SPRING 2008

DANCE 487

Performance Theory and Practice

Instructor:  B.J. Sullivan

Rehearsal Assistant: Erin LaSala

Office: 222 

Phone: 334-3264

ejsulli2@uncg.edu

Office Hours: appointment by email only.

 

 

PREREQUISITES:

 

487; Eight hours in a combination of DCE 243,250, 343, and 443; no more than 4 of the hours can be from DCE 250.

 

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:

 

487; Rehearsal and performance of choreography designed to challenge student dancers at their highest level of performance.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION: 

 

Movement concepts and vocabulary of safety release technique with influence from the somatic sciences applied to the creation of a dance work that encourages the development of performance skills with application of research designed to formulate one's own philosophy on performing skills. 

 

STUDENT LEARNING GOALS: Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:

 

1.            Apply the technical skills needed in complex movement material of safety release technique;

2.            Demonstrate an improved ability to use the body as an instrument of artistic expression;

3.            Find personal movement style within the artist's work;

4.            Demonstrate an improved ability to learn and retain more complex movement sequences;

5.            Demonstrate movement with sensitivity to performance and virtuosity;

6.            Analyze and discuss personal artistic and technical growth through instructor feedback and self assessment;

7.            Understand the importance of self-discipline and self-motivation in the continual effort to improve individual performance.

 

 

TEACHING STRATEGIES:  I will use

 

1.            Demonstration, giving examples and explanations on the quality expected in achieving movement material, discussing my own perspective on performance, analyze and explore the philosophies on the movement given, sharing of knowledge experienced, use of repetition with the material, all given designed to achieve SLG 1-7;

 

2.            Observe your daily work in class and (a) orally assess your achievement of SLG 1-7 and (b) make recommendations for improvement in achieving SLG 1-7;

 

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

 

4.            Provide opportunities for you to evaluate your progress toward actual achievement of SLG listed.

 

EVALUATION METHODS AND GUIDELINES FOR ASSIGNMENTS:

The fundamental and ongoing assignments in this class are:

 

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 on your progress toward and actual achievement of the learning outcomes;

6.    Observe other dancers and assess their performance as assigned.

 

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.    Oral and/or written feedback of the accuracyÕs and inaccuracies I perceive in your daily work.

 

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Grades and Mastery of Material can improve only with regular attendance and active participation.  You are allowed TWO ABSENCES. Any extra absence will lower your final grade 1/3 of a letter grade. After 4 absences, students will be dropped from the course. Long-term injuries have to be discussed with the instructor and be treated accordingly.

 

OBSERVATION, PARTICIPATION, AND LATENESS POLICY:

If you arrive more than five minutes late, please sit down and watch.  Arriving more than five minutes late three times will count as an absence and will take your grade down 1/3 of a letter. When injured or ill (but not contagious), you may still be counted as present if you attend class and record observations to hand in at the end of the class period. However, this will NOT be counted as a day of participation in the class. 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.

 

TOPICAL OUTLINE:

Each class will focus on movement developed over the course of the semester with attention paid to perfecting the material for performance level in the creation of a new work.  Class meets regularly on Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:00 - 6:15pm. 

 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

 

KNEEPADS WILL BE NEEDED IN THIS CLASS !

 

PLEASE ORDER SOME RIGHT AWAY AT: http://www.contactquarterly.com/kp.html

 

(It takes 3 weeks for them to arrive)