Julie Brodie

Ballet style and movement vocabulary are presented in this technique course for the beginning-level student. Students are introduced to the fundamental components of ballet technique, including line, position, musicality and artistry, with an emphasis on healthy and sustainable body mechanics. The course involves intensive movement participation; however, no stress is placed on public performance. This counts toward the technique requirement for the major and minor. No prerequisite. Generally offered every other year.

The fall and spring dance concerts give dancers, choreographers and designers an opportunity to present their work in concert. Advised and directed by dance faculty members and guest artists, these concerts are the culmination of one or two semesters of preparation, rehearsals and regularly scheduled showings of works in progress. In order for students to choreograph for the fall dance concert, students must be enrolled in or have successfully completed DANC 227 or 228. Choreography proposals must be submitted to the dance faculty by the date announced early each semester. Final selection is determined by the dance faculty, with priority given to dance majors and minors. The same selection process is followed for both fall and spring dance concerts. Auditions to dance in either concert are held at the beginning of each semester. All dancers who perform in either concert are required to participate in a dance technique course (DANC 103, 104, 106, 107, 108, 109, 208, 209 or 308). Designers are recommended by the design faculty of the Department of Dance, Drama and Film. Please note: DANC 110 audit will only be awarded to those dancers, choreographers and production personnel whose work exhibited high standards. Offered every semester.

This course furthers the work of the beginning-level course with increased application of movement principles established by creative artists and teachers from the contemporary dance tradition. Movement fundamentals from other broad-based techniques and somatic principles also are included. This counts toward the technique requirements for the major and minor. Permission of instructor required. No prerequisite. Offered every semester.

This course covers the basic concepts and skills necessary for reading and writing labanotation, a system for recording movement in symbolic form. Studio work emphasizes re-creating and performing dances from written scores in addition to the theoretical analysis of movement. Class requirements may fulfill Dance Notation Bureau standards for certification in beginning labanotation. This counts toward the theory requirement for the major and minor. No prerequisite. Generally offered every other year.

This course presents students with theories and philosophies about teaching the art of dance in various contexts. Readings and discussions consider methods for integrating somatic techniques and scientific principles into the dance technique class, as well as contemporary aesthetic and creative practices. Different learning and teaching environments are compared and contrasted, including the private sector, public schools and higher education. Adaptations necessitated by dance style, age, motivation and skill level are addressed both theoretically and experientially, as students are required to plan, teach, and evaluate their own and each other's pedagogical choices in practice teaching sessions. This course has a significant Community Engaged Learning component, with an emphasis on teaching creative movement to children and/or seniors. Students should expect off-campus teaching experiences; some of this teaching will be scheduled outside of class time. This counts toward the theory requirement for the major and minor. Permission of instructor required. Generally offered every other year.

This course builds upon principles of movement established at the beginning and intermediate levels. In-depth exploration of floor work, improvisation, somatic practices and a variety of postmodern styles promote artistry, efficiency of movement and integrated strength. This counts toward the technique requirement for the major and minor. Permission of instructor required. Offered every semester.

This course continues to develop skills and concepts introduced in elementary labanotation. At the intermediate level, students work to increase their vocabulary, fluency and precision in reading and writing this language of dance. This allows students to notate and learn dances in a broader range of styles, including modern dance and dances of different cultures. Specific concepts covered include movements of parts of the limbs; touching, brushing, sliding of the feet; movements of the torso; tilting, twisting, rotating, shifting, facing, flexing, extending and combined actions; systems of reference; kneeling; sitting; lying down; falls and center of gravity; and augmented and inverted body sections.\nMovement concepts are explored physically, contributing to clarity of performance and enhancing kinesthetic and theoretical understanding. Emphasis is placed on the process of analyzing movement in order to document it and on translating written material into fully embodied dances. Students have the opportunity to earn the Intermediate Certificate in Labanotation from the Dance Notation Bureau through completing the course requirements. This counts toward an elective for the major and minor. Prerequisite: DANC 220. Offered every third year.

This course studies the science of movement as it relates to dance. Basic anatomy and physiology, the physics of dance and the mind-body connection responsible for producing and controlling movement are explored to provide students with a deeper understanding of the structure and function of the human body. Lectures, discussions and movement labs focus on practical analysis and application of material in order to increase movement efficiency with the ultimate goal of enhancing performance and preventing injury. This counts toward the theory requirement for the major and minor. Prerequisite: sophomore standing or permission of instructor. Generally offered every year.

Individual study in dance is reserved for students exploring a topic not regularly offered in the department's curriculum. Typically, the course carries 0.5 units of credit. To enroll in an individual study, a student must identify a member of the department willing to direct the project and, in consultation with him or her, write a proposal. The department chair must approve the proposal. The one- to two-page proposal should include a preliminary bibliography and/or set of specific problems, goals and tasks for the course; outline a schedule of reading and/or writing assignments or creative undertakings; and describe the methods of assessment (e.g., a journal to be submitted for evaluation weekly; a one-act play due at semester's end, with drafts due at given intervals; and so on). The student also should briefly describe prior coursework that qualifies him or her for this independent project. At a minimum, the department expects the student to meet regularly with the instructor one hour per week and to submit an amount of work equivalent to that required in 300-level dance and drama courses. Students are urged to begin discussion of their proposed individual study the semester before they hope to enroll, so that they can devise a proposal and seek departmental approval before the deadline.