The New Era of Dance at Warren Wilson College
Al Stone-Gebhardt | February 21, 2024
At Warren Wilson College (WWC), a new movement has been taking shape. Spearheading this is Emmet Clements, a first-year student on the Library Circulation Crew whose penchant for improvisation has formed the new Improv Dance Collective.
WWC has long been a bustling hub for creativity and innovation across North Carolina. From sustainability to its emphasis on experiential learning, the college cultivates an environment where students can find their passions and push boundaries.
With the introduction of the Improv Dance Collection, there is a new outlet for artistic expression at WWC.
The collective held its first interest meeting on Thursday, Feb. 15, where many excited students showed up in both support and anticipation. Participating students were put to the test, challenged to trust their instincts and embrace the uncertainty of the next note as music played in the background.
To Clements, the Improv Dance Collection represents a convergence of not only talent but freedom, spontaneity and above all, fun. It holds an ethos grounded in collaboration and experimentation, unrestricted by norms or eyes or choreography, where students can explore the endless possibilities of dance.
But firstly, what is improvisational dance?
“It's any sort of free dance movement that is unstructured or unchoreographed,” Clements said. “Especially where you're not explicitly told, ‘these are the moves and this is the timing; this is how you're gonna do it.’ And it's very exploratory in that sense, which I love. Improvisation dance is also very different from any other style. It is quite hard to define, but what defines the dance is the freedom that it is hard to define in the first place.”
Improv dance, unlike traditional dance — which is meticulously rehearsed and choreographed — is characterized by spontaneity. Dancers eschew prearranged jumps and twists in favor of more instinctive movement. This allows dancers to both express themselves and respond to the music while embracing a certain vulnerability by letting go of the familiar, practiced steps.
Moreover, improvisational dance focuses on the real-time responses to the dancer’s immediate surroundings and the dancers around them. In a world of movement that is polished for a stage and audience, this form of dance welcomes the challenge of not knowing the next note.
“The dance field is often seen as high-stress, high-strung and highly competitive,” Clements said. “A lot of times there is a right way to do things and a wrong way to do things. I think an immense amount of pressure is placed on the dancers — it comes with the territory of trying to do things right — trying to be perfect in how you perform, because it is such a performative art. But on the other side of that, finding that there is a side [of dance] without inherent competition, that there is a side without inherent perfection, it brings down the pressure. It moves the focus to yourself and to setting personal goals for yourself. Not in a sense that I have to get to this level and beat this competitor, but in a sense of ‘I want to try to find a space to practice this.’”
As a fresh face at WWC, Clements hopes to major in craft studies and foster positive change through artistic means. One of these ways is through dance.
Clements is a true artist at heart. Though he appears quiet and hesitant. He prefers to use his hands to create fantastical jewelry and his voice to quote his favorite movies — he finds that he is not usually the center of attention. Though quiet, he holds a fervent dedication to free movement, rhythm and an unvarying belief in the power of connection.
Clements’s history begins in Michigan (Mich.), in a small dance studio near his home.
“I've been dancing since I was about seven,” Clements said. “I started at a small local studio back in my hometown. It was kind of where I spent all my time. And I grew up there as a studio grew. I was able to kind of see that journey and that progress. One of the [dance] styles that really grabbed my interest over time was improv. I had some incredible teachers — one in particular really sparked my love for improv dance. I wanted to continue that in my college journey.”
According to Clements, he was raised in the studio as much as he was raised in his house. It is a fond memory for him, where he would see not only the studio grow but see himself grow as a person.
Not only that, but it is crucial to acknowledge the importance of dance’s role in fostering connectivity and self-expression. Dance studios serve as a hub for creativity and community, offering a sanctuary where individuals can be free of any inhibitions and explore their identities.
In dance, bodies speak a language all their own — whether that is choreographed or improvised, on a stage with hundreds of eyes or a personal space. It is through dance that, as dancers come together to explore movement and music, deep bonds are forged that extend beyond the dance floor.
This is just one of the reasons Clements forged the collective. And though he is new to the college, this is not Clements’s first rodeo.
“Since I was at my old dance studio — so from the time the studio started till I moved here — I've gotten to see a lot of programs and performances,” Clements said. “I’ve been given a lot of opportunities to help younger dancers, to see them grow up. I've taught in dance classrooms for quite a few years, I've worked backstage and behind the scenes with kids and with peers. And generally being in that environment, around other teachers and other dancers, helped me empathize and get a sense of what's a good way to run things and what's not.”
However, though he comes with experience choreographing and leading others in dance, he intends to be a part of a bigger collective — not merely lead it. The collective, according to Clements, aims to be a space wherein dancers can explore their identities and bond with like-minded souls.
“One thing is: even though improv is such a personal thing, some don't see that there can be a social side of it,” Clements said. “It can be something personal, but it can also be something you can do in groups, in social settings. Contact improv is one of my favorite forms because of this — it kind of pairs the two together.”
In the collective, dancers are encouraged to take risks, embrace the unique movements of each member, and express themselves as freely as they would like. For Clements, he hopes that through dance, students will discover new aspects of their identities, and gain confidence and a sense of belonging with others.
Overall, as the Improv Dance Collective continues to gain momentum, its influence will grow beyond just WWC’s community. Through collaboration with other artistic crews and clubs on campus and possible performances, Clements hopes that the collective spreads its message of self-expression and spontaneity to audiences far and wide.
“Two of the biggest dance opportunities here are contra dance and ecstatic dance,” Clements said. “Both of which are absolutely lovely. But they are missing that small group community. Even though ecstatic dance is a social dance, it is a very specific style of social dance. It does not focus on the exploratory techniques and exercises that I was looking for, [techniques and exercises] which can come with working with others through dance. So [the collective] is a way to bring some fresh ideas and thoughts to the table — as well as create a community where we cannot only practice improv but also discuss it, learn it and grow as a group.”
Each dance group offers a distinct and unique dance experience, but all share a thread of connection, art and creativity. Whether you find yourself drawn to the improvisational spirit of the dance collective, the meditative flow of ecstatic dance or the upbeat, lively movements of contra dance, one thing is abundantly clear: the dance community at WWC is alive and welcoming to students to explore any aspect of movement they please.
The collective will meet from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., beginning Feb. 24 and meeting weekly at Bryson Gym.
For those curious about the collective, Clements is encouraging everyone and anyone to come and dance, regardless of background or experience with dance. Check out the posters around campus or email Clements directly at eclemments.f23@warren-wilson.edu for more information.