Crafting Affective Engagement: The Impact of Choreography and Design Choices on Audience's Emotional Experience in Dance Performances

This thesis explored how the engagement level of dance spectators influenced the lasting impressions they retain from a performance and whether these impressions can expand and sustain audience interest in dance. The purpose of the study was to identify the most engaging elements of an aerial dance concert. The study emphasized the significance of creating choreography that evokes emotional responses to advocate for dance education, community engagement, and the preservation of the art form. By examining a site-specific aerial dance concert, this research identified the elements that captivated audiences, particularly the contrast between aerial and ground-based performances. The research addressed two main questions: In the pursuit of audience engagement, does aerial dance captivate audiences more effectively than traditional ground-based dance? How do factors such as choreography, dance apparatus, music, and costumes contribute to the psychological impact on viewers, and to what extent do these elements encourage audience members to become advocates for dance? It investigated the importance of intentional, exciting choreography in advocacy, hypothesizing that performances that resonate can lead to increased participation and support for dance programs. The methodology of the study drew on audience feedback from 100 participants and data analyzed from facial expressions captured in video recordings. The findings showed that audiences were more engaged with aerial segments, suggesting that these dynamic, risk-laden performances elicited stronger emotional connections.