For an Undergraduate Course: 45 Questions and Prompts for Post-Performance Discussions

These 45 prompts are to spark reflection and dialogue after experiencing a professional performance. This can take many formats. It can be a whole-class discussion, a discussion in small groups, a writing assignment, or even a walk around campus with a partner during class time (with 5 prompts in hand to reference during the walk).

Throughout the semester, consider working with 5 ideas from the list (randomly or selectively) after each performance experience.

I hope that this list is useful and a springboard for the next semester. Please join me! Consider adding more prompts and questions in the comments section below. I would love to hear from you. Thank you.

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The questions/prompts are in random order here:

1. Describe the beginning, middle, and end of the whole show
2. Draw the energetic pathway/arc of the show
3. If you could be cast in one role, which one would it be? Why? What skills do you possess to do this role?
4. Which role do you aspire towards?
5. Highlight of the event for you
6. Speaking of the costumes….
7. Speaking of the lights…
8. About the music…
9. About the text…
10. Audience attendance; perceived engagement
11. Timeliness of the start of the show; curtain speech/introduction (aka the start/the set up)
12. Paper program and information shared
13. Order of the pieces; curation of the evening. Length of the performance…
14. Post-performance experience
15. What information did you have going into the show?
16. What or who do you want to research further?
17. Use of narrative
18. Social impact of the piece
19. The venue/setting for the performance
20. List 5 people you would recommend this show to
21. What training/skills did the dancers need to fulfill the performance?
22. Write a tweet about the show
23. Three questions you want to ask the choreographer
24. Describe the ensemble and ensemble work
25. Pushing the envelope or honoring tradition?
26. Role of unison
27. Create a word bank/word list of the movements, steps, action words of the show (10 or more)
28. If you could change one thing….
29. Use of space….
30. Dynamic qualities….
31. Gesture…
32. Timing…
33. Partnering…..
34. 1-3 other works of art it reminded you of
35. Social relevance of the work
36. A moment that is sticking with you
37. Your physical response while watching it
38. Describe the show in 2-3 sentences.
39. Emotion(s) you experienced throughout the evening
40. Casting: gender, race, age of dancers, body types, skill levels
41. By yourself or in small groups of 2-3 people in class, make a 20-30 second movement sketch to capture some of the moments/memories/potent images from the show; share with the group
42. By yourself or in small groups, get 6-8 index cards. On each index card, write a word or phrase to describe an element of the show. Organize the cards to create a “found poem” of 6-8 lines.
43. How can this performance inspire your technique training/class this week?
44. What kind of choreographic assignment/experiment could we do this week, inspired by the show?
45. Speak about the title of the evening and titles of the pieces. What role did the title have in your experience of the work?

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