Dance Courses

Humanities

Students will explore dance from an aesthetic, historic, and cultural point of view. Students will examine the elements of dance including body, space, time, and dynamic qualities and develop a vocabulary with which to analyze and write critically about dance. Dance will be explored in many of its genres including social dance, jazz dance, ballet, modern, and dance from cultures around the globe from historical and contemporary perspectives. Attendance at a live dance performance may be required.

Performance Courses

Dance 14 - Dancers' Workshop

Students will be involved in the dance rehearsal process which culminates in a public performance. Students participate as dancers, rehearsing and performing repertory reconstructions, folkloric arrangement, and original student and faculty choreography.

Dance 24 - Dance Production Workshop

In this course students gain an overview of the scope and integration of the technical, design, and management aspects necessary to a dance production. The student will participate in the application of one or more of these elements in the process of producing a dance concert for public presentation.

Dance 32 - Choreography

Students will be introduced to the principles and practical applications of dance composition. The course will cover concepts of space, time, energy, rhythm, form, phrasing, style, and content in relation to contemporary dance choreography. Students will explore dance as a creative art form by integrating dance movement technique as a form of expression to communicate literal and nonliteral themes. Students will create movement through improvisations, solo, and small group choreography. Attendance at a live dance performance may be required.

Dance 34 - Choreography Workshop

Students will apply concepts of dance choreography and composition to create a solo or group work for public performance. Choreographers will also craft the look and feel of his/her dance through design elements of costume, lighting, set design and music.

Ballet

Dance 09 - Ballet, Fundamentals

Students will be introduced to fundamental aspects of ballet technique. Students will explore principles of alignment, port de bras, positions and articulation of the feet, as well as concepts of musicality and rhythm. The students will gain an appreciation of their unique bodies in relation to ballet at the most basic level. Attendance at a live dance performance may be required. No previous dance experience necessary.

Dance 10 - Ballet, Beginning

Students will focus on the beginning level of ballet technique while learning traditional French ballet terminology through barre and centre work. Students will explore principles of alignment, port de bras, coordination, and musicality while developing strength, flexibility, control, and performance quality. The student will gain an appreciation of their unique bodies in relation to ballet as a classical art form. Attendance at a live dance performance may be required. It is recommended that students take DANCE 009, Ballet Fundamentals, or have some previous dance experience before taking this course

Dance 11 - Ballet, Intermediate

This course works to develop the student's artistry and technique of classical ballet at the intermediate level. The student will apply theory and technique with attention to musicality and performance in the execution of intermediate level barre and centre combinations. The class will draw from the beginning level class while increasing the difficulty in coordination, complexity, tempo, stamina, and the use of traditional French ballet vocabulary. Attendance at a live dance performance may be required.

Dance 11B - Ballet, High-Intermediate

This course works to develop the student's artistry and technique of classical ballet at a high-intermediate level. The student will apply theory and technique with attention to musicality and performance in the execution of high-intermediate level barre and centre combinations. The high-intermediate level class will draw from the previous level classes while increasing the difficulty in coordination, complexity, tempo, stamina, and the use of traditional French ballet vocabulary. Attendance at a live dance performance may be required.

Dance 11C - Ballet, Advanced

This course works to develop the student's artistry and technique in classical ballet at the advanced level. The student will apply theory and technique with attention to musicality and performance in the execution of advanced level barre and centre combinations. The advanced level class will draw from the previous level classes while increasing the difficulty in coordination, complexity, tempo, stamina, and the use of traditional French ballet vocabulary. Attendance at a live dance performance may be required.

Jazz Dance

Dance 19 - Jazz Dance, Fundamentals

Students will be introduced to the fundamental skills of jazz dance technique. Students will learn primary positions, isolations, and locomotor movements. Exploration of movement qualities, basic rhythms, and musical phrasing unique to jazz dance, will be a focus of the course. The students will gain an appreciation of their unique bodies in relation to jazz dance as a dynamic art form. Attendance at a live performance may be required.

Dance 20 - Jazz Dance, Beginning

Students will be introduced to beginning skills of jazz dance technique. The student will integrate beginning positions, isolations, and locomotor movements into full body actions and explore movement qualities, polyrhythms, and musical phrasing unique to jazz dance. The students will gain an appreciation of their unique bodies in relation to jazz dance as a dynamic art form. Attendance at a live performance may be required. It is recommended that students take DANCE 019, Jazz Dance, Fundamentals, or have some previous dance experience before taking this course.

Dance 21 - Jazz Dance, Intermediate

This course works to develop the students artistry and jazz dance technique at the intermediate level. The student will apply theory and technique with attention to musicality and performance in the execution of intermediate jazz dance combinations. The course will draw from the beginning level class while increasing the difficulty in coordination, complexity, tempo, stamina, artistry, and the use of vocabulary. Attendance at a live performance may be required.

Dance 21B - Jazz Dance, High-Intermediate

This course continues to develop the student's artistry and jazz dance technique at the high-intermediate level. The student will apply theory and technique with attention to musicality and performance in the execution of high-intermediate jazz dance combinations. The course will draw from the intermediate level class while increasing the difficulty in coordination, complexity, tempo, stamina, artistry, and the use of vocabulary. Attendance at a live performance may be required.

