Course Description: Study of the history and philosophy of dance in selected geographical locations through the nineteenth century

Course Goals:

• to understand the purposes of dance worldwide
  
• to understand important developments and issues in the evolution of dance in the West
  
• to explore dance research, descriptive writing, and research writing.
  

Course Calendar: August 21 - December 11

Monday, August 21: Course Introduction

Wednesday, August 23: Movement observation

Monday, August 28 and Wednesday, August 30: the Western tradition from Greece through the Renaissance

Read: Jack Anderson, Ballet and Modern Dance: A Concise History. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton Book Company, pp. 1-30 (The Pleasure of Dance History, Glimpses of the Past) and pp 31-50 (Dance at the Royal Courts).

Monday, September 4: Labor Day Holiday

Wednesday, September 6: Baroque dance

Read: Jack Anderson, Ballet and Modern Dance: A Concise History. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton Book Company, pp. 51-74 (The Professionalization of Ballet)

Monday, September 11 and Wednesday, September 13: Romantic ballet in Paris and Copenhagen

Read: Jack Anderson, Ballet and Modern Dance: A Concise History. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton Book Company, pp. 75-98 (The Sunshine and Moonlight of Romantic Ballet)

Monday, September 18: Research day

Wednesday, September 20 and Monday, September 25: Classical ballet

Read: Jack Anderson, Ballet and Modern Dance: A Concise History. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton Book Company, pp. 99-119 (The Imperial Russian Ballet)

Wednesday, September 27 and Monday, October 2: Diaghilev and Ballets Russes

Read: Jack Anderson, Ballet and Modern Dance: A Concise History. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton Book Company, pp. 121-138 (Balletic Astonishments)

Wednesday, October 4: Studio day

Monday, October 9: FALL BREAK

Wednesday, October 11: Exam Review

Monday, October 16: History of ballet exam

Wednesday, October 18, Monday, October 23, Wednesday, October 25, and Monday, October 30: The Romany Trail:. Dance in India, Egypt, and Spain

Read: Explore websites about these countries and dance forms

Wednesday, November 1: Studio day

Monday, November 6 and Wednesday, November 8 (studio day): African dance in Brazil: capoeira

Read: handout

November 13 and Wednesday, November 15: Korean dance

Read: Websites and handout

Monday, November 20: Research day

Wednesday, November 22: Thanksgiving break

Monday, November 27 (lecture) and Wednesday, November 29 (studio day): Croatian dance: Miriana Lausic
HISTORICAL FICTION PROJECT DUE

Monday, December 4 and Wednesday, December 6: Project presentations

Monday, December 11: Final exam review

EXAM: Monday, December 18: 12-3 PM

GRADING AND EXPECTATIONS

Midterm Exam 15%

Final 15%

Attendance at two dance events: Submit a program for one event and a 3 page write-up for another 5% each

Class attendance and participation-10% (After 2 absences, grade lowered 1/3 letter grade per absence. Being late to class or leaving early will also lower your grade. 2 lates and / or early departures - 1 absence)

World dance notebook: 25%: Keep careful records of the class notes, studio sessions, handouts, and Web page readings in this section. In each section, include a carefully prepared summary that shows your thinking about and integration of the readings, video showings, discussions, and presentation. These should include:

• a description of the movement style(s) common to each area
• a description of visual images of the costumes for each area (as seen or demonstrated in class. Don't go to the encyclopedia for this)
• a brief discussion of the historical/cultural information you found most important, especially as these play out in the dancing
• a discussion of your reactions to the form, including any affinities or discomforts and questions provoked by your study.
  

Historical fiction project: Dancers' Lives- 25%: This project can be done on your own or in a group. In this project, you explore the life of a real or fictional dancer by reading various kinds of histories, then integrating what you've found into a short piece of historical fiction. My only requirement is that the dance e born BEFORE 1850.

Your fiction project must contain:

• a completed research sheet
• photocopies, index cares, or other notes making clear the kinds of histories you've relied upon
• a short (3-5) page story detailing a typical day in a dancer's life
  

Successful projects don't have to produce compelling stories. They DO have to produce evidence that you've begun to understand bodily theorics, the cultural factors that surround, inform, and reinforce any bodily activity.

We will discuss your notebooks and projects during the last two days of class.

TEXTS: Jack Anderson, Ballet and Modern Dance: A Concise History. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton Book Company.

UNCG DEPARTMENT OF DANCE PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE FOR FALL 2000
Tickets available through campus box office: 334-4849
UNCG Dance Department Theatre - Walker Avenue:

September 13-16: NC Dance Festival
October 25-28: Gamble Concert
November 17-18: Graduate Concert
December 1-2: Atwood MFA Concert
December 8-9: Departmental Concert