DCE 353 -- Choreography II: Process
Course Syllabus -- Spring, 2008
2 credits
Instructor: Eluza Maria Santos
Office: HHP 220B Office phone: 334-3262 E-mail: emsantos@uncg.edu
Office hours: posted outside instructor's office
Instructor's assistant: Julia Edwards
Prerequisites/Co-requisites: DCE 251 or DCE 253
For Whom Planned: Required course for Dance majors
Course Description: Study of and experience in various approaches to the choreographic process as related to artistic concepts and to the philosophy of art as espoused by various traditional and contemporary dance artists and as developed by the individual student.
Student Learning Goals:
Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:
1. Generate choreographic material through creative processes based on a variety of concepts and practices, including selected practices espoused by contemporary dance artists.
2. Shape their movement experimentations to enhance their choreographic intention.
3. Design movement studies/choreographic assignments with sharpened clarity.
4. Find new and creative avenues in the choreographic process.
5. Engage in a creative process that has its own logic, based on exploration, improvisation, experimentation, investigation, decision making, and revision.
6. Demonstrate, through their dance studies/choreographic assignments, that the creative process is diverse and that
it has artistic, cultural, and social relevance.
7. Articulate their ideas, thoughts, and/or observations in an informed, thorough, and clear manner - in feedback sessions, class discussions, and self-evaluations and written assignments.
Teaching Strategies: Movement explorations/lab-work, group and individual creative assignments - short movement studies/phrases, choreographic assignments, and 2 complete dances. Lectures/discussions or lab-work with artists in other forms/media, class showings, feedback sessions, class discussions, and written assignments.
Required Text/Reading: Speaking of Dance: Twelve Contemporary Choreographers on Their Craft, by Joyce Morgenroth. This book is on reserve at the Jackson Library and available in the instructor's office. Students should start reading this book right away.
Course Requirements:
Full participation, showing, and completion of all class activities (movement explorations/lab-work, creative
assignments, feedback sessions, discussions, written assignments, etc)
The process of making 2 complete dances (one at midterm, one at the end of the semester)
Written self-evaluations (one at midterm, one at the end of the semester)
Note: Each student will need a "box" for each assignment/work done in this class.
Additional Requirement: N/A
Evaluation Methods and Guidelines for Assignments:
Movement explorations, creative assignments, the process of making 2 complete dances, written assignments, and participation in feedback sessions and discussions will be the basic component in the evaluation method for this course.
Evaluation will be based primarily on instructor's observations of students throughout the semester as they work towards accomplishment of the learning goals for this course. In addition, students will write self-evaluations at midterm and at the end of the semester, discussing their creative process and assessing their own progress in the course.
Grading:
Participation in and successful completion of class activities 40 points
Full exploration in the process of making 2 complete dances 40 points (20 points each)
Written self-evaluations addressing her/his creative process 20 points (10 points each)
Total 100 points = A
Students should keep the following questions in mind throughout the semester, as a guide for the activities in this course:
What were the processes/strategies used by the student in the works made this semester? Why were these strategies chosen and how were they articulated physically (rehearsals, choreography), verbally (showings/feedback sessions, discussions), and/or in writing (written assignments, self-evaluations)? How deeply was the student's choreographic impetus, or idea, explored in the works? How effective were the works? What made them effective? How did the student challenge herself/himself? Can the student say anything about her/his aesthetic preferences? What is the student starting to value in choreography? How was the student's choreographic/artistic intention explored, maintained or changed during the making of the works? What could be done differently, if anything, and why?
At midterm, the instructor will inform the students about their progress in the course. The instructor will also be available to meet with students at other times during the semester to discuss course related issues.
Assignments:
Most of the assignments for this class will be the result of our explorations of concepts and practices in the required texts and our experimentations/lab-work in class. Course activities may also include short written assignments reflecting upon or summarizing the work done in class.
The 2 complete dances - one for midterm and one for the end of the semester/final project - should demonstrate the application of our explorations of concepts and practices in the required texts and our experimentations/lab-work in class. These are short dances (3 - 5 minutes is fine), but they need to be complete. They can be solo or group works.
Note: Assignments for this class should also demonstrate the application of what the students learned in DCE 253 (Choreography I: Craft).
The showings of the 2 complete dances are scheduled for the following dates:
Complete dance #1 - February 25 and 27, March 3 and 5
Complete dance #2 - April 30, May 5 and 12 (final exam date - showings at 12:00 and 1:30 pm)
Dates for showings of the 2 dances as works in progress (for possible manipulation in class and feedback with discussion), as well as self-evaluations and other assignments, will be announced throughout the semester (we will work according to the needs of the class).
Note: for each assignment not shown, presented, or turned in for this class there will be a deduction of 1/3 of a letter on the final grade.
Topical Outline:
Movement experimentations/lab-work to explore a variety of concepts and practices in the choreographic process - this includes the concepts and practices presented in the required text.
Improvisations to develop movement material/phrases and dance studies/choreographic assignments
Designing and refining movement phrases and dance studies/choreographic assignments
Clarifying choreographic intentions in the creative process
Observing, discussing, evaluating, and revising choreographic works
Explorations and discussions of the role of the choreographer in the creative process (as artist, performer,
viewer/audience member, evaluator, and critic)
Academic Honor Code: Students are expected to comply with the Academic Honor Code. Please refer to the UNCG Undergraduate Bulletin.
Attendance Policy:
Students are strongly encouraged not to miss any class, and expected to be in the studio and ready to begin on time. When late for class, students need to tell the instructor, at the end of class, that they were late – 2 tardies will turn into 1 absence. About absences: 2 absences are allowed. After that, the final grade is brought down by 1/3 of a letter for each additional absence. Occasional personal situations, including illness, injury, and emergency will be dealt with as they appear, and students should try to notify the instructor before class.
Attention:
There may be a few guest teachers in this course throughout the semester (TBA).
Announcements/information for this course will be done via email, so students need to check their email before each class (with plenty of time before class) in order not to miss any important communication.
Please remember that cellular phones should be off during class.
Let's learn from each other and have a great semester!