DCE 113 02

Beginning Ballet

Credits: 1

Prerequisites: Dance major or departmental permission. May be repeated for credit.

Schedule: Tuesday and Thursday, 8 – 9:15pm in HHP 152

Instructor: Julia Edwards

Office hours: By Appointment. Your questions are also welcome before and after class. Email is the best way to contact me.

Office: 220G

Phone: 334 4064

Email: jyedward@uncg.edu

Course description: Development of technical skills in ballet, including safe and efficient alignment and clear articulation of movement vocabulary

Student Learning Goals:

On completion of this course, you will learn to:

PART A: items 1-7


1. Move contra-laterally during locomotion (left/right halves in opposition).


2. Grasp and retain sequences of simple exercises and combinations.


3. Breathe appropriately and as needed while moving.


4. Anticipate the beat when required.


5. Maintain energy throughout each combination and a full class.


6. Demonstrate commitment/responsibility as appropriate in and out of class.


7. Demonstrate awareness and attention to studio/classroom procedures.

PART B: items 8-20


8. Demonstrate dynamic alignment as appropriate to exercises/combinations in the class
            


9. Move on the beat when required.


10. Show appropriate use of the legs as called for in an exercise/combination.


11. Show appropriate use of the feet as called for in an exercise/combination.


12. Show command of skills involving initiation of movement.


13. Show command of skills involving weight shift.


14. Avoid extraneous tension in performing simple movements such as walks, skips, etc.


15. Fulfill the time/counts given for each part of the movement.


16. Demonstrate attributes of/qualities in movement as specified.


17. Demonstrate clarity of body line in simple movement combinations.


18. Demonstrate clarity of spatial direction in simple movement combinations.


19. Perform set movement with confidence/full engagement.


20. Respond spontaneously to improvisational prompts, with confidence/full engagement and/or demonstrate creative spontaneity within a given technique.

Teaching Strategies

To enable student achievement of the learning goals, I will:

1. Demonstrate, explain, analyze and lead explorations of movement exercises and combinations designed specifically to develop the skills required for achievement of learning goals.

2. Observe your daily work in class and (a) orally assess your achievement of learning goals and (b) make recommendations for improvement in achieving learning goals*.

3. Provide a written assessment on the Dance Technique Feedback sheet of your achievement at mid-term and again near the end of the semester.

4. Provide opportunities for individual appointments in which we may discuss your learning efforts

5. Provide opportunities for you to watch yourself on video to enhance your kinesthetic sense and self assessment.

*not every student will receive individual feedback during each class, but all students will receive individual feedback regularly throughout the course of the semester.

Evaluation Methods and Guidelines for Assignments

To succeed in this class, you will need to:

1. Attend to movement material presented, as well as to explanations and analyses of its specific components.

2. Listen carefully to and apply all corrections and recommendations given to any student for improvement that I provide in class.

3. Learn the movement material as quickly as you can through observation and practice.

4. Execute the movement material as accurately as possible and with full body engagement each time you are called upon to do so

I will assess your progress toward your achievement of the learning goals through:

1. Daily oral feedback to you and/or others on work done in class

2. Written mid-term and final evaluations of your achievement using the Dance Technique Feedback sheet

Your achievement in mastering the learning goals to the degree appropriate for this course, and as documented on the Dance Technique Feedback for 111/113 sheet, will provide the primary basis for calculating your final letter grade.  Your attendance record will be an additional factor in calculating your final letter grade. 

Grading Scale:

93-100 (A)  90-92 (A-)  87-89 (B+)  83-86 (B)  80-82 (B-)  77-79 (C+) 
73-76 (C)  70-72 (C-)  67-69 (D+)  63-66 (D)  60-62 (D-)  Below 60 (F)

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Attendance is expected in every class.  There are only two allowed absences for the entire semester, regardless of the reason. See tardy policy below.

The relationship between attendance and your final letter grade is as follows:  1/3 of a letter grade will be deducted for each absence incurred over the two maximum absences allowed for this class.   IE: If your grade is a "B" at the end of the semester, but you have a total of 4 absences, your final grade will be a "C+".

At the latest be on time…

Dance is more than just being in the room for the allotted time for the technique class or rehearsal. As a dancer, it is important to take responsibility for your instrument. Come to class in time to provide individual attention to your body. Center your focus to be open to learning and ready to put all of yourself into each exercise. Each dancer and each body is individual. Only you can truly develop yourself in your craft. Every class you are expected to be willing, be open and strive.

