Course Number:         DCE 455 / 9:30 TR/ spring 2008

Course Title:                 Career Development for Dance Artists

Credits:                           2

Prerequisites:                              Dance major or permission of instructor

For Whom Planned: BFA students in dance.

 

Instructor:                     Jan Van Dyke

321 HHP

334 3043

jevandyk@uncg.edu

 

Catalogue Description:  Overview of the professional dance world.  Coursework involves viewing videos of today's touring companies and community organizations and learning basic skills in auditioning, applying for jobs, grant writing, and organizing promotional materials.

 

Student Learning Outcomes:  On completion of this course, the student will

á                     Realize increased familiarity and comprehension of the professional dance world and the possibilities within it.

á                     Realize increased comprehension of the interaction between culture, money and the arts.

á                     Craft a resume and curriculum vitae which set out his/her skills and job history in a clear and professional format.

á                     Write grant proposals which demonstrate clarity of purpose and awareness of the requirements of individual grant programs. 

á                     Grasp the process of concert production including publicity and organization.

á                     Articulate ideas about dance as a profession.

 

Teaching Strategies:

á        Crafting a resume and curriculum vitae

á        Writing a grant proposal

á        Interviewing a choreographer and drafting a press release

á        Writing an advocacy letter

á        Interacting with guest speakers

á        Viewing videos which address life as a dancer/choreographer and show the work of companies active today.

á        Responding to the information presented both verbally and in written form.

 

Basis for Evaluation: Students will be evaluated on

1.            25%      Class participation including promptness and readiness for class discussion.  The in-class discussions and presentation are designed to help you develop skills in critical thinking and speaking necessary for successful work as a dance artist. Assessment criteria:  regularity of participation in discussion, evidence of thorough preparation, ability to summarize readings when asked, pertinence of contributions, demonstration of ability to draw together information from various sources to form a coherent point of view or a question, clarity and fluency of speech, projection of confidence and professionalism. Two absences will be allowed.  Each additional absence will take the grade for this portion of the final grade down one letter.  Two tardies will become an absence.

2.           5%    Completed press release—correct form, completeness of information, grammar, spelling.

3.           15%      Completed grant application—correct form, completeness of information, grammar, spelling.

4.           12%     Completed letter, cv and resume—grammar, spelling, clarity, format and completeness of information.

5.           9%        Completed advocacy letter—grammar, spelling, format and content.

6.           5%        Report on company—clarity and completeness of information.

7.           5%        Summary of Census

8.           9%        Response to information about dance companies in the U.S.

9.           15%      Final paper.  How the information covered in this course has affected your thinking, your plans, how you talk about dance, etc.  Grading is based on the range and depth of your thinking, grammar, spelling. (4-5 pages, 12 pt. font, double-spaced)

 

 

Required Text:  Available at Addams Bookstore on Tate Street

 

White, D., Friedman, L., and Levinson, T. (1993)  The Poor DancerŐs Almanac.  Durham: Duke        University Press  (Available at Addams Book Store)

 

 

Class Schedule (all dates are subject to change):

1/15      Introduction to the course. 

               Discussion: writing your own resume and curriculum vitae and cover letter.

               Assignment:  prepare your own resume and curriculum vitae and a cover letter; bring in first draft next class.  Finished draft due 1/17. 

              

1/17      Discussion of  cv and resume.  Due today. 

               Guest speakers—Tricia Zweier and Ali Duffy   Read Census of NYC Dancemakers for Jan. 22; write 2 page summary to turn in.

 

1/22      Resume, curriculum vitae and cover letters returned.  Discuss NYC information.  Summary report due.  

 

1/24      Revised cv, resume and letter due. Introduction to promotion and tenure, university hierarchy, related issues.  Summaries returned.  Response paper due 2/2

               For 2/14 and 2/19 research a dance company with a partner for information on rehearsal schedule, performance schedule, repertory, artistic direction, company class, payment to dancers, how many dancers, how dancers are selected, annual budget, why they are located where they are, board of directors, etc.

 

 

1/29      Guest speaker—Duane Cyrus. 

 

1/31      Video.   Read about Press Releases: pp. 36-37, 47-55 in Poor DancerŐs Almanac.

 

              

2/5        Return and discuss resumes and cvs. Interview with Emily Quinn.  Discuss Press Release form.   Draft press release for next class.

                

2/7        Go over press releases.  Redo them for 2/12

 

2/12      Video

 

2/14      Company reports.

              

2/19      More company reports.  Final press releases due.

