ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS

"Themselves Becoming":

A Dance Film Exploring Authenticity in Movement

by

Lisa Frank

Master of Fine Arts in Theatre and Dance (Dance Theatre)

University of California, San Diego, 2015

Professor Patricia Rincon, Chair

"Themselves Becoming": A Dance Film Exploring Authenticity in Movement is a dance study that investigates human vulnerability, authenticity and healing through the work of Authentic Movement, Reiki and video explorations. This investigation asks the question, "What is dance, and what can it be?" Through a series of one-on-one sessions with people from diverse backgrounds and of diverse ages and occupations, the research opens participants up to experience the possibilities of what movement is and can be to them.

ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS

“Systems and Structure; A Radicalized Approach to Making Choreography”

by

Sam Mitchell

Master of Fine Arts in Theatre and Dance (Dance Theatre) University of California, San Diego, 2015

Professor Patricia Rincon, Chair

The shift and development of my choreographic process can be traced by drawing comparisons between the creation of my previous work, which was derived from a perceived narrative, to a more systematic choreographic process, such as the one that was used for the creation of my ThesisWorks dance piece, “Dunamis Novem”. I will explore the methodologies used to create “Dunamis Novem” as a reflection of how my personal aesthetic has developed.