First Call for Proposals for Dance Research Forum Ireland’s 3rd International Conference

First Call for Proposals for Dance Research Forum Ireland’s 3rd International Conference which takes place from Thursday 24th to Sunday 27th June 2010 in the Firkin Crane, Cork, Ireland.

The deadline for receipt of proposals (information below) has been extended to Friday, 29th January 2010. Proposals should be forwarded electronically in Rich Text Format to carmel.mckenna@lit.ie or mckennadance@gmail.com.

Dance Research Forum Ireland’s 3rd International Conference

Thursday 24th – Sunday 27th June, 2010

Hosted by
The Firkin Crane, Cork

First Call for Proposals
December 2009

Dance Research Forum Ireland (DRFI) invites proposals for its 3rd International Conference: Capturing Composition: Improvisation in Dance Research and Practice. The conference, in keeping with the aims and objectives of DRFI, provides a platform for both dance academics and dance artists in Ireland and abroad.  Included in its programme are academic-based paper presentations, practice-based research presentations, lecture demonstrations, dance workshops, a student poster exhibition, and dance performance contributions.  Please visit DRFI’s website at: www.danceresearchforumireland.org

The conference explores improvisation in dance research and practice. What is improvisation and how relevant is it to dance research and practice? Is improvisation a subjective experience; a creative tool; a mode of performance – or all or none of the above? How is improvisation transmitted? What methodologies or techniques are used or are being developed; and how is improvisation documented? What or who are the primary and secondary sources?

Broadly defined as ‘spontaneous composition’, improvisation has always been an integral part of dance practice. The aim of this conference is to identify and document how and where improvisation has been, and is being, used in dance practice; and its relevance and importance in dance research and dance practice as research.

Abstracts of presentations addressing the above or any other topic relevant to the theme of the conference should be forwarded electronically in Rich Text Format to Ms. Carmel McKenna, Secretary DRFI, at carmel.mckenna@lit.ie or mckennadance@gmail.com.

[Deadline for Submission of Proposals is Friday, 4th January, 2010. ]

Guidelines for Proposals

Proposals include any one of six presentation formats listed below.  Only one presentation per applicant is permissible.  It is essential that proposals address the theme of the conference and present new insights in the attempt at advancing dance research knowledge and practice. Please submit your proposal form, including your one-page abstract (approximately 250-300 words) of your presentation, detailing your presentation format and outlining your proposed research topic and argument together with a short bibliography and/or videography, and forward it electronically to the Secretary of DRFI, Ms. Carmel McKenna at carmel.mckenna@lit.ie or mckennadance@gmail.com. It is more convenient for the programme committee if the proposals are forwarded electronically both within the body of the email and in an enclosed attachment using Rich Text Format.

Please note that the programme committee will only consider proposals whose presenters are current members of DRFI.  Application forms for membership are available on the DRFI website: www.danceresearchforumireland.org  Application forms are also available from Mats Melin, Treasurer, DRFI, at mats.melin@ul.ie or at The Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.

Programme Committee:
Dr Catherine Foley, Chair of Programme Committee, The Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
Ms. Sheila Creevey, Institute of Technology, Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland.
Dr. Victoria O’Brien, Dublin Youth Dance Company, Dublin.
Mr. Paul McCarthy, General Manager, The Firkin Crane, Cork.

Conference Location: The Firkin Crane, Cork.

Organising Committee:
Paul McCarthy, General Manager and Chair of the Organising Committee, The Firkin Crane, Shandon, Cork.
Michelle Whelan, Project Co-ordinator, The Firkin Crane, Cork

Presentation Formats:

1. Academic-based and/or Practice-based research presentations

These presentations will be programmed for the duration of 20 minutes, including any audio-visual material.  A ten-minute discussion period will be allotted after each presentation.

2. Panels

A panel presentation consisting of three or four presenters is also welcome.  Panels are co-ordinated by one of the panelists who co-ordinates a panel to address a particular topic at the conference.  This topic may or may not address the theme of the conference.  The co-ordinator submits a one-page proposal outlining the selected topic and each of the panelists contributes to this topic.  In addition, each panelist is required to write a one-page proposal (as in written research-based presentations above) outlining the particular research focus in relation to this topic. The co-ordinator is responsible for co-ordinating all proposals for the panel and these are forwarded together. The panel is assessed as a whole and will be allotted one hour in the programme, including discussion.

3. Lecture Demonstrations

Lecture-demonstrations relating to the theme of the conference are welcome.  These will be programmed for the duration of 45 minutes including a 15 minute discussion.

4. Dance Workshops

Proposals for dance workshops concerning any dance genre in Ireland or its diaspora are welcome.  These will be programmed for I hour.

5. Student Posters

Students are encouraged to present their theses or current research on a poster for a Dance Poster Exhibition which will be programmed at a particular time during the conference.  Posters should be presented on one large sheet, at least A3 size, containing written and illustrative material.  Topic of research, theoretical and methodological choices, argument, and conclusion are required to be outlined.

6. Dance Performance Contributions

Dance performance contributions are welcome that address the theme of the conference.  These will be programmed for 5 to 10 minutes followed by a 5 minute discussion.

Please complete the Proposal Form below, stating clearly your presentation format.

Proposal Form

Dance Research Forum Ireland’s 3rd International Conference

24th June – 27th June, 2008, The Firkin Crane, Cork, Ireland

Name:              ____________________________________________________

Institutional Affiliation, if any:        __________________________________

Address:         ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

State Presentation Format: ________________________________________
(If panel presentation please give title of panel also)

Title of Presentation:            ________________________________________

Audio-Visual Needs:             ________________________________________

Space Requirements, if any: ________________________________________

Technical Requirements:      ________________________________________

Proposal Abstract:

Proposal Abstract: Additional Sheet