University of North Carolina--Greensboro

Office Hours My schedule changes often, so please check my office door for availability. To make an appointment or if you ever have questions or concerns feel free to use e-mail or phone contact listed above. So that I might be better able to address your concerns, please specify the reason for your appointment.

Prerequisite Departmental permission. May be repeated for credit.

Catalog Description Further development of technical skills in contemporary dance, including increased movement capabilities, rhythmic accuracy, and spatial relationships, with emphasis on aesthetic and expressive qualities that lead to performance.

Topical Outline Students will work on realizing, maintaining, and, most importantly, transitioning through shapes. Various tools including video, video feedback, and selected readings will be used. Students will be expected to work individually, with partners, and in groups. Exploration of the movement styles of Martha Graham and Talley Beatty will compliment contemporary approaches to movement and performance technique with the goal of realizing and further understanding of individual expressive abilities for each student.

Warm-up exercises and combinations will develop over the course of the semester in length, speed, rhythmic and qualitative complexity to support the development of the Student Learning Goals (listed below). Progression in terms of complexity will be based on an overall assessment of the group’s preparedness to take on new challenges as well as each individual’s ability.

Student Learning Goals To the degree appropriate for the intermediate level of contemporary dance training, students in this course will learn to:

1. Maintain basic alignment while standing.

2. Maintain basic alignment while in motion.

3. Increase and apply strength and stamina.

4. Increase and apply flexibility/range of joint motion.

5. Grasp and retain the sequence of exercises and combinations.

6. Grasp and retain the nuances of rhythm/phrasing of exercises and combinations.

7. Grasp and retain the qualitative dimensions of exercises/combinations.

8. Maintain whole-body and body part clarity of spatial orientation in movement.

9. Move quickly from learning to performing; apply technique w/ sense of "self."

10. Implement technical/artistic corrections consistently & in all applicable contexts.

11. Maintain a commitment to instruction and correction by observing carefully, listening actively, practicing on the side, and assessing your own and others' progress and improvement as assigned.

12. Maintain a sense of personal responsibility for learning by completing written assignments on time and with thoroughness and clarity, and learning and using correct terminology.

Learning goals 1-10 mark distinct areas of skill in dance technique. Excellence in dance artistry is a matter of developing a high degree of skill in each area and integrating these skills during the performance of movement.

Learning goals 11 and 12 describe efforts/attitudes necessary for progress toward excellence in dance and indicate specific behaviors that demonstrate them.

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

· Demonstrate, explain, analyze, and lead explorations of movement exercises and combinations designed specifically to develop the skills required for achievement of learning goals 1-10;

· Observe your daily work in class and (a) orally assess your achievement of learning goals 1-12, and (b) make recommendations for improvement in achieving learning goals 1-12*;

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

· Provide opportunities for individual appointments in which we may discuss your learning efforts;

· Provide opportunities for you to assess your own and others' progress toward the actual achievement of the learning goals

* 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 The fundamental and ongoing assignments in this class are to:

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

· Listen carefully to and apply all corrections and recommendations for improvement that I provide in class.

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

· Perform the movement material as accurately as possible each time you are called upon to do so.

· Reflect in writing as assigned on your progress toward and actual achievement of the learning goals.

· Observe other dancers and assess their performance as assigned.

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

· Oral feedback to you and/or others on work done in class.

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

· Oral and/or written feedback of the accuracies and inaccuracies I perceive in your written self-assessments.

Your achievement in mastering the learning goals to the degree appropriate for this course, and as documented on the Dance Technique Feedback Sheet, will provide the primary basis for calculating your final letter grade. Your attendance record and your record in turning in any written assignments will be additional factors in calculating your final letter grade. Your letter grade will be determined as follows:

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 maximum absences allowed for this class. See absences and grades policy below.

Absences and Grades You are allowed three absences. For each unexcused absence over the number allowed, the final grade will drop 1/3 of a letter (for example, from an A- to a B+). You are allowed one make up lesson (only required if you have four or more unexcused absences.) When injured or ill (but not contagious), students may still be counted as present and participating if they attend class and move to the degree the infirmity allows. Remember, if you are too sick or injured to take class then notify your instructor, stay home and please consider seeing a physician. Remember to make choices that are healthy for you. Any extended (more than one class) injury or illness requires a doctor’s or official note with anticipated date of return in order to be listed as excused.

Participation The Dance Department requires an 80% participation rate (students must dance in 24 out of the 30 meetings in classes that meet twice a week, and in 36 out of the 45 meetings in classes that meet three times a week) to get credit for the course. Sitting and watching or taking notes does not count as participation unless you attempt limited movement and remain engaged in the lesson.

If you provide an official note please make sure it lists the dates of your absence or limited participation, otherwise you will be allowed only one unexcused non-participation per semester. Two unexcused non-participation days equal one absence and students who do not meet the 80% participation requirement for any reason will need to repeat the course.

If you arrive after the opening exercise has started please wait until the instructor recognizes you before joining the class. If you are late repeatedly you may be asked to sit out, in which case you will be marked as non-participatory.

After the first week of class you will be marked non-participatory and asked to sit out if you do not follow the dress code listed below.

Requirements

· Notebook with paper and space to store documents. You should bring it to every class.

· Dress Code - Black and/or white leotard and tights or unitard. Additional warm-ups should also be black or white

· Do not wear baggy clothing that hides or distorts the "lines" and shapes you will make in this class

· Attendance and active participation

· Demonstrated commitment to reaching the Student Learning Goals

· Adherence to the fundamental and ongoing assignments listed in the Evaluation Methods and Guidelines for Assignments

· Adherence to the Academic Honor Code (See Student Handbook)

· Be prepared to work intelligently and to your full potential in each class

· Do not leave the studio for any reason without notifying the instructor first

· Be respectful of others (fellow students, instructors)

· No food, candy, or gum in the studio

· Sign document indicating your understanding of and commitment to the guidelines and requirements of the syllabus

Suggestions

· Long sleeves are recommended for floor work

· Extra clothing is permitted to keep warm. However, please remember that allowing the instructor to properly asses the accuracy of alignment and shape is part of Student Learning Goals #1, 2, and 8 - Be prepared to remove outer layers once you are properly warmed up

· Prepare your "dance bag" with kneepads, soft soled shoes (soft jazz shoes), bandages, tape and antiseptic, towel, and a notebook to write down ideas and corrections

· Eliminate preconceptions and enter into the learning process with an open mind.

· Know that nothing you do is "wrong" as long as you apply yourself and maintain a spirit of intelligent inquiry

· Enjoy the gift of dance!