This program presents dance as the development of a technical skill, a creative experience that integrates feeling and movement, a performing opportunity, and as the subject of historical and aesthetic analysis. The curriculum, open to any interested student, includes modern dance, ballet, Chinese sword, and flamenco technique, improvisation, choreography, history, and dance in comparison to other art forms. Students are encouraged to combine dance training with work in theater, music, and art. Semiannual dance concerts provide opportunities for student performance and choreography.
Dance 101/102/201/202 | Garcia-Renart | 3 credits
This multilevel class introduces a modern dance technique that develops expressiveness, proper alignment, efficient and clear movement, musicality, spatial awareness, coordination, flexibility, strength, and the ability to dance with others. Course material consists of warm-up exercises, dance combinations, anatomical information, and imagery. Short readings and film clips introduce students to past and current dancers and choreographers. Expectations are tailored to the student’s specific level of proficiency.
Students must have completed two semesters of 100-level technique in order to advance to the 200-level. This course is generally offered once a year.
Dance 108 | Garcia-Renart | 1 p/f credit
This course is a biweekly meeting during which student choreographers and performers present dance concert bound works in progress for constructive and guided feedback from faculty and peers. Participants may function as choreographers, dancers, composers, musicians, set designers, stage managers, technicians, etc. The process culminates in the final week of tech and dress rehearsal followed by two performances and a final meeting to reflect on the process and the concert experience. All students enrolled in dance composition are required to attend and will not receive extra credit for this class. All other students who participate will receive one pass/fail credit. Auditors are also welcome.
This course is offered every semester.
Dance 114/116/214/216 | Garcia-Renart | 3 credits
This multilevel course is designed for a beginning dance student interested in a traditional approach to ballet technique as well as for students with dance experience seeking to gain a deeper understanding of core technique in order to improve upon their own movement styles. In every class, students will work on coordination, flexibility, strengthening, musicality and ballet vocabulary through traditional ballet barre, center floor work, and short movement combinations. Short readings and film clips introduce students to past and current ballet styles and choreography. Expectations are tailored to the student’s specific level of proficiency.
Students must have completed two semesters of 100-level technique in order to advance to the 200-level. This course is generally offered once a year.
Dance 121/122/221/222 | Garcia-Renart | 3 credits
This course is designed for beginning dancers as well as more experienced dancers who want to concentrate on strengthening their understanding of the fundamentals of dance technique as well as to explore the history and aesthetics of dance. Through traditional ballet barre exercises, various modern dance techniques, improvisation, and composition, students will focus on proper alignment, musicality, and phrasing, and will develop skills for learning choreography. Students will be offered a historical overview of the development of ballet and modern dance through readings as well as historical and contemporary dance footage.
Students must have completed two semesters of 100-level dance technique in order to advance to the 200-level.
Dance 126/127/226/227 | Garcia-Renart | 2 credits
Flamenco dance, which originated in nineteenth century Spain and is known for its emotional intensity, expressive use of the arms, and rhythmic stamping of the feet, has come into its own in the U.S in the past few decades. In this course students will become familiar with basic flamenco vocabulary, arm and hand movements (braceo), foot technique (taconeo), hand clapping (palmas), and specific rhythmic patterns and themes of flamenco (palos). The flamenco courses also provide a historical and cultural overview through discussion, texts, film, and research.
This course is generally offered every semester.
Dance 130/131/230/231 | Garcia-Renart | 3 credits
Movement is a powerful means of communication, ranging from literal gesture to abstract motion. This course explores strategies for movement invention and composition. Both improvisation—the spontaneous generation of movement that is ephemeral—and choreography—the setting of dances so they can be reconstructed—will be utilized. In this multilevel class, students are given tools which will allow them to develop basic principles of dance composition through themed improvisations, solo choreographies, and group composition. Students learn to be critically aware of their own work and develop effective communication skills when analyzing and critiquing the work of others. Improvisation and choreography will take place in class and for homework. Supplemental readings, viewings, and attendance at on-campus events are also required. Dance composition students are required to attend Dance Concert Workshop.
This course is generally offered every semester.
Dance 300/400 | Staff | 4 credits
Under these course numbers, juniors and seniors design tutorials to meet their particular interests and programmatic needs.