Hickok Hall

March

Soaring: Staging a Historical Dance through Dance Notation

Carol Maxwell Rezabek, Instructor of Dance & Theatre
March 6 & 13

Carol Maxwell RezabekMusicians use musical notation to provide a visual record and set of written instructions as to what a piece of music should sound like. While less widely known and used than musical notation, the art form of dance also has a system of notation. Labanotation is a system used to record human movement. It captures dances in symbol form, enabling this ephemeral art form to be recorded, recreated and shared with future generations in all parts of the world. In this two-week forum, Instructor of Dance Carol Maxwell Rezabek will introduce audience members to Labanotation and show how it can be used to stage dances created generations ago. The first week’s session will explain the Labanotation system of dance notation, including how it works and its history and applications. The second session will explore the history, significance and staging of one specific dance from Labanotation. The five-minute ensemble modern dance, Soaring, was choreographed in the 1920s by modern dance pioneers Ruth St. Denis and Doris Humphrey and has been brought back to life in our own time by Maxwell Rezabek. With the special permission of the Doris Humphrey Foundation and The Dance Notation Bureau, the second session of this forum will include a unique opportunity to experience Soaring. Audience members will be treated to a live performance of Soaring as well as an after-performance discussion with its dancers.


Scotland and the United Kingdom: Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Lynda Barrow, Professor of Political Science
March 27

Lynda BarrowAlmost half of Scots want to separate from the United Kingdom (UK) and form their own independent and sovereign state, which would end their three-century “marriage of convenience.” In recent years, the central tug-of-war in Scottish politics has been between unionists who want the UK to remain united and separatists or nationalists who want Scotland to separate from the UK. In Scotland, its constitutional future—whether it remains in the UK or emerges as a sovereign state—defines political discussions and its entire political situation. However much such nationalists want a "divorce," they are finding that "breaking up is hard to do." In 2014, a referendum that garnered international attention was supported by just under half of Scots. While that move to separate was unsuccessful, the Scottish National Party is currently calling for a second referendum on independence. This special one-week forum presented by Professor of Political Science Lynda Barrow will explore the events surrounding these calls for Scottish independence, which is only the most recent chapter in the long story of Scottish independence and the union between Scotland and the rest of the UK, particularly England. The presentation will begin by providing background about the history of Scotland’s relationship with England and the UK. It will then explain Scotland’s 2014 referendum, including the issues it involved, why it failed and subsequent efforts to achieve independence. We will discuss the role of Brexit in this debate, the evolution of politics and arguments in the decade since 2014 and the ongoing push by nationalists to hold a second referendum. Throughout, Dr. Barrow will share perspectives on these events gathered during her interviews with members of the Scottish parliament.