Dance Techniques 2010 – Tanzplan Germany
Ingo Diehl (Project Director), Dr. Friederike Lampert (Research Assistant)
Zentrum für zeitgenössischen Tanz, Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln
The research team at the Centre for Contemporary Dance, University of Music and Dance Cologne comprised Jennifer Muller, workshop leader // Prof. Vera Sander, Professor of Modern Dance // Prof. Dr. Yvonne Hardt, Professor of Applied Dance Studies // Dr. Martin Stern, sports studies expert // Susanne Dickhaut, assistant to Jennifer Muller, and students from year four of the Dance BA course.
Jennifer Muller according to Jennifer Muller
The Muller technique is one of the most influential dance techniques in modern dance, above all in the USA and in particular for having developed the “release” techniques. Jennifer Muller started to develop her dance technique around 30 years ago. The technique has been further developed and amended during this time. The research team, together with Jennifer Muller, considered the pedagogical aspects of her technique from a modern day perspective. Jennifer Muller herself trained at the Julliard School in New York, and other schools, and began her professional career with the Pearl Lang Dance Company at the age of 15. She then worked for nine years as a soloist with the Limón Dance Company, followed by seven years as artistic director of the Louis Falco Dance Company, before she founded her own company in 1974. Jennifer Muller’s dance technique and her choreographies have influenced both the US and European dance scenes.
The workshops took place from 23 November to 3 December 2009. The DVD was filmed on 26 and 27 November 2009.
Quote from Nora Vladiguerov from the student discussion that took place on 26 November 2009:
“One particular quality in Jennifer Muller’s work with her technique is definitely dealing consciously with energy and imagination. (...) Not only to dance but also being consciously present. (...) There is a great deal of elbowroom and everyone can sense what is emerging from within. There is a lightness to it, without too many cramps or too much tension in the muscles.”