DANC 1377
AFRICAN AMERICAN DANCE I
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTIONDANC 1377 

African American Dance I. A course based on the dance vocabulary of African American artists such as Katherine Dunham, Alvin Ailey, and Donald McKayle.  Primary movement vocabulary will incorporate techniques of stretching and strengthening, as well as movement progressions. Through lecture, film, and research, the student will also explore the origins of Black dance and its development in the United States. There is no prerequisite. 3 credit (2 lecture, 2 lab) Core course

DANC 1377 African American Dance I allows the student to experience the cultural roots of African American dance through the work of Katherine Dunham, and trace those roots through its development in American theatre dance.

1.         Develop strength and flexibility.

2.         Develop coordination.

3.         Feel comfortable with one's body

4.         Understand how one's body moves

5.          Participate fully in technique class

6.         Study African American dance, and the influence of Black

            culture in the United States.

7.         Observe and evaluate a dance performance

The goals of this course are evaluated through 2 in‑class skill

evaluations, 1 final project (paper or exam), and 2 outside dance

observations.  Because daily participation is so important, it is suggested that daily grades be given as often as possible for class work.

Attendance & Participation                                           40%

Skill Improvement                                                         10%

2 Observations                                                             20%

Midterm                                                                       10%

Final Project                                                                 20%

DANC 1377 is a performance‑based class and as such REQUIRES that the student be present for EACH class meeting.  Students who are absent for more than 7.5 hours of instruction may be withdrawn.  Absences are defined as non‑attendance during the regularly scheduled class period FOR WHATEVER REASON, illness notwithstanding.  WHENEVER POSSIBLE, work missed by the student may be turned in or made up at the discretion of the instructor.

An absence, by virtue of its definition, cannot be made up.

The syllabus for DANC 1377 is based on several assumptions which instructors should regard as guidelines:

   1. That instructors should establish a positive environment

             which lessens anxieties of students.

   2. That students are generally apprehensive about classroom

             situations which place them as "the center of attention."

   3. That skill tests be evaluated by means of a written device.

   4. That a variety of instructional methods is useful:

             demonstration, question/answer, lecture, observation, etc.

   5. That course objectives be accomplished by instructors in

such a way as to satisfy their own teaching styles and personal objectives.

I.   Dance Technique

     A.   Center exercises for stretch, strength, and coordination

B.   Center movement for endurance, coordination, and

            performance

     C.   Progressions across the floor for style and performance

II.  African American Dance History

III. Performance Observations (total of 2)

     A.   Function Description

     B.   Critique

IV.  Skill Evaluation

     A.   Rating (score)

     B.   Improvement

            The first goal of a dance class is to improve technical skills.  To that end, the majority of the classes of this course are taught as a technique class.  A standard technique class consists of axial and locomotor exercises designed to warm, stretch, and strengthen various parts of the body; and movement patterns designed to develop coordination, rhythm, and stamina.  This syllabus does not presume to outline daily technique classes for individual instructors.  Each technique class is different, depending on who is teaching the class, the dance background of the instructor, the class objectives for the day. The instructor is free to design the class according to his/her own skills.  Over the length of the semester, the instructor should include all of the following objectives.

1.         The student should understand and perform correct body

            alignment while standing, sitting, and moving.

2.         The student should understand kinesiologically sound exercise practices.  The student should leave this class with an understanding of how his/her body moves, and how to protect that body in future exercise situations.

3.         The student should gain a basic anatomical vocabulary pertaining to the muscles and how they function.

4.         The student should understand and perform correctly the following technique skills:

            a.         in both parallel and turned‑out position:

                        demi plie, grand plie, releve, balance, brushes, passe, kicks

            b.         simple port de bras sequences alone and combined with other movements

            c.         use of swing movements with arms, legs, whole body

            d.         suitable progressions moving across the floor