FRS 002PP — Sec. 001
— (2 units) — CRN 53699 — W 8:00-9:50am— University
Club
Traditional Chinese Physical Culture and Some
Contemporary Applications
Instructor: Lynette Hunter, Department of Theatre &
Dance, College
of Letters and Science
Description: For the past eight years I have been extending
my performance work (especially from ‘Bodies in trouble’ (1997))
by training in a traditional Chinese Physical Culture (CPC) program
accredited
by the Hangzhou branch of the Chinese Wushu Association. This CPC
program differs
from many other systems of traditional Chinese training in
performance skills,
in that the syllabus is exceptionally broad and includes work on
movement, dance,
breath, voice, energy, interaction, choreography, and is combined
with training
in a western coaching curriculum that addresses the key fields in
sports education
to do with musculature, body alignment, nutrition and psychology.
Some elements
of this research have formed the theoretical basis for the
introduction to the
Arden Shakespeare edition of Romeo and Juliet that I am co-editing
with theatre
director Peter Lichtenfels, especially the work on mask, gesture and voice.
What is apparent to me is that there is a lack of an appropriate vocabulary
for talking about Chinese physical culture in western scholarly
contexts, and
this course is partly offered as an opportunity to discuss the impact of the
culture and to develop ways of talking about its contribution to knowledge.
The course proposes to introduce students to the basics of
traditional Chinese
physical culture as taught by the Weihai Lishi Quan Fa. The exploration will
involve discussion and exploration of the primary concepts
informing the program,
practical work in dance laboratory conditions, and integration of
practice with
conceptual analysis.
Format: Practical
elements will include: Tai Ch’i Ch’uan and the Dance
(movements),
Stances (postures), Kaimen (Chinese yoga), Dao Yin (breathing
exercises), Pushing
exercises, Chi expressions (energy work), partner work and some elements of
Feng Shou (Hand of the Wind).
Discussion will address topics in my current research, to do with
Traditional systems of knowledge
History and mythology
Cultural contexts
Physiological understanding
Contemporary applications in 1) theatre and performance and 2) the
community.
Grading: Students will need to keep a
weekly journal
of their learning, to demonstrate appropriate familiarity with and
expression
of physical skills, and to write one 1500 word essay on a topic agreed with
me.
About the Instructor: