Best products from r/drumcorps

That is simply a poorly written article.

Dance theory, choreography, and general concepts of contemporary dance are quite well defined and clearly articulated.

In the history of dance, there have been a number of approaches to formalize specific principles and vocabulary, even actual dance notation (Labanotation) was created to record specific choreographic movement in order to be reproduced. The availability of film and especially video made this obsolete.

Ballet is still actually the foundation of modern dance, which introduces variations of technique and extended vocabulary. It would literally be impossible to be a professional performer or choreographer in the contemporary sphere without not only a solid ballet foundation, but other well known principles set out since the Denishawn school (school founded by Ted Shawn and Ruth St. Denis that is considered the origin of contemporary dance's break with ballet).

Anyway, here are some essential reads that I would strongly encourage anyone that is interested in choreography or staging, especially in the context of marching arts, to read:

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The Art of Making Dances - Doris Humphrey (<<< critical read!)
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Making-Dances-Doris-Humphrey/dp/0871271583

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The Intimate Act of Choreography - Lynne Anne Blom & L. Tarin Chaplin

https://www.amazon.com/Intimate-Choreography-Lynne-Anne-Blom/dp/0822953420/

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Anatomy of Movement - Blandine Calais-Germain

https://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Movement-Revised-Blandine-Calais-Germain/dp/0939616572

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Dance and the Specific Image - Daniel Nagrin

https://www.amazon.com/Dance-Specific-Image-Daniel-Nagrin/dp/0822955202

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Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet - Gail Grant

https://www.amazon.com/Technical-Manual-Dictionary-Classical-Ballet/dp/0486218430/

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The Routledge Studies Dance Reader - Alexandra Carter

https://www.amazon.com/Routledge-Dance-Studies-Reader/dp/0415485991

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Every Little Movement: A Book About Delsarte - Ted Shawn

https://www.amazon.com/Every-Little-Movement-About-Delsarte-ebook/dp/B01N1YQQXX/

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What Is Dance?: Readings in Theory and Criticism - Roger Copland & Marshall Cohen

https://www.amazon.com/What-Dance-Readings-Theory-Criticism/dp/0195031970

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The Illustrated Dance Technique of José Limon - Daniel Lewis

https://www.amazon.com/Illustrated-Dance-Technique-Jos%C3%A9-Lim%C3%B3n/dp/0871272091/

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There are so many more!

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Also recommended, free OCW course from MIT:

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Dance Theory and Composition

https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/music-and-theater-arts/21m-675-dance-theory-and-composition-fall-2003/

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The Rochut book, (which is the Bordogni Vocalises) is a staple. Concone is great as well.

You could also pick from the Tyrell 40 etudes for an audition.

For a music school audition you might be asked to play excerpts, so a book of the standard band/orch excerpts would be good as well. https://www.amazon.com/Euphonium-Excerpts-Standard-Orchestral-Library/dp/B01E9EO5M6

I’ve got a few; 2 you’ve probably heard of and one I had to read for a class:

Enders Game

Band Of Brothers

Begging For Change by Robert Egger.

Robert Egger the DC Central Kitchen and in the book he discusses how he went from owning a club to becoming aware of food insecurities in DC and the inefficiency of how the issue was being addressed. He then founded the DC Central Kitchen that attacked the problem in 2 ways. It trained people to become cooks which gave them a marketable skill and they also learned money management and other skills to help them once they have secured a job. They then used the food that the students made in class to donate to people who need it. The change in the title is a change to how problems are addressed for a more permanent solution as opposed to temporary ones.

It’s a fascinating read and not incredibly long. If anyone is interested in social work, nonprofit, or something similar I would recommend it. /u/druler you would probably enjoy it

https://www.amazon.com/Begging-Change-Nonprofits-Responsive-Efficient/dp/0060541717/ref=nodl_

Side note: if you use Amazon type the word “smile” before amazon in the url and amazon donates a small percent to the nonprofit of your choice. Many drum corps are listed. Ex: https://www.smile.amazon.com/Begging-Change-Nonprofits-Responsive-Efficient/dp/0060541717/ref=nodl_

Edit: my example doesn’t work on mobile. RIP