and the names of the dancers. I think that these are glaring omissions that should be fixed. Given that prestigious presenters such as the Joyce and Jacob's Pillow are making the same mistakes, it would probably be helpful if we came-up with recommended guidelines for how video should be uploaded to video sharing sites (there are a host of other issues, of course, such as music licensing that have to be addressed).
My question for critics would be: How could you incorporate the following clip into a preview? What would you ask your readers to think about and examine about any and all aspects of the dancing, choreography, music and other elements of the performance?
3) Dance Interviews
Dance critics, with their wealth of knowledge and experience about dance, can provide invaluable context for video interviews with choreographers and dancers.
Consider that you are writing a post about this Christopher Wheeldon interview, which is part of the "Remembering Jerome Robbins" series from the New York City Ballet. How would you use this clip to tell your story and provide insight to your readers? What additional Wheeldon videos might you include in this post?
By the way, click the "more info" link on the YouTube page for this video. New York City Ballet does an excellent job of providing the important details and uses this clip to promote specific performances.
4) Dance Documentaries
Dance documentaries are very similar to interviews. Here is a mini-documentary about American Ballet Theater star Angel Corella. Once again, you'll find an excellent description about this video.
While this profile is very good as a free-standing video, how would dance critics go about writing about it to provide more insight, context and analysis for readers? Or would they, instead, write a review of this Corella profile?
5) Historical Dance Videos
Here's a three minute video of Giselle with Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev. I'm sure that dance critics could write an excellent viewer guide for this clip:
6) Dance for the Camera
Dance for the Camera or video dance is, by definition, self-contained and especially worthwhile to write about when you can embed an entire dance on camera performance directly into your review article or post.
An excerpt from DV8 Physical Theater's "The Cost of Living":
7) Choreographer Retrospectives
As I mentioned at the outset of this post, historical retrospectives were made for the Internet. I think it would be great if dance critics wrote video retrospectives for the leading choreographers and dancers. In one article or post, they could pull-in, say, their top five favorite videos and provide readers with analysis, comparative insight and historical progressions.
Here's Merce Cunningham's Biped, one of many Cunningham videos available on YouTube:
8) Mixed Media Performances
One of the advantages of Internet video is that multiple types of video can be pulled into a single post or article. Take Capacitor's Biome, which consists of both a dance performance and a projected video. Excerpts of the performance and the entire video presentation are on YouTube. The availability of these clips makes it much easier to write about this performance -- as a review, preview, or in any other format you wish.
Biome performance:
Projected video:
9) Site-Specific Performances
Site-specific performances can be written by dance writers who have seen the performance and by those who are writing about the performance based solely on their experience of the video.
Here's a performance from Project Bandaloop:
10) Choreographers and Dancers in the Studio
Dance videos go well beyond the stage, as clips above show. Here's rehearsal video footage of Mark Morris working with his dancers in preparation for last year's performance of "Mozart Dances." How would dance critics write about this clip?
Conclusion
I figured that I'd limit this post to ten videos. But I've barely touched the surface. There are many other types of dance to write about in online articles and posts.
