- Year of study: Two semesters, autumn and spring
- Final assessment: Reflection paper
- Language of tuition: Norwegian/ English
Course description
This course is an interdisciplinary production and collaboration project in which students from the Norwegian Academy of Music (NMH) develop and perform site-specific works in collaboration with students from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHiO) (choreography, dance, and costume). The project is part of the concept SHORT STORIES, led by the Master’s program in choreography at KHiO, and takes place in various spaces at the Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology.
The main aim of the course is to give students practical experience and increased awareness in working with choreography, dance, costume, stage spaces, and scenography. The course involves creating and performing music for choreographed works in collaboration with students from KHiO (choreography, dance, and costume).It provides hands-on training and experience in creating, planning, organizing, leading, and communicating effectively in interdisciplinary collaborations and with external institutions and their audiences. The course aims to develop and expand the student’s aesthetic understanding and practical ability to co-create and perform choreography/music works consisting of movement, costumes, scenography, video, and music.
The course is open to all performance students, composition students, and music technology students in their third and fourth year of the Bachelor’s program, as well as Master’s students. No prior knowledge of dance or choreography is required.
Course coordinator: Composition, Music Theory and Music Technology Department
Learning objectives
Upon completion of the course, the students is expected to
- have knowledge of working methods and collaborative processes across artistic stage practices
- have knowledge and experience in composing/performing site-specific choreographic works
- have knowledge of working methods in other performing arts fields such as choreography, dance, costume, scenography, dramaturgy, and directing, and basic familiarity with key works in these disciplines
- be able to demonstrate a reflective understanding of their own role in interdisciplinary artistic collaboration
Overview
SHORT STORIES is a site-specific, interdisciplinary collaboration project within performative arts in public spaces, led by the Master’s program in choreography at KHiO. The venue is the Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology.
The term “short story” is usually used for short works of fiction, often published in collections. The concept Short Stories functions as a framework for the project, which consists of five distinct short performances developed and presented together as a collection—hence the course title.
Structure
The work is carried out in five teams consisting of students from all participating programs:From KHiO: Master’s in Choreography, Bachelor’s in Contemporary Dance, Master’s in Design
From NMH: open to all students
Each team is assigned a supervisor from their respective program/institution who follows the process.
The teams are formed as follows: choreography and design students develop five distinct choreographic project proposals, which composition and dance students choose from as the basis for their collaboration in SHORT STORIES.
Each team develops its work site-specifically in different spaces at the museum. The artistic processes evolve through exploration of the selected locations, informed by various artistic perspectives and specific aspects of the museum’s architecture and collections.
The course is conducted during project weeks in the autumn and spring, with premiere and performances in week 7. The production period is typically in weeks 5–7. The required level of presence for composers and performers during this period will be agreed upon in more detail.
Course requirements
Active participation in the course is mandatory. Normally, absence exceeding 20% will result in failing the course.
Final assessment
All course requirements must be approved in order for the student to receive a final assessment.
At the end of the second semester, the student must submit a reflection paper of approximately 1,000 words (2–3 pages). Possible topics include: expectations for the course, personal prerequisites and learning process, and applications of what the student has learned.
Deadline: May 1 (second semester)
The final assessment is graded as Pass / Fail
Reassessment
No reassessment is offered in this course.