Hip-hop Dance

Dance 23A - Hip-hop, Fundamentals

Students will be introduced to the fundamental aspects of hip-hop dance technique. Students will learn primary positions, isolations, gestures, traveling and jumping steps, turns and level changes as well as rudimentary rhythm and phrasing unique to hip-hop dance and music. The students will gain an appreciation of their unique bodies in relation to hip-hop as an expressive art form. Attendance at a live dance performance may be required

Dance 23B - Hip-hop, Beginning

This course works to develop the student's artistry and technique in hip-hop dance at the beginning level. The student will learn positions, isolations, gestures, traveling and jumping steps, turns, and level changes. The student will explore the syncopated rhythm and phrasing unique to hip-hop dance. The students will gain an appreciation of their unique bodies in relation to dance as an expressive art form. It is recommended that students take DANCE 023A, Hip-Hop, Fundamentals, before enrolling in this course. Attendance at a live dance performance may be required.

Dance 23C - Hip-hop, Intermediate

This course works to develop the student's artistry and technique in hip-hop dance at the intermediate level. Students continue to gain knowledge of hip-hop history and intermediate level positions, isolations, gestures, traveling and jumping steps, turns and level changes with increasingly more complicated patterns and weight changes. The student will explore the syncopated and polyrhythmic phrasing unique to hip-hop dance. Attendance at a live performance may be required.

Tap Dance

Dance 40- Tap Dance

This course introduces the student to elementary tap dance technique and application. The student will learn basic steps, rhythms and elements of improvisation. The student will gain knowledge and appreciation of his/her own physical coordination and rhythmic sense in relation to tap dance as a traditional and contemporary performing art.

Modern Dance

Dance 49 - Modern Dance, Fundamentals

Students will be introduced to modern dance technique at the fundamental level. Students will learn basic positions, gestures, traveling and jumping steps, turns, level changes, and spatial orientation. The students will gain an appreciation of their unique bodies in relation to modern dance as an expressive art form. Attendance at a live dance performance may be required.

Dance 50 - Modern Dance, Beginning

This course works to develop the student's artistry and technique of modern dance at the beginning level. The student will learn beginning positions, gestures, traveling and jumping steps, turns and level changes, and spatial orientation. The students will will gain an appreciation of their unique bodies in relation to dance as an expressive art form. It is recommended that students take DANCE 049, Modern Dance, Fundamentals, or have some previous dance experience before taking the class. Attendance at a live dance performance may be required.

Dance 51 - Modern Dance, Intermediate

This course works to develop the student's artistry and technique of modern dance at the intermediate level. The students will learn positions, gestures, traveling and jumping steps, turns, level changes and spatial orientation. The student will work towards a deeper level of artistry and expression through musicality and dynamic qualities of movement. The students will gain an understanding and appreciation of their unique bodies in relation to dance as an expressive art form. Attendance at a live dance performance may be required.

Dance 51B - Modern Dance, High-Intermediate

This course works to develop the student's artistry and technique at the high-intermediate level. The student will apply theory and technique with attention to musicality and performance in execution of high-intermediate positions, gestures, traveling and jumping steps, turns and level changes with increasingly more complicated patterns and weight changes. Attendance at a live performance may be required.

Mexican Folkloric

Dance 62 - Mexican Folkloric Dance

This class introduces students to the technique, artistry, and culture of Mexican Folkloric dance. Students will learn several regional dances, basic steps, formations, and rhythms. Students will be provided information about the cultural context that has influenced these theatrical pieces. Dances will be taught as a representation of regional and cultural context rather than as an authentic expression.

Dance 62 - Mexican Folkloric, Intermediate

This class gives students a more in depth investigation into the technique, artistry, and culture of Mexican Folkloric dance. Students will learn several regional dances, more complex steps, formations and rhythms. Students will be provided information about the cultural context that has influenced these theatrical pieces. Dances will be taught as a representation of regional and cultural context rather than as an authentic expression.

Ballroom Dance

Dance 64 - Ballroom Dance

This class introduces students to American and International style ballroom dances. Students will learn basic steps, rhythms and partnering techniques for the Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Rumba, Cha-cha, Salsa, and others. During the course students will learn the stylistic origins and modern transformations in social and historical contexts. Additionally, students will be taught proper ballroom dance etiquette.

Dance 65 - Ballroom Dance, Intermediate

This class offers intermediate level instruction of American and International Style ballroom dances.. Students will learn more complex steps, rhythms and partnering techniques for the Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Rumba, Cha-cha, Salsa and others. During the course students will learn the stylistic origins and modern transformations in social and historical contexts. Additionally, students will be taught proper ballroom dance etiquette.

Dance 66 - Intermediate Ballroom - Latin

Students gain in-depth instruction in steps, rhythm and partnering techniques of selected forms of Latin dance. Dynamics of improvisation, sequencing and style will be explored through different forms of Latin dance such as: Rhumba, Cha-cha, Salsa, Mambo and Samba. Stylistic origins and modern transformations will be studied in their social and historical contexts.

Dance 67 - Intermediate Ballroom - Swing

Students gain in-depth instruction in steps, rhythms and partnering techniques of selected forms of Swing dance. Dynamics of improvisation, sequencing and style will be explored through different forms of Swing: Foxtrot, Lindy, Jitterbug and Bop. Stylistic origins and modern tranformations will be studied in their social and historical contexts.

: Photo by: Bob Rhynard, Dancer: Bess Voegle

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