INTERMEDIATE AFRICAN DANCE

                                                                        Spring 2008

 

Course Prefix and Number:  DCE 232-01

Course Title:  Intermediate African Dance

Credits: 1:0:3                                                                                   

Course Prerequisites/Co requisites: Placement in level 112/114 modern or ballet technique or permission of instructor

For Whom Planned: dance majors and non-majors at the INTERMEDIATE level of African dance.

Instructor: Robin Gee

Class Times: Tuesday/Thursday 8-9:15am

Office: HHP 220A

Office Hours: By appointment.

Telephone: 256-1487

E-mail: rmgee@uncg.edu

 

Catalog Description:  Introduction to the history and vocabulary of West African dance, emphasizing performance techniques and the central role that dance plays in the life of African people.

 

Student Learning Goals:

 

To the degree appropriate for the beginning, level of African 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 ÒselfÓ

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 othersÕ 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.     

13. Understand and adhere to the important musical elements known as ÒbreaksÓ which accompany each dance and warm-up exercises.

14. Understand and recognize musical accompaniment associated with specific dances learned in class.

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.

 

Learning goals 13 1and 14 relate to   musical structures, which are essential to mastery of traditional dance forms.

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 1-10;
  2. 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*;
  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 assess your own and othersÕ 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. 

* PLEASE SEE ATTACHED LIST OF INSTRUCTIONS FOR CLASS PARTICIPATION.

 

Evaluation Methods and Guidelines for Assignments:

 

The fundamental and ongoing assignments in this class are 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 for improvement that I provide in class;
  3. Learn the movement material as quickly as you can through observation and practice;
  4. Perform the movement material as accurately as possible each time you are called upon to do so;
  5. Reflect in writing as assigned on your progress toward and actual achievement of the learning goals;
  6. Observe other dancers and assess their performance as assigned.
  7. Address movement material on an ongoing basis both in and outside of class.

 

I will assess your progress toward and your actual 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;
  3. 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.  YouÕre attendance record and your score on the midterm and final movement evaluations assignments will be additional factors in calculating your final letter grade. 

 

In calculating the achievement component of the final grade, the Dance as Art score * will be added to the cumulative total score to produce a final score that is aligned with grades as follows:

 

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

 

 

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. 

 

Topical Outline: 

 

Warm-up exercises and combinations designed to enable your achievement specifically of learning goals 1-4 will remain fairly consistent over the course of the semester.  Other exercises and combinations will develop over the course of the semester in length, speed, and in rhythmic and qualitative complexity so as to enable the achievement specifically of learning goals 5-12 and to provide opportunity to practice the integration of skills inherent to the achievement of learning goals 1-10. 

 

 

 

 

 

Attendance Policy

 

In classes meeting two days a week, two absences are allowed.  In classes meeting three days a week, three absences are allowed.  For each absence over the number allowed, the final grade will drop 1/3 of a letter (for example, from an A- to a B+, or from a B to a B-). When injured or ill (but not contagious), students may still be counted as present if they attend class and are able to accommodate some form of movement activity (to be prescribed by the instructor). If a student is not able to participate in class they must first speak with the instructor to obtain permission to watch class.  However, this will not be counted as a day of participation in the class.  See below for the participation requirements. Please note: there are no ÒexcusedÓ absences in this class. It is not necessary to e-mail regarding your absences unless you will be absent beyond the allowable limit. If you are ill or injured THEN you should see a physician and provide detailed documentation on your illness and limitations. You are allowed two absences in this class and ANY additional absences will adversely affect your grade. It is your responsibility to keep track of your absences. *

 

Lateness:

 

Students who arrive more than 15 minutes after class has begun should not come directly onto the dance floor. Any one who arrives after opening exercises should begin to warm up on the side of the class and wait for the instructor to indicate when to enter into class.  If you arrive after the opening exercise is finished, please sit out and watch.  Arriving after the opening exercise is finished three times will take your grade down 1/3 of a letter. 

 

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 a class does not count as participation.  Students who do not meet the participation requirement for any reason will need to repeat the course. 

 

AFRICAN DANCE CODE OF CONDUCT

 

* Lapas must be worn every day. If you don not have your lapa let me know. Please make sure that you are covered (top and bottom) in class.

* No socks in class

*No jewelry, watches, long earrings or necklaces should be worn in class.

* Do not chew gum during class

* Turn cell phones off during class

* If you are more than 25 minutes late for class you will be marked absent

* If you need to arrive late or leave early please let me know in advance.

* There are no stagnant ÒwatchesÓ in this class. If you are not able to participate due to injury/illness, you must let me know before class starts and together we will construct exercises for you during that class period. You must be able to participate in some way in order to receive credit for the class.

* There is movement ÒhomeworkÓ each day. Please revisit movement material between class times and be able to address any movement that you do not understand. If you are absent from class it is YOUR responsibility to find out what you missed. Check with your fellow classmates to address material covered in your absence. *

 

*I am available for conference/discussion via e-mail and before midterm evaluations when necessary.

* There will be a midterm and final movement evaluation for the course. Guidelines will be provided by the instructor in the weeks to come. The Dance Technique Feedback Sheet will be utilized and slightly modified for this assessment.

 

Academic Honor Code:

Academic integrity is founded upon and encompasses the following five values: honesty; trust; fairness; respect; and responsibility. Supporting and affirming these values is essential to promoting and maintaining a high level of academic integrity.1 Each member of the academic community must stand accountable for his or her actions. As a result, a community develops in which students learn the responsibilities of citizenship and how to contribute honorably to their professions.

If knowledge is to be gained and properly evaluated, it must be pursued under conditions free from dishonesty. Deceit and misrepresentations are incompatible with the fundamental activity of this academic institution and shall not be tolerated. Members of the UNCG community are expected to foster in their own work the spirit of academic honesty and not to tolerate its abuse by others.

First responsibility for academic integrity lies with individual students and faculty members of this community. A violation of academic integrity is an act harmful to all other students, faculty and, ultimately, the university.

Important Dates:

 

March 19th – Last Day to drop course w/out academic penalty

May 16th – last day of classes – students follow Friday schedule

 

***Midterm Conferences and Evaluations will be announced by the instructor Conference Sign-up sheet will be posted on my door