Faculty Syllabus

This course is an examination of the principles of movement generation, phrasing, choreographic structure, and manipulation. Integration of choreographic principles will foster the growth of personal artistic style.

Credit Hours: 2 credit hours. 1 lecture hour. 4 lab hours. This is a 16-week course. Students should expect to commit 5-10 hours/week to this course. During tech week, all technical rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and performances are mandatory and are in addition to the 5-10 hours/week. 

NO PERSONAL CELL PHONE USE IN THE STUDIO OR DURING BREAK

DANC 1301 is a continuation of DANC 1201 and examines in more detail the principles and theories of dance composition. The class acts as a laboratory for the exploration of the creative process and is based on the concept of community building and taking risks in a safe environment. Student participation in all exercises and discussions is mandatory.

• Students must complete Dance Student Modules 1-4 before unsupervised studio time. 

• Consistent attendance and participation in classroom activities, assignments and discussions.

• Bring a journal (notebook with pockets) to every class and make regular entries regarding course material, personal observations, and thoughts on the creative process.

• Sincere, sustained and dedicated participation and self-motivation in all assignments and activities, and respect for fellow students.  

• Openness to feedback, risk taking and personal growth.

• Completion of all choreographic assignments and effective use of time during workdays.

• Completion of reading assignments.

• Participation in group discussions and use of Critical Response method is mandatory.

• Creation, rehearsal and performance of a final project to be performed at the end of the semester  

• Participation in the Fall Choreographer’s Showcase either as a dancer, choreographer or both.  Other performing opportunities may be available.     

The showcase will be December 4th & 5th and technical rehearsals will begin the November 30th and continue through December 3rd .STUDENTS MUST ATTEND ALL REHEARSALS, INCLUDING DRESS REHEARSAL, DURING TECH WEEK. As the instructor and director of the Fall Choreographers' Showcase, I have the final say in everything pertaining to how the show is run, all props and costumes, and how the participants behave and participate. THERE IS NO NEGOTIATION. 

• Convey an in-depth understanding of your unique choreographic process through a  “personal process” discussion with the class.

• Near the end of the semester, you will be asked to write a personal vision statement. This paper is intended for you to clarify and articulate your artistic purpose, intentions and values.  Your vision statement should be one page, type-written, double-spaced and must be submitted no later than the last day of this class.

• Wear clothing that is both comfortable to move in and allows the body to be seen clearly. No bare midriffs. Extra layers such as sweatpants and sweatshirts are recommended for warmth, as needed.

• Hair must be secured away from the face. Do not wear jewelry or chew gum in class. Only bring water in closed containers into the dance studio. Other types of beverages are not permitted nor is food.

 Remove shoes before entering the studio. Cell phones are not permitted in the dance studio, no talking or texting during class or break time.

DANC-1201 Dance Composition - Improvisation is the prerequisite for DANC-1301 Dance Composition- Choreography.

The Art of Listening: Intuition and Improvisation in Choreography, by Darla Johnson, will be used as a study guide for the course. Students will also receive handouts that along with the textbook will serve as a source for group discussions. Students are encouraged to read additional books on dance or articles in magazines and newspapers. Good sources include The Village Voice, The New York Times, Contact Quarterly, and Dance Magazine. Students are also encouraged to attend as many professional dance performances as possible during the semester.

The primary methods of learning for DANC 1301 will be improvisation, individual and group assignments, assigned readings, and the final class project. 

UNITS OF STUDY

1. Introduction

2. Reviewing Choreographic Elements

3. Clarifying Personal Vision and Style

4. Providing Feedback through Critical Response (handout)

5. ACC Facilities/Equip/Tech/Licensure (module 4)

6. Choreographing Final Projects

            Choosing a subject/theme

            Casting, which is done by the instructor

            Choreography

            Selecting music, costumes, props

            Rehearsals

            Deciding on a title

            Submitting program notes

7. Presenting a Public Performance

            Technical considerations

            Rehearsal in performance space

            Performance for an audience

8. Defining Personal Vision

            Writing a Vision Statement

  9. Evaluation and Reflection

            “Personal Process” discussion

FINAL PROJECT INFORMATION

Each student will complete a final project as assigned by the instructor. Myself, and possibly Dance Dept. Faculty will determine which works will be included in the Choreographers’ Showcase.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will: 1. Demonstrate choreographic principles such as motif, theme and variation, use of space, time, and energy, positive/negative space through creation of solo/group movement studies. 2. Edit, refine, embellish, and amplify movement content. 3. Analyze compositions through verbal and written self and peer assessments. 4. Distinguish the responsibilities of choreographer and dancer in the symbiotic relationship.

