Dance (DANC)

An exploration of significant questions and concepts, beliefs and creative visions, theories and discoveries in Dance for first-year students. Although topics vary, the courses also seek to improve students’ communication skills beyond the written word.

Designed for the student with little or no dance background. Introduces dance as an art form and as a means of expression through both the study of movement fundamentals and creative work.

An exploration of a specific topic in Dance. A grade of C- or better fulfills the COLL 150 requirement. Although topics vary, the courses emphasize academic writing skills, reading and analysis of texts, and discussion. Sample topics might include various aspects of Dance History (e.g. specific choreographers or movements).

Designed to strengthen technical skill at an intermediate level. Explores dance as an art form and as a means of expression through both the development of movement skills and creative work.

Designed to strengthen technical skill at an intermediate level. Explores dance as an art form and as a means of expression through both the development of movement skills and creative work.

An introduction through films and lectures to the field of modern dance, which is rooted in American culture, with emphasis on the stylistic approach and aesthetic of the artists who have contributed to its development in the twentieth century.

An introduction, through films and lectures, to dance in U.S. popular culture with an emphasis on its development from roots in African dance to the vernacular forms of tap, ballroom, and jazz by examining the movement styles found in concert jazz, musical theatre, and popular social dances.

Designed to strengthen technical skill at an intermediate level. Explores ballet as an art form and as a means of expression through both the development of a movement style and creative work.

Designed to strengthen technical skill at an intermediate level. Explores ballet as an art form and as a means of expression through both the development of a movement style and creative work.

Explores jazz dance as an art form and as a means of expression through technical and creative work (choreography, improvisation). The study of various jazz and musical theatre dance styles will reflect the history of jazz and popular music.

Designed to provide an opportunity for students to fulfill needs in dance-related areas of movement experience such as improvisation, partnering, effort/shape, performance skills, teaching skills, body therapies, interdisciplinary creative work, intensive work with technique, and community outreach activities.

This course provides students with a means for self-discovery through learning the principles of the Alexander Technique and applying AT principles to performance activities. The process of exploring the inherent design of the human body, and cooperating consciously with that design, creates potential for greater ease, flexibility, power, and expressiveness.

The goal of this course is to provide students with knowledge, tools, and perspective to be somatically resilient in daily life, while pursuing artistic expression, and when facing traumatic experiences. We will use the principles of the Alexander Technique (AT) to somatically understand personal idiosyncrasies. AT practices promote heightened awareness of the way over-gripping interferes with well-being and the value of pausing to slow down the breath and settle the nervous system. With these tools, it is possible to reconnect our whole selves with positive action to heal physically and emotionally. Students will practice applying AT principles to daily life and artistic activities. As skill with these tools develops, we will inquire into the disruptive effects of trauma and how it might be healed. This will include delving into the impacts of developmental trauma and traumatic experiences related to race and gender. Every student’s experience will be present in each class. Students will co-create the class experience as they reflect on concepts explored in class to bring insights and suggestions back to the group each week.

This course introduces elements, methods and structures of dance composition in application to the solo figure. Students will have the opportunity to experiment with movement invention; to cultivate variety, contrast, and originality in their choreographic process; and to expand their personal aesthetic range.

This course builds on the compositional elements presented in DANC 305 and offers students the opportunity to develop increasing sophistication and self-direction in their approach to choreography. The inspiration for the studies will be compositional experiments in 20th and 21st century fine and performing arts.

Designed to challenge the student by introducing complex movement sequences drawn from well-known technical vocabularies. Course may be repeated twice for credit.

Designed to challenge the student by introducing complex movement sequences drawn from well-known technical vocabularies. Course may be repeated twice for credit.

Designed for the proficient dancer to provide a sound physical and intellectual understanding of ballet technique. Each course may be repeated for credit.

Designed for the proficient dancer to provide a sound physical and intellectual understanding of ballet technique. Each course may be repeated for credit.

Designed to provide an opportunity for the experienced dancer to participate in the research and development of creative work and performance. Each course may be repeated three times for credit.

Designed to provide an opportunity for the experienced dancer to participate in the research and development of creative work and performance.

This is both a practical and lecture-based course that provides an introduction to the aesthetics of 20th and 21st century African-American and South African modern dance pioneers who choreographed and used dance as a means for political and social expression.

This course examines the compositional theory and movement practice necessary to transform a personal experience into an artistic communication.

This course is an introduction to storytelling through movement with content inspired by both personal and societal issues. Students will develop skills through a range of physical theatre techniques. As students develop collaborative projects, they will learn to balance individual impulses within an ensemble, use compositional tools, develop physically-inspired characters, shape their environment, and provide feedback to others. Students will research and present one physical theatre approach as well as engage with readings, video viewings, discussions, and written responses.

This course provides an opportunity for students to develop dance, visual art, writing and performance skills and use them as a lens for exploring a variety of social justice themes. It seeks to stimulate the growth and development of inventive concepts in movement, visual art, and poetry through the study of excerpts from seminal works, civil rights history, and the production of original work.

Students explore principles of choreographic invention for small groups and large ensembles. Problems and possibilities for movement invention involving more than one dancer are investigated as an outgrowth of DANC 305 - DANC 306 which concentrates on composition for the solo figure.

Students will apply principles of choreographic invention, rehearsal and performance techniques learned in DANC 401. Emphasis is on the choreography, teaching, rehearsal and studio performance of two original works – one for a small group and one for a large ensemble.

Directed study of the advanced student arranged on an individual basis with credit according to the range of the proposed project. A semester of work could include either a choreographic work or a research project.

Designed for the proficient dancer to provide a sound physical and intellectual understanding of modern dance technique. Concentrates on elements drawn from specific movement theories.

Designed for the proficient dancer to provide a sound physical and intellectual understanding of modern dance technique. Concentrates on elements drawn from specific movement theories.

Exploration of a topic in dance through readings, writing, discussions, and practice (when applicable).