Every Dance Needs a Chaperone: The Whys and Hows of a Mentored Choreography Festival

ABSTRACT

Learning to choreograph is an integral part of developing dance literacy, offering students a new way to apply their dance knowledge, providing opportunities for students to practice risk taking and self-expression, and training the next generation of choreographers. Despite the benefits of this instruction, many dance programs struggle to find time to include compositional lessons in their established schedules. Mentored choreography festivals are one alternate way for students to experiment and gain experience in choreography while benefiting from the guidance of a seasoned dance artist. This article discusses the role of a mentor in the student's creative process and how it differs from the role of teacher, examines three models for mentored choreographic festivals, and offers practical tips for hosting your own festival.