The Study on Doris Humphrey`s Water Study = The Study on Doris Humphrey`s Water Study

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The purpose of this study was to analyze the dance movements of Water Study that includes no stage properties or music. Choreographed by Doris Humphrey in 1928, Water Study recreates the nature only with human body movement, which is the only medium to express the theme of the dance, beautifully presenting a metaphor of the organic process of ocean. Therefore, the study was carried out in terms of the wave image, effort flow, and musical dynamics in regard to the movements. Since the dance has universal appeal with its extremely clear pictorial imagery, its analysis demonstrates how Doris Humphrey developed her choreographic idea, lucidly conveying the meaning of the dance as well as organically structuring the overall pattern only through the dance movements. Humphrey externalized her vision of water in such a way that the dancers` rhythmic movements corresponded to the energies and configurations of waves in the ocean. The changing tempo of a great body of water under stress of wind and tide is poetically expressed through motions. The entire dance is pictorial, full of vivid expression, providing extremely clear images of the ever changing waves. It makes one feel as if a gradually swelling and subsiding ocean were in front of one`s eyes. Humphrey utilized several forms such as ternary form, theme and variation, canon, and counterpoint in order to depict the different energy and shapes of the ocean waves. The dance employs symmetry, repetition, unity, and balance so that it achieves the clear presentation of the theme as well as its aesthetics of form. Humphrey related the quality of the movement to the breathing which is prominent characteristic of the dance. The inhale and exhale of the breathing are to create the two major movement qualities of the dance, the swelling and subsiding, that are the most important movement concept to weave the whole dance. The natural phrase of breathing initiates the impulse and flow of the movement and its various intensities yield the rhythms and dynamics of the body movement. Humphrey proved through Water Study that the dance is an independent art of itself. She had the choreographic genius to be able to abstractly describe the dynamic action of water under stress of tides and winds and render it visible as theatrical illusion. Therefore, Water Study shows Humphrey`s capability to recreate the energy of tidal force, without any help from other subsidiaries but human body movement, is choreographically remarkable.

참고문헌 (Reference)

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