1. Mind and Medium in the Modern Dance by Katherine Everett Gilbert
Edited by
Dr. Kay Picart and Jessica Labbé
Based on a presentation by Heather Zemeck

2. Review Question
On what basis does Gilbert claim that the renaissance of modern dance is like the Renaissance in classical Italy?

3. Review Question:
What maître de ballet and writer of the dance does Gilbert refer to as a leader of this movement? What does he claim?

4. Review Question:
Through what phases did the demand for a return to natural human feeling reveal itself?

5. Review Question:
How does Laban define a gesture?

6. Discussion Question:
In an attempt to understand Spannungen, participate in the following exercise:
Imagine that you are asleep and your phone rings at 6a.m. At first you are sluggish and tired. Then, the person on the phone tells you that you have gotten the job that you have been wanting.
How would your body actions and/or posture change?

7. Review Question:
What is the Raumkörper and what is its purpose?

8. Review Question:
What is the other element of von Laban’s concept of the formal part of medium?

9. Review Question:
What are the three planes that contain the dancer?

10. Review Question:
How does the motion of one’s body affect emotion?

11. Review Question:
What role does Laban think dance has played in communication historically?

12. Discussion Question:
Do you agree with Gilbert’s assertion? Why or why not?

13. Review Question:
How does one distinguish the mind from the medium? How do they interact?

14. Review Question:
What two forms does Gilbert argue that the medium has taken?

15. Review Question:
What does “abstraction” mean in modern dance?

16. Concluding Question:
Do you view modern dance as a return to nature and common humanity? Why or why not? Develop your answers concretely.