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02214/Dance

 

Foundational Courses

0010. Movement Sources and Concepts (3 s.h.) F.

Through a varied range of movement experiences, students investigate the conceptual and theoretical foundations of modern dance.

Note: Required of freshman dance majors.

W300. Creative Process in Dance (3 s.h.) F. Core: WI.

Prerequisite: 0074.

In this course, students investigate motives and values in creating dance. The development of individual aesthetics and the ability to articulate these is cultivated.

Note: Required of junior dance majors.

W397. Senior Seminar (3 s.h.) F S.

Prerequisite: Dance majors with senior standing.

In this course, students examine and clarifiy professional goals, values, and actions consistent with personal competencies. Dance in the larger society is discussed and professional resources and issues are addressed.

Lower Division Courses

0020. Modern Dance I (2 s.h.) F S.

This course introduces the concepts and disciplines of modern dance. Basic movement experiences are used to promote understanding and cultivation of the body as an instrument for dance.

0030. Classical Ballet I (2 s.h.) F S.

An introduction to the discipline of classical ballet. This course introduces skill in the basic vocabulary of ballet.

0040. Jazz Dance I (2 s.h.) F S.

Jazz Dance I presents introductory experience in the movement vocabularies used in contemporary dance and theater.

0058. Hatha Yoga I (2 s.h.) F S.

This course promotes the health of the entire body through the performance of asanas or postures.

C110/H190. Dance as Art (3 s.h.) F S. Core: AR.

This course is designed to provide the basis for understanding, appreciating, and participating in dance as art in culture and individual life. Concepts, intuitions, and communication in dance will be cultivated through lectures, films, live performances, and studio experiences.

C112. Pathways in American Dance (3 s.h.) F S. Core: AR.

This course provides participants with concentrated beginning level studio experiences in urban popular dance forms, jazz, and modern dance, each presented in a five-week unit. Through active participation, students will dance, observe videos, and read articles to gain insight into these three approaches to dancing. Learning the movement vocabularies, values, aesthetics, and techniques of these different traditions will move students into a physical and conceptual understanding of the kinetic and cultural sources that inform dance as a contemporary performance art.

C115/H195. Dance in Human Society (3 s.h.) F S. Core: IS.

This course offers students an opportunity to explore the world of dance. Through video observation, readings, and dancing, students will be exposed to many faces of dance as an expression of cultural values. Dance as art, religion, social custom, and political action will be examined as evidenced in many human societies. Examples will be primarily drawn from North America, West Africa, Brazil, Japan, India, Bali, and the Cook Islands. Students will be introduced to the field of dance anthropology and have the opportunity for on-site observation of dance events.

Note: H195 is required for dance majors. H195 is for University Honors Program students. This course meets the Non-Western/Third World core requirement.

R280. Dance, Movement, and Pluralism (3 s.h.) S. Core: RS.

This course will focus on movement as a language of expression that conveys culturally learned values. From pedestrian behaviors to social dance to artistic traditions, movement will be explored as a carrier of cultural and aesthetic meaning. The works of contemporary dance artists will be examined within their socio-cultural and historical contexts. Issues of race and racism will be addressed in relationship to the content, context, and appreciation of the specific works viewed. Students will participate in movement improvisations and theater games.

0351. African Dance I (1-3 s.h.) F S.

This introductory studio course is a survey of core movements and rhythms from Africa and the Diaspora. Students learn the Umfundalai technique as a way to integrate song, dance and music into a meaningful and aesthetic experience.

Upper Division Courses

0070. Movement Improvisation I (2 s.h.) S.

Prerequisite: This course is for dance majors only.

This course provides experiences in the spontaneous use of movement structures derived from movement concepts, games, imagery, and media sources. It is designed to help students discover and develop their own movement potential.

0072. Dance Composition I (2 s.h.) F.

Prerequisite: 0070.

The fundamentals of choreography are explored in this course. Solo studies based on choreographic problems are presented and performed.

Note: Required of sophomore dance majors.

0073. Dance Composition II (2 s.h.) S.

Prerequisite: 0072.

This course addresses problems in presentation, form, design, an content. Experiences include experimentation with musical settings, voice, spoken word, and duets.

