Introduction to Dance
Students in this semester-long, entry-level courses, designed for those having no prior dance instruction, learn introductory information regarding:
- the role of dance(s) in history and culture;
- a variety of dance styles, which may include modern, ballet, jazz, folk, tap, hip-hop and various world dance styles; and,
- the body, major bone and muscle groups, how they function in dance movements, and the importance f proper health and nutrition.
Students will apply requisite knowledge via exploration and performance of various styles. Public performances may serve as a culmination of specific instructional goals. Students may be required to attend and/or participate in rehearsals and performances outside of the school day to support, extend and assess learning in the classroom. Students in this class may need to obtain (e.g., borrow, purchase) appropriate footwear and/or dance attire from a outside source.
Dance Techniques 1
Students in this year-long, entry-level course, designed for those having no prior dance instruction, learn foundational skills in two or more dance styles. Their development of fundamental dance technique is enriched and enlivened through study of works by a variety of diverse artists, developing genre-specific movement vocabulary and dance terminology, and building knowledge and skills related to somatic practices, dance composition, analysis of effort and outcomes, dance history and culture, collaborative work, and rehearsal and performance protocols.
Dance Choreography/Performance 1
Students explore key concepts of dance making with a focus on improvisation, composition, and choreographic processes and principles. Students study the works and creative techniques of highly respected choreographers in varied performance genres. They also examine the social, political, and cultural forces that influenced significant or exemplary works, and consider the innovations that came out of them. Public performances may serve as a culmination of specific instructional goals. Students may be required to attend and/or participate in rehearsals and performances outside the school day to support, extend, and assess learning in the classroom. Students in this class may need to obtain (e.g., borrow, purchase) appropriate footwear and/or dance attire from an outside source.