Short Presents Research on the Intersection of Music and Dance

Assistant Professor of Music Theory Rachel Short, Ph.D., was chosen to present her research at the Society for Music Theory’s 42nd annual conference in Columbus, Ohio. Her paper, “A-Five, Six, Seven, Eight!: Musical Counting and Dance Hemiolas in Musical Theatre Tap Dance Breaks,” was part of an integrated special session called “Listening, Seeing, and Moving: Shifting Analytical Perspectives on Music and Dance.” She was also an invited speaker at The Steam Factory’s Franklinton Friday event for the public with the theme Space and Movement. The Steam Factory facilitates creative and interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation and dissemination. Dr. Short’s engaging micro-lecture “Moving Through Musical Time and Space,” explained concepts of musical meter and conflicting rhythmic groupings, using audience participation and her own tapping feet, before analyzing musical meter and choreographic phrases in musical theatre tap dance breaks. She represented Shenandoah Conservatory and the field of music theory during well-received lecture-demonstrations of original research.

Short also serves as co-chair of the Society of Music Theory’s Dance and Movement Interest Group, which hosted a session by Dr. Hannah Kosstrin. She also participated in the pre-conference workshop “Analyzing Soundtracks,” led by Dr. James Butler, on film music analysis.