1.a. Process-Based Dance Documentation
Professional Labanotator, Valarie Mockabee, and I conceptualized the design for a new model for dance documentation for the work Prey by New York choreographer Bebe Miller, a premiere African American modern dance choreographer whose accolades include two Bessie awards given by New York critics for excellence in performance (1986 & 1987), a Guggenheim Fellowship (1988), and an American Choreographer Award (1988). In our Process-Based Dance Documentation model we analyzed how Miller made the work, explained how the work came together through movement instances, identified key movement elements, described the problem-solving techniques employed, and identified movement themes that directly relate to this dance as a whole and to Miller's approach to choreography. The CD-ROM and the accompanying Labanotation score not only provide contextual, production, and analytical information on the dance but also include linked Labanotation and video showing Miller coaching. The documentation captures the elusive process of developing choreography and illuminates the essence of the work. Mockabee & Parrish (2001), Mockabee & Parrish (2002). My long-term interest has been to create and understand the impact of interactive dance pedagogy for children and young adults. Thus, the next step in my program of research was to address the development of dance-based multimedia for K-12 populations.
Bebe Miller Process-Based Dance Documentation website
Vicky Shick Process-Based Dance Documentation website
List of Research Publications
Parrish, M. & Mockabee, V. (2001). Process-based dance documentation:
Living past the moment of Bebe Miller’s Prey.
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). Irvine, California. 190-195.
List of Research Presentations
Before Creating: Tilling the Creative Field with Research.
Presenters: Laura Pettibone with Cathie Kasch, Mila Parrish and Catherine Tharin
NDEO Conference. Focus on Dance Education: Engaging in the Artistic Processes:
Creating, Performing, Responding, Connecting, Phoenix, AZ. Adjudicated. (October, 2015).
Living History Yvonne Rainer and the 1960’s.
Lead Presenter: Dr. Mila Parrish with ASU graduate education students
Jennifer Walker, Nancy Happel and Apryl Seech
NDEO Annual Conference. Albuquerque, New Mexico. Adjudicated. (October, 2003).
New methods in technology pedagogy.
Lead Presenter: Dr. Mila Parrish with ASU students Jennifer Walker, Carrie LeBarron,
Sara Anderson, and Maegan Ender
NDEO Annual Conference. Albuquerque, New Mexico. Adjudicated. (October, 2003).
Living in the Process.
International conference on Kinetography Laban (ICKL)
Taipei the 23rd Biennial Conference of the International Council of Kinetography Laban (ICKL)
Beijing, China: (with Valarie Mockabee). Adjudicated. (July, 2003).
Inside the Process: Dance documentation issues and observations
International conference on Arts and Humanities, Hawaii. Adjudicated. (January, 2003).
The Process of the Process: Digital Dance Documentation.
Presenter: Dr. Mila Parrish
Multidisciplinary Technology Arts Conference. Irvine, California. (November, 2001).
Prey: An Innovation in Dance Documentation.
Enhanced process-based dance instruction from the companion
CD-ROM for Labanotation score “Prey”
International Conference of Kinetography Laban (ICKL)
Columbus Ohio, (with Valarie Mockabee). Adjudicated. (August, 2001).
Process-Based Dance Documentation: Bebe Miller CD-ROM & Labanotation score.
Presenter: Dr. Mila Parrish
National Dance Education Organization. Minneapolis, MN. Adjudicated. (April, 2001).