Research Skills through Collaboration is a series of workshops and seminars at supported by University of Surrey’s Fund for Researcher Development and curated by Jennifer Jackson, Lecturer in Department of Dance Film and Theatre. The series aims to provide training for post graduate scholars and practitioners in performance studies to develop collaborative skills and nurture creative and innovative approaches to research within the framework of their own discipline and in interdisciplinary research.

Participation in the workshop series is free and places are allocated on a first come first served basis according to research focus. 
 

Workshop 1
13th November 2009 PATS Music and Dance Studios
Recording performance: exploring camera to subject relationships

• Led by Lucia King, Associate lecturer for Film Studies 
• Workshop on the process and practice of documenting performers' bodies on video camera, and the consequence of camera mediation on the live moment.
• Bringing awareness of the dynamic negotiation between the film-maker and the filmed subject, the course demonstrated and provided hands-on contact with experiencing performance through lens-based media.
• An opportunity for theorists and  practitioners to engage with how to document or convey notions of performance as these exist on screen.  

Workshop 2
29th and 30th May 2010 Nodus Building
Connecting Choreographic Devising and Film Editing

Workshop Video 

• Led by regular collaborators choreographer Simon Vincenzi and Film-maker Lucia King, with Lois Davis Editor and Lecturer in Film Studies.
• Workshop provided the opportunity for 12 practitioners  (dance and film-makers) to examine relationships between choreographic composition and film documentation/editing through practical experimentation, as well as theoretical discussion and analysis of working dialogues facilitated by the three workshop leaders over two days. 
• Discussion focus:  processes of documentation, relationship between live and mediated experiences, concepts of editing and shooting towards an editing plan, contexts and publication forms
• Practical opportunities for: editing for dance using Final Cut Pro editing software, identifying cutting points in action sequences, issues of continuity, pre-planning and rhythm.

Workshop 3
1st October 2010 PATS Music and Dance Studios
Performing Exchange

Workshop Video

• Led by Dr Tom Armstrong (Music) and Jennifer Jackson (Dance), frequent collaborators as music and dance makers
• Workshop focused on the experience of specific of collaborative relationships -  between composer and interpreter and in the process of collaborative writing
• Included interventions from interpretive artist/seminar with Emilie Crapoulet and reflection on writing by Vera John-Steiner (Creative Collaboration, 2000) and Keith Sawyer (Group Genius, 2007)
• Opportunity to research through practise and discuss questions around  collaboration and the sense of 'self' and relations between the researcher and her/his disciplinary expertise?

Workshop 4
19th November 2010
Point:Counterpoint

Workshop Video

• Led by Christopher Higgins of the MAP Consortium
• Workshop was a half-day session 
• A practical exploration of questions and ideas about how collaboration across the wealth of our individual specialisms can offer new perspectives on our work within and across departments.