In light of this philosophy, a tardy arrival or early departure over 10 minutes will equate to 1/2 absence.  Accruing two of these will equal one absence.  If you arrive more than 10 minutes late, you are required to sit-out and take notes for safety reasons, and this counts as your one allowed observation day.  If you are less than 10 minutes late, please quietly join the back of the class and begin working immediately, with as little distraction as possible. You are responsible for telling the instructor after class to change attendance from absent to tardy.

The Dance Department requires 80% participation in order to receive a passing grade in technique classes.  Observation does not count towards this 80%.  Students must physically participate in 24 classes in order to pass this course; not participating in 6 or more classes = no credit.

Students may make up ONLY 1 class in another instructor’s technique class of the same level if permission is received from that instructor.  I must receive a signed paper from the other instructor (you get it signed and bring it to me) indicating your participation in his or her class in order to receive make-up credit.  See me before beginning this process.  Do not wait until the end of the semester to take your make-up class.

Observations:  In the case of temporary injury or non-contagious illness, students are expected to observe class.  ONLY ONE OBSERVATION DAY IS ALLOWED.  Your role as an observer is both teacher and student. Observing class provides an opportunity to develop your eye as a dancer/teacher. You should take detailed notes that make correlations between what you see, what you hear, and what you personally experience when you are physically participating in the class. How does observing class further enrich your kinesthetic and cognitive understanding of ballet? These notes should be legible and handed in at the end of class.

Situations such as serious illness, long-term injury, or family emergencies may be dealt with on an individual basis.  In some cases, students will be given an Incomplete to be made up within the next semester.  In other cases, I may recommend withdrawal from the course.

Class Conduct:

Please be respectful of your fellow classmates, the instructor, and our art by being attentive and following studio etiquette at all times during class (if there are any questions as to the components of studio etiquette, please see me privately). Dance is a discipline to be practiced in and out of class. I encourage you to ask relevant questions during class, but expect a high level of focus.  Class time needs to be reserved for refining and improving our craft and our bodies as artistic instruments.  For your own safety and enjoyment of this class, no eating or gum-chewing is allowed in the studio.  Please turn off or silence all cellular phones and other electronic devices.  Should there be a reason you need to have your cell phone out during class, please let me know before we begin.

When it is not your turn to dance, respect the others by remaining QUIETLY attentive. You learn as much from 
Listening, watching and asking as you do from doing. Take the opportunity to mark for sequence or areas you may be stumbling through in the combination.

Attire

Every dance environment has different values and rules surrounding attire in class. For the purposes of enhancing your own understanding of living alignment please wear form-fitting clothing. As the instructor, I will be able to help you most if I am able to see the landscape of your structure. This does not mean I require you to wear leotard and tights, however baggy t-shirts and pants are not acceptable. For the safety of you and your peers, please remove ALL jewelry before class. Bring a water bottle with you as well.

For footwear, please wear ballet shoes with elastics that are fascinated to help the canvas or leather fit snuggly on your arch. Dancing in socks is not the same as dancing in ballet shoes. If you have concerns regarding any of the attire guidelines please see me in private.

Expectations of you as a Student:

In addition to maintaining the above outlined expectations, I also request the following:

1. To actively participate in class, work on corrections, practice and apply concepts and theories in combinations.  Always strive to reach new capacities and discoveries!

2. To ask questions if anything is unclear. 

3. To keep an open mind toward working the body in a new way while draw upon previous knowledge of and experiences in dance.

Expectations of me as your Instructor:

1. To also maintain the above guidelines while sharing with you my knowledge and experiences of ballet as clearly as possible. 

2. To be prepared for class and to provide you with clear and respectful feedback in the form of verbal and manual corrections. 

3. To be available for you to approach me with any questions or concerns you might have regarding any aspects of this course, my teaching, or your progress.

During midterms, I will have a sign-up sheet for mandatory conferences. For these, you will need to fill out a technique feedback sheet, evaluating yourself. This is an opportunity for you to assess yourself, to think about your strengths and weaknesses. Your assessment of yourself will not affect my view of you nor your midterm or final grade. Conferences at the end of the semester are optional.