Department of Dance

Introduction to dance including exploration of career options and issues, covering recent history and theory as well as aesthetics of dance forms; ballet and theater terminology, dance psychology, basic music analysis, wellness and injury prevention will also be covered. Offered fall.

This introductory course is designed to experience and appreciate dance as a creative, intellectual, educational, cultural, somatic experience and technical discipline. The course will include individual and group projects that will focus on self-expression, observation, movement analysis, experiential activities, readings and discussion. There is no formal dance training required for this course.

Introduction to the workings and management of the theater, with a primary focus on backstage operations, equipment, and safety. Topics include rigging, lighting and electrical, sound, scenery basics, and stage and theater management. Offered spring.

The basics of designing for the theater, with emphasis on design for dance. The majority of the course will focus on lighting, but will also include scenic and sound design. Offered spring. DA116 and DA117 are 7.5-week classes and are required to be taken in the same semester. DA116 meets first session, DA117 meets second session.

Prerequisite(s): DA116.

Fundamentals of ballet technique, with emphasis on placement and alignment of the body, and turnout. Class will include barre work, stretches, simple adagio, and allegro movements.

Fundamental concepts of contemporary dance technique, with emphasis on anatomical principles of the body, alignment, and awareness of body moving through space. The course will increase the student’s strength, flexibility, and coordination through stationary and traveling exercises.

Fundamentals of jazz dance technique, including work on correct alignment, isolation of body parts, increasing flexibility and coordination, and simple phrases.

Studio course using movement studies to allow the student to develop creativity and spontaneous decision-making skills. Course will include movement exploration, spatial and time studies, solo and group work developing trust and cooperation as well as self-confidence and mental flexibility.

Development of dance as an art form, including work and influence of major choreographers and major dancers in ballet, modern, and jazz. Offered spring.

Fundamentals of music theory, analysis of rhythms related to movement, and elements of music for accompanying dance.

Continuing study of ballet technique at an intermediate level, with progressive work on alignment, awareness of shape, strength, flexibility, coordination, and musicality.

Prerequisite(s): DA121 or permission of instructor.

Continuing study of contemporary dance technique at an intermediate level, with progressive work on static and dynamic alignment, awareness of shape, strength, flexibility, coordination, musicality, floor work, movement initiation and connections, and more complex movement sequences.

Prerequisite(s): DA131 or permission of instructor.

Continuing study of jazz dance technique, with progressive work on alignment, strength, flexibility, coordination, musicality, and increasingly complex movement sequences.

Prerequisite(s): DA141 or permission of instructor.

Introduction to the art of making dance, including study of dance structures and the elements of time, space, shape, and energy. Work will progress through solo assignments, performance, and analysis. Offered each fall.

This class is a continuation of Improvisational Dance Training, building on the skills and knowledge developed in DA150 Dance Improvisation. The course will explore advanced dance improvisation structures, scores, and movements inventions. Emphasis will be on refining technique and performance skills.

Prerequisite(s): DA150.

This course is intended for dance majors and will focus on the science of human motion with particular emphasis on human biomechanics, neural integration of movement, injury prevention, and performance enhancement. The initial focus of the course will be on the design and biomechanics of joints relevant to dancers. An integral part of the course will be experiential. Throughout the course, students will be introduced to theories of somatic practice, which can change mental and physical action to produce a healthier and more balanced moving body.

This course is designed to be an introduction to the field of dance/movement therapy within an historical and practical context. How dance/movement therapists have worked and how is it applicable to today will be addressed. Marian Chase, Blanche Evans, Trudi Schoop, Mary Whitehouse and others are experientially explored. Body-mind interconnectedness, creative expression, self- awareness and nonverbal communication will be examined. Course work will also include practice labs, relevant readings, and a culminating paper which articulates the student’s experience and emerging understanding and interest of the material.

Prerequisite(s): PS111 or PS113.

Advanced level of study of ballet technique, continuing work on strength, dynamics, musicality, endurance, and accuracy. Additionally, performance and movement interpretation will be addressed, working with complex movement sequences. In a given semester, this course may be offered either for 3 credits, meeting four times per week, or for 2 credits, meeting three times per week.

Prerequisite(s): DA221 or permission of instructor.

Advanced level of study of contemporary dance technique, continuing work on strength, full range of movement, dynamics, musicality, endurance, and accuracy. Performance and personal movement style and interpretation will be addressed, working with complex movement sequences. In a given semester, this course may be offered either for 3 credits, meeting four times per week, or for 2 credits, meeting three times per week.

Prerequisite(s): DA231 or permission of instructor.

Advanced level of study of jazz dance technique, continuing work on strength, dynamics, musicality, endurance, and accuracy. Performance and movement interpretation will be addressed, working with complex movement sequences.

Prerequisite(s): DA241 or permission of instructor.

Advanced course in the art of making dance. Assignments will include work with groups, culminating with students choreographing a work for performance. Offered spring.

Prerequisite(s): DA250.

An advanced course to explore specialization topics in depth, as determined by faculty.

Introduction to the study of the theories and principles of human movement developed by Rudolph Laban, including his work on Effort/Shape, Space, and Labanotation, a written notation system for movement.

The course is designed to provide methods for the instruction of a variety of dance genres and styles, with particular emphasis on modern dance. The course will focus on the K-12 public education population; however, private school education, dance studios, after school programs, and community centers programs will be addressed as well. The course format will enable students to devolop theoretical and somatic knowledge in dance as well as provide practical classroom teaching experiences.

Supervised work in a chosen field, such as performance, choreography, history, etc.

Participation in the department’s student performance group, including weekly rehearsals and public performance. May be repeated each semester for credit.

Prerequisite(s): Dance major or minor, and acceptance by audition.

Participation and practice in the department performance ensembles, including weekly rehearsals and public performance. Could be repeated each semester, restricted to three sections per semester or less.

Prerequisite(s): Dance major or minor, and acceptance by audition.

Dance majors may produce a capstone project to summarize their learning experience in dance. Students will develop a research project to integrate their experiences and define their own rationale. Professional development mentoring will be a component.

Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.

In this course methods of working with groups will be studied and experienced. Students can expect to facilitate techniques and methods from the field of dance/movement therapy, and to explore their own process while experiencing therapeutic movement forms. Coursework will also include in-class supervision, relevant readings, journal writing, and a culminating paper, which articulates the students emerging clinical interests and preferences.

Advanced level of study of ballet technique, continuing work on strength, dynamics, musicality, endurance, and accuracy. Additionally, performance and movement interpretation will be addressed, working with complex movement sequences. In a given semester, this course may be offered either for 3 credits, meeting four times per week, or for 2 credits, meeting three times per week.

Prerequisite(s): DA321 or permission of instructor.

Advanced level of study of contemporary dance technique, continuing work on strength, full range of movement, dynamics, musicality, endurance, and accuracy. Performance and personal movement style and interpretation will be addressed, working with complex movement sequences. In a given semester, this course may be offered either for 3 credits, meeting four times per week, or for 2 credits, meeting three times per week.

Prerequisite(s): DA331 or permission of instructor.

Students will choreograph their own performance piece, and support their work by completing a written statement about the process and final product. Professional development mentoring will be a component.

Prerequisite(s): DA250 and DA350.

Off-campus experience in areas such as dance education, performance and choreography, arts administration, dance therapy, and production.