The word terra means earth in Latin. The planet Earth or Terra is an environment
all people share. Dance is a form of learned behavior common to most cultures
since the beginning of humankind. Dance and the Earth are similar because
both involve transformation through movement exemplifying the dynamic universe.
Terra Dance is dance of the Earth or dance created by inhabitants of the
Earth. Thus, Terra Dance refers to all dance existing around the world
throughout history. Dance is a tool by which individuals or a group of
people describe the world in which they live. This world description reveals
values, beliefs, and ideals significant to the individual or group from
whom the dance emerged. Observation of dance also may illumine information
concerning relationship between people and their environment.
In places
around the world where respect for the Earth is demonstrated, dance has
a greater significance than in places where abuse and disrespect toward
the Earth occur. Is it possible that this difference can be attributed
to separation from the Earth through technology and specialization? Terra
Dance fills the gap by utilizing movement expression to increase awareness
of our natural environment and therefore, provides a more balanced connection
to the Earth and its people.
HISTORY OF TERRA DANCE
Terra Dance began in 1987 as an expression of the work of artist educator,
Pegge Vissicaro. While camping in the Mazatzal Mountains in Central Arizona,
she realized the importance of nature as a balancing agent and the profound
influence it had in providing a framework to "see". Choreographically and
in the technique classes she taught, the concept of Terra Dance continued
to crystallize, becoming a way of life and a tool by which to observe the
world.
Continuing its evolutionary path, Terra Dance instructional technology
was created as a way to draw people back to their Earth connections. This
transformation occurred through an interest in reexamining methods by which
people learn in order to more successfully prepare students for the twenty-first
century. Research indicated that learning strategies influencing educational
reform supported the use of instructional technology to promote critical
thinking and creative cognitive processing. Thus, using constructivist
and postmodernist paradigms, Terra Dance via the Internet was designed
to develop students as learner artists who discover, synthesize, and construct
new knowledge.
Today, Terra Dance is a cross-cultural, cross-disciplinary
pedagogy used for self-study or to observe diverse perspectives. Form,
content, and other elements are explored to reveal the extent to which
movement relates to the environment. As comparisons are drawn between individuals
and the Earth, similarities between spatial, temporal, and qualitative
characteristics become evident. Through these parallels, people and the
Earth become symbolic representations of each other.
PERFORMANCES
Gammage Center for the Performing Arts, Tempe, Arizona; Centro de Artes,
Vitoria, Brazil; Camelback Mountain, Phoenix, Arizona; Mogollon Rim, Central
Arizona; Valley National Bank Corporate Headquarters, Phoenix, Arizona;
Western Savings Corporate Headquarters, Phoenix, Arizona; Arizona Biltmore
Wrigley Mansion, Phoenix, Arizona; Chandler Center for the Performing Arts,
Chandler, Arizona; Hayden Square Amphitheater, Tempe, Arizona; Arizona
Center,, Phoenix, Arizona; Chandler-Gilbert Community College Center, Chandler,
Arizona; Kerr Cultural Center, Scottsdale, Arizona.
Terra Dance Company, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
Photo Credit: Jeff Havir
RESIDENCIES, WORKSHOPS, MASTER CLASSES
Association for Dance in Universities and Colleges in Canada and Society
for Dance History Scholars, Ryerson Politechnic Institute, Toronto, Canada;
Dance and Drama Summer Institute for Teachers, Arizona State University,
Tempe, Arizona; Camelback Mountain and Papago Park, Phoenix, Arizona; Cross-Cultural
Dance Resources, Flagstaff, Arizona; Rim Institute, Payson, Arizona; Marygrove
College, Detroit, Michigan; The following Metropolitan Phoenix public institutions.
South Mountain High School for Performing Arts, Peoria High School, Tempe
High School, Chandler High School, North High School, Thunderbird High
School, Washington High School.
COMPANY SERVICES
Some of the classes offered are Terra Dance Modern Technique, Terra Dance
Pedagogy, Dances of Brazil and the Caribbean, Percussion Rhythms of Brazil,
and Traditional West Africa Dance and Drumming. Introduction to Dance (DAH
100) and Cross-Cultural Dance Perspectives (DAH 302) are taught via the
Internet and are available for credit through Arizona State University.
Special lecture presentations also are available and include: "Terra Dance:
Cross-Cultural Dance Education" "Designing Online Learning Environments
for Dance" "Dance and Music in Brazil" "Traditional West African Dance
and Drumming"
Performances range from presentation of repertory in traditional
theatrical settings to structured improvisation in natural and human-made
environments. Workshops, residencies, and master classes are designed to
be flexible and accommodate the individual needs of institutions, communities,
or private organizations representing people of all ages. Fees for services
vary and can be negotiated by contacting Pegge Vissicaro.
Write or call
for more information. Terra Dance Company P.O. Box 27655 Tempe, Arizona
85285-7655 U.S.A. (602) 929-0363 e-mail: terradance@asu.edu
THE DIRECTOR
Pegge Vissicaro is an Assistant Professor of Dance at Arizona State University
teaching Modern Technique, Cross-Cultural Dance Perspectives, Methods of
Teaching Dance, Dances of Brazil and the Caribbean, Dance in the Cinema
and Television, and Dance Video Production. She has presented papers and
taught workshops for the Society for Ethnomusicology, Tempe, Arizona, Society
for Dance History Scholars and Association for Dance in Colleges and Universities,
Toronto, Canada, Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education,
Mesa, Arizona, Arte Maior, Vitoria, Brazil, Drama and Dance Institute for
Teachers, Tempe, Arizona, UCLA Dance Ethnology Association, Los Angeles,
California, and Microcomputers in Education Conference,
Tempe, Arizona.
Ms. Vissicaro is the Executive Director of Terra Dance Company, Adzido
West African Folkloric Company, and Batuque Brazilian Music and Dance.
During the 96-97 academic year, Pegge taught as a Fulbright Scholar at
the Universidade Tecnica de Lisboa and Instituto Politecnico de Lisboa.
Additionally, Pegge is a Ph.D. student in Curriculum and Instruction with
emphasis on Educational Media and Computers in the College of Education,
Arizona State University. She has received a B.F.A. in Dance with emphasis
on Performance and Choreography from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
and a M.F.A. in Dance with emphasis on Performance and Choreography from
the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.
Pegge Vissicaro
Photo Credit: Rob Harper
All materials on the Terra Dance Company web site are copyrighted and may
be used only with written permission by Pegge Vissicaro. Terra Dance is
a copyrighted trademark, Phoenix, Arizona, 1996. Last updated January 1998.