Note: Required of sophomore dance majors

0074. Dance Composition III (2 s.h.) F.

Prerequisite: 0073.

This course addresses various approaches to group composition. Students choreograph a series of studies for small groups of dancers that address counterpoint, stage space, and movement manipulation and development.

Note: Required of junior dance majors.

0174. Freshman Repertory (2 s.h.) F.

This course for entering dance majors is designed to provide a structured rehearsal experience with a faculty choreographer that culminates in performance in the fall.

Note: Required of freshman dance majors.

0286. Field Experience in Dance (1 - 8 s.h.) F S.

Prerequisite: Dance majors only.

Opportunity for experience in teaching dance.

0290. Independent Study in Dance (1 - 4 s.h.) F S.

Prerequisite: Dance majors only.

Student may propose individual projects in areas such as choreography, production, and history.

0300. African Repertory (3 s.h.) S.

Prerequisite: 0352 African Dance II or permission by the instructor.

Students learn selected neo-traditional dances and study the performance qualities of African dances. This course is the last in the series of Umfundalai dance studies.

0304. Dance and the Child (3 s.h.) F S.

Prerequisite: Dance majors only, except with special permission of the instructor.

This course addresses theories of child development and learning as they relate to the teaching of dance in K-12 education. Content is organized around a series of questions that a dance teacher might have regarding how their students are experiencing dance in the school setting. Topics include developmental milestones and their impact on dance curriculum, integration of dance into the broader school curriculum, and cultural issues in dance education. Students will gain hands-on experience in a peer teaching setting and begin to build concrete resources for teaching dance in K-12 settings.

W315. Dance Modernism in America, 1890s-1950s (3 s.h.) F S. Core: WI.

This course examines the philosophies and choreographic work of Duncan, St. Denis, Shawn, Holm, Tamiris, Graham, Humphrey, Weidman, Dafora, Dunham, Primus, Limon, Horton, and others vis-a-vis cultural, social, and historical developments in the first half of the 20th century in America. The class will explore cultural forces such as jazz dance, tap dance, social dancing, and the American ballet, as well as figures from the related arts, such as filmmakers, sculptors, and composers who worked with modern dancers. The emphasis will be on bibliographic and autobiographic modes of historical inquiry.

W316. Dance Post-modernism in America, 1950s-Present (3 s.h.) S. Core: WI.

Prerequisite: W315 Dance Modernism in America, 1890s-1950s.

This course explores the philosophies and choreographic work of Sokolow, Pomare, Ailey, Beatty, Cunningham, Hawkins, Taylor, Nikolais, Pilobolus, Brown, Childs, Rainer, Tharp, Paxton, Jones, Fagan, Morris and others vis-a-vis cultural, social, and historical developments in the second half of the 20th century in America. The class will explore cultural forces such as jazz dance, tap dance, social dancing, and the American ballet, as well as figures from the related arts, such as filmmakers, painters, media artists, and composers who worked with the post-modern dancers. The emphasis will be on contextual and critical modes of historical inquiry.

0320. Creative Process in Dance (3 s.h.) S.

Prerequisite: 0074.

This course explores the creative process, particularly as it applies to dance making. The course will focus on the development of skills that facilitate creative processes in art. We will look at our own ways of working as well as those of other artists. One objective of the course is for each student to further define his/her personal tastes, commitments, and passions within the field of dance, while also expanding current preferences and practices.

Note: This course is for junior dance majors.

0321/0322. Modern Dance II (2 s.h.) F S.

Prerequisite: Dance majors only, except with special permission from the instructor.

This course addresses the development of basic movement skills and concepts as a means toward effective performance.

0323/0324. Modern Dance III (2 s.h.) F S.

Prerequisite: Dance majors only, except with special permission from the instructor.

This course addresses the extension of range, control, and clarity of performance for more complex dance sequences.

0325/0326. Modern Dance IV (2 s.h.) F S.

Prerequisite: Dance majors only, except with special permission from the instructor.

This course addresses increased technical accuracy, sensitivity, and versatility of performance. The dance material offered covers a wide range of spatial, dynamic, and rhythmic qualities.

0327. Modern Dance V (3 s.h.) F S.

Prerequisite: Dance majors only, except with special permission from the instructor.

