Guest Teaching: Site-Specific Dancemaking at University of Chicago

What a pleasure and honor to be invited as a guest artist to Maya Odim’s Contemporary Dance Practices class at University of Chicago in Spring 2025. Her course engaged with contemporary dance practices through movement, discussion and writing; noting socio-political influences on dance and dance praxis (in social and staged settings) and sifting through the work of varied contemporary dancers and examples of contemporary dance(s).

Prior to teaching, I provided ​​performance and practice research. I shared a selection of Ground Series performances: documented full length works and video trailers, featuring sites in California and New Mexico including a theater stage, mountain ranges, and civil rights monuments. Practice research came from Ground Series co-director Sarah Ashkin and collective member Miles Tokunow: two videos which guide the listener in prompts and embodied exercises of site-specific dancemaking. 

In class, I led the students through a series of warmups and composition exercises in the studio. Continuing outdoors in their small groups, they further developed site-specific dance works in relation to the architecture and courtyard. The students were curious and creative, making unexpected choices in their site selection, and demonstrating a variety and range in movement vocabulary. Special thanks to Maya Odim for this wonderful invitation to be in dialogue with students, her dynamic research and performance, and the inspiring environment and architecture of University of Chicago. 

Learn more about Maya Odim: ​​http://mayaodim.com/ Learn more about Ground Series educational programs: PROGRAMS | GROUND SERIES

Written by Brittany Delany, co-director

Photos: 1. Brittany Delany on campus at University of Chicago. 2. Entrance to building hosting our guest class at University of Chicago. 3. University of Chicago Campus.