               Read pp. 74-83 in POOR DANCERŐS ALMANAC.

 

2/21     Discussion of non-profits and incorporation guidelines.

              

2/26      Grad report on non-profits.  Response paper due.  Read pp. 77-85  in Modern Dance in a Postmodern World

 

2/28     Guest:  Jefferson James

               For 3/4 read about publicity and booking  pp. 181-195 in Poor Dancer's Almanac

              

3/4        Publicity, press packs, booking tapes. 

 

3/6        Discussion.

               For next class: read pp. 137-166 in POOR DANCER'S ALMANAC, think of a project to           use for a grant application.

              

             

SPRING BREAK

 

 

3/18     Discuss reading/ grants, possible projects.  .

               For 3/20 read pp. 8-12 in Poor Dancer's Almanac.  Bring in first draft of grant                application.

 

3/20      Draft of grant proposal due; oral critique.  Completed grants due next class.  Read Controversies in the Arts.

 

3/25      Grants due. Discussion of organizational grants, grantwriting and non-profit corporations.

               In groups, discuss a controversy in the arts, research it for discussion on 4/1.

                

3/27      Guest speaker  (no Jan)

               For next class: read Taruskin.

 

4/1        Grants returned for revision.  Discussion of grant proposals followed by reports and     general class discussion of controversies in the arts.         Read Greskovic, Dunning, Wakin.

 

4/3        Discussion of readings.  Final grants due.

               Write advocacy letter, first draft due 4/8.  Read Kimmelman, Smith, Sandomir.

 

4/8        Draft of letter due.  Discussion.

               For 4/10 read pp. 276-281 in Poor Dancer's Almanac, Artists in the Community.

 

4/10      Letters returned with discussion.  Final version due 4/15.

               Discussion of artists in the community.  Guests?

 

4/15      Letters due. Discuss reading.

               For 5/1 write a paper summing up what you've learned about the dance field, and how that information has influenced your thinking, changed your mind, reinforced your ideas, impressed you, disappointed you, etc.  4-5 pp.  For 4/12 read about copywrite pp. 80-83, 107-114 in Poor Dancer's Almanac

 

 

4/17      Guest speaker:

 

4/22      Education of dancers / alternative careers /university v. conservatory

 

4/24      Video

 

4/29      Video

 

5/1        Final Paper due.  The artist in the community—be prepared to contribute significantly to           this discussion based on your thoughts and what you have learned this semester.

 

 

Final exam: Thursday May 8 from 12:00-3:00 pm

 

 

Readings:

 

Controversies in the Arts  http://www.crf-usa.org/bria/bria13_2.html

 

Dunning, J.  (2001, July 16). Gimmicks, Games and Explanation to Create Dancegoers,  New York Times.

 

NYC Dancemaker Census (2006) http://www.dancenyc.org/upload/chapter/961_Pdf_2_Census%20FINAL.pdf

 

Greskovic, R. (2004)  A mixed bag of dance at a mere $10 a ticket, Wall Street Journal.

 

Kimmelman, M.  (2001, August 26).  Museums in a quandary: Where are the ideals?  New York Times.

 

Sandomir, R. (2004, May 30). At (your name here) arena, money talks,  New York Times.

 

Smith, R.A.  (2000, December 3)  Memo to art museums: DonŐt give up on art,  New York Times.

 

Taruskin, R. (2001, December 9)  MusicŐs dangers and the case for control, New York Times.

 

Van Dyke, J. (1992)  Modern dance in a postmodern world.   Reston VA: NDA/AAHPRD, pp. 77-85.

 

Wakin, D. (2004, October 7) Gauging the impact of a bargain dance festival, New York Times.

 

White, D.R., Friedman, L. and Levinson, T.T. (1993).  Poor dancer's almanac: Managing life and work in the performing arts.  Durham and London: Duke University Press.  (Available at Addams Book Store).

 

 

Attendance Policy:

Two absences are allowed.  Each additional absence will bring your participation grade down by a letter (from A to B for example).

 

 

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.  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.

 

 

Learning Differences and/or Disabilities

For students with documented physical or learning differences and/or disabilities, appropriate arrangements will be made for completion of all class and assessment experiences. However, documentation of these differences and/or disabilities must be made available to the instructor prior to the first assessment experience. Information regarding disabilities and/or differences will be kept confidential. If you are unsure whether or not you need special accommodations, please contact the UNCG Office of Disability Services, 336-334-5540 or ods@uncg.edu.