Stanford Root

Schedule

Stanford Root

Schedule

DANCE 123

Choreography: Hot Mess & Deliberate Failure as Practice

UNITS:2
GRADING:Satisfactory/No Credit
LEVEL:Undergrad
GER:WAY-CE

A dance class in how we become the worst dancer possible. The foundation of this class has many parts. One is that, in almost every respect the way we gain insight into anything is to understand more clearly its polarity. As a class we purposely explore chaos, failure, and "bad" dancing, with the hope that then we will have a greater chance to understand and refine our personal notions around beauty. The class also acknowledges that creativity is at times born from the loss of control. Instead of looking at this idea obliquely, Hot Mess looks at this directly by having dancers confront a number of movement and vocal prompts that are literally impossible to execute in any good way. This class embraces and celebrates destabilization, with all the exuberance, fear, and learning that can happen when we accept and practice being lost.

Syllabus for selected term:
View Winter 2027 Syllabus

Sections

1 Term
Practicum 1Open
ID: 26094
0 / 30 enrolled
DAYS:Tuesday, Thursday
TIME:6 PM – 7:20 PM
LOCATION:Roble Gymnasium 115
INSTRUCTOR:
Ketley, Alex
2units

DANCE 123: Choreography: Hot Mess & Deliberate Failure as Practice

2 units · Satisfactory/No Credit · GER: WAY-CE

A dance class in how we become the worst dancer possible. The foundation of this class has many parts. One is that, in almost every respect the way we gain insight into anything is to understand more clearly its polarity. As a class we purposely explore chaos, failure, and "bad" dancing, with the hope that then we will have a greater chance to understand and refine our personal notions around beauty. The class also acknowledges that creativity is at times born from the loss of control. Instead of looking at this idea obliquely, Hot Mess looks at this directly by having dancers confront a number of movement and vocal prompts that are literally impossible to execute in any good way. This class embraces and celebrates destabilization, with all the exuberance, fear, and learning that can happen when we accept and practice being lost.

Offered in Winter 2027 at Stanford University.

Winter 2027 sections

  • Practicum — Tuesday Thursday 6:00 PM – 7:20 PM — Roble Gymnasium 115 — Ketley, Alex (Undergrad)

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