A variety of workshops on special topics within the discipline. Goals and objectives will emphasize the acquisition of general knowledge and skills in the discipline.
Students learn to recognize links between early dance forms and those which are a part of the current cultural scene. Emphasis is placed on connections between dance forms and the accompanying culture, place and events found within a specific time frame along with developments in the other arts. Students will be expected to analyze historical dance forms.
Class involves the study of the technique and performance qualities of Modern and Jazz Dance. The focus is on an in-depth discovery of the methods of pedagogy for dance technique classes.
Class involves learning how to use creative movement and dance to teach non-dance concepts and ideas, including using movement and dance to teach multicultural content. Techniques for dance education advocacy will also be presented.
Students learn about presenting creative movement/dance lessons for elementary age children and improvisation/choreography classes for older students. Techniques for appreciating choreography are also presented along with active participation in creative movement, improvisation, and dance making based on basic choreographic principles and forms.
Class includes learning to give differentiated feedback to students in movement skills classes; designing various types of dance-based lessons and curricula (modern, jazz, creative dance, choreography & improvisation); and structuring dance assessment instruments and rubrics.
Students learn how to frame a research question and effective research strategies for use in dance education contexts. In addition, students produce a protocol, requiring detailed preparatory research, testing of ideas, and presentation of theories and concepts in practice. Students work under faculty supervision and prepare a documented written report.
Course builds on the initial research class by helping students refine a thesis topic and determine appropriate research methods. The course also includes work to define the purpose of the thesis, its significance, and possible sources for the review of literature. In addition, students describe a potential population of students for their project, along with the steps to be taken to complete their project. Possible thesis projects are: a research-based dance performance, research-based dance curriculum, or qualitative study exploring a dance education question.
Students learn movements from a number of popular dance forms—salsa, ballroom, hip hop, krump, steppin', Bollywood, & country western line dancing & basic movements from yoga. Work on teaching progressions, pedagogical tips & lesson planning are also included.
Class is an investigation of dance improvisation and choreography as it relates to dance pedagogy and philosophy. More advanced techniques for appreciating choreography are presented along with active participation in improvisation and dance making based on intermediate choreographic principles and forms. Learning to design choreographic experiences for students of different ages and ability levels is also part of this class.
Course covers dance production techniques to give students an overview and practical experience in all aspects of producing a dance concert or dance performance for primary level through college age students.
Course involves step-by-step process of writing and defending candidate's thesis project. S/U graded.