This class seeks to train the student in a variety of fundamental issues in dance performance for the concert dance stage. Major emphasis is placed on performance practice and artistry.

0332. Classical Ballet II (2 s.h.) F S.

Prerequisite: Dance majors only, except with special permission from the instructor.

This course provides further skills in basic classical ballet vocabulary and preparation for professional study at the intermediate level.

0333. Classical Ballet III (2 s.h.) F S.

Prerequisite: Dance majors only, except with special permission from the instructor.

This course addresses increased vocabulary and skills for increasing demands of more complex combinations and sequences.

0334. Classical Ballet IV (2 s.h.) F S.

Prerequisite: Dance majors only, except with special permission from the instructor.

This course provides movement experience to develop confidence and skill for an authoritative and expressive performance. The full range of classical ballet vocabulary is used.

0335. Introduction to Laban Movement Analysis (3 s.h.) S.

Prerequisite: Dance majors only.

This course introduces the theoretical framework of Laban Movement Analysis as a system of movement description. It investigates application in the fields of dance, education, anthropology, and non-verbal communications research.

0340. Dance Production (1 s.h.) F S.

This course provides dance majors with an introduction to the technical aspects of dance production. Students will gain practical experience in the theater, learning about the equipment and tasks necessary for effective dance production.

Note: Required of freshman dance majors.

0342. Jazz Dance II (2 s.h.) F S.

Prerequisite: Dance majors only, except with special permission from the instructor.

This course provides a more sophisticated approach to jazz dance vocabularies and sensitivities used in contemporary dance and theater.

0343. Jazz Dance III (2 s.h.) F S.

Prerequisite: Dance majors only, except with special permission from the instructor.

This course provides a complete integration to the approach to jazz dance vocabularies and sensitivities used in contemporary dance and theater.

0350. Lighting Design for Dance (3 s.h.) F S.

Prerequisite: Dance majors only, except with special permission from the instructor. Dance 0340 or theater production experience desirable.

This course introduces concepts and techniques through lecture-demonstrations focusing on the impact of light as a supportive medium and a source for dance composition, problems and projects.

0352. African Dance II (1-3 s.h.) F S.

Prerequisite: 0351 African Dance I or permission by the instructor.

This is the second course in the series of Umfundalai dance studies. Students learn to recognize rhythms and movements by region, country and selected ethnic groups. More advanced studio work is performed as students develop their expressive voices via movement studies.

0365. Dance Science and Somatics (3 s.h.) F S.

Prerequisite: Dance majors only.

Six themes are interwoven through this course: physiological bases of dance training; conditioning to address individual needs in dance training; dance injuries—their causes, pathology, care rehabilitation, and prevention; dancers and wellness; application of motor learning and control to dance pedagogy; and mental imagery to enhance performance.

0371. Movement Improvisation II (2 s.h.) F.

Prerequisite: Dance majors only. Dance 0070.

Weight, speed, momentum, inertia and relationships are explored through structural improvisational exercises. These techniques provide the basis for improvised duets and group dances. Issues of performance are also addressed.

0374. Dance Repertory (2 s.h.) F S.

Prerequisite: Dance majors only. 0174.

This course provides students with an opportunity to learn and perform a work by an established choreographer.

0375. Contact Improvisation (2 s.h.) F.

Prerequisite: Dance majors only. 0070.

This course provides experiences in improvisational duet dancing involving weight sharing, touch, lifting, carrying, and active use of momentum. Activities develop sensitivity to partnering and spontaneous creativity.

0380. Rhythmic Analysis (3 s.h.) F S.

Prerequisite: Dance majors only.

This course explores temporal and rhythmic organizations of movement and dance analyzed for the purpose of enhancing clarity in performance, choreography, and teaching. Musical notation, scoring, and accompaniment skills are developed.

0390. Senior Choreographic Project (3 s.h.) F S.

Prerequisite: Dance majors with senior standing and completion of Dance W300.

This course facilitates production of a major creative dance work that will be performed in the BFA Senior Concert as the culmination of the student's study in the BFA program.

Note: Successful completion is prerequisite to graduation.

0396. Introduction to Dance Technology (3 s.h.)

Prerequisite: Dance majors only.

This survey course introduces the roles of technology in relationship to dance and various applications to educational, scholarly, and creative work.


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