PROGRAM LEVEL STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOME

Students will generate movement and demonstrate an understanding of choreographic principles and composition, including choreographic intent, movement language, compositional structure, rehearsal process, and professionalism.

Evaluations in DANC 1301 will be based on individual growth, progress, participation in class, and ability to complete the assigned projects. The course grade will reflect the individual commitment and focus to the work each student applies and will be determined as follows:

Progress and Improved Skill/Daily Participation                                     20 Points

Studies/assignments and participation in Critical Response sessions  20 Points

Final Project                                                                                          40 Points

Personal Vision Statement/Post-performance Discussion                    20 Points

                                                                                                            100 Points (total)

SCALE

A    90-100 Points

B    80-89 Points

C    70-79   Points

D    60-69   Points

F    below 60 Point

ATTENDANCE

Students are expected to attend all class meetings. DANC 1301 is a participatory class and the success of the class depends upon all students committing to and being involved in the choreographic process. Particularly because this course involves a final performance, students must make every effort to attend each class, arrive on time, and stay for the entire class.

Students who accumulate three unexcused absences may be withdrawn from the course by the instructor. Three points will be deducted from your final grade for each unexcused absence. Three late arrivals will count as one unexcused absence. 

If you must miss a class, please let me know in advance. My phone number is 512-294-7712 and you can leave a message. Also, be thoughtful of each other when you begin the rehearsal process for the final projects. You will have limited class time to work on these pieces and you will need to schedule rehearsals outside of class. It is important that you are respectful of each other—arrive on time and communicate clearly about schedules and rehearsal times. Be prepared as a choreographer for these rehearsals and be open and present as a dancer.

A. Dance Department Policies

1. Participation 

Dance class is participatory. The dance studio is the laboratory for learning. If you are unable to fully participate in every class meeting, please obtain an official note from the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) office so we can work to best accommodate your needs, or consider dropping the class. 

2. Attendance

Students are required to consistently attend all dance studio courses as this is crucial to progressing and advancing safely. Therefore, Attendance and Participation make up a significant portion of dance studio course grades. Refer to the course syllabus for specific details.

a. Tardiness 

Be on time and plan to stay for the entire class session. Students are required to be present for warm-ups, movement practices, evaluations, discussions, and all other class activities.

b. Absence

Students are expected to attend all class meetings. The final course grade will be reduced with each unexcused absence.

Students with excessive absences should consider withdrawing from the course by the Withdrawal date. Excessive absences will impact the final grade and may make it difficult for a student to pass the course.

c. Observations

Students are expected to attend and participate in all class meetings. A portion of the student’s daily grade will be deducted for the in-class observation. If a student is physically unable to participate in the course, this class observation assignment can be submitted for partial credit. 

3.   Expectations for Continuing Education Students  

Credit and Continuing Education (CE) students are treated equally in dance courses. There is no difference in instruction and expectations for all enrolled students. Full participation is expected from all students, including participation in studio work, performances, oral, and written assignments.

4.   Professional Communication 

When communicating with a professor, the content of your communication should only include relevant information or questions about the course. More thorough discussions about the course or personal matters affecting your ability to complete the course, require an office-hour meeting.

5.  Physical Touch Disclaimer

Learning and growth thrive in an environment where we feel supported. Support in this course is a joint responsibility of us all. Please show respect and care for yourself, community, and environment. There are moments in the course where we will utilize light touch for alignment and technical purposes. As a class, we will practice asking consent prior to utilizing any form of touch. Share your boundaries and whenever needed, stop any activity about which you have concerns. You have the right to refuse the use of touch.

In addition, please communicate any injury, discomfort, disability or area of caution at any time throughout the course so we can adapt experiential learning experiences to support your wellness rather than undermine it.

6.   Dance Class Attire

Students are required to wear clothing that safely facilitates all varieties of movement. This includes form-fitting athletic wear, leotards, tights, yoga wear, t-shirts, supportive undergarments (bras, dance belts, etc.), and appropriate footwear at the discretion of the instructor. 

Refer to the course syllabus for attire expectations. Certain pieces of attire, such as jeans, belts, street shoes and jewelry, are damaging to the marley dance floor and can present a hazard to dancers. You will not be allowed to participate in class if you are not dressed according to your instructor’s guidelines. 

7. Dancer Health and Safety

Students in dance studio courses will be responsible for their own maintenance of physical fitness and conditioning. When participating in any physical exercise, movement, or dance activity, there is the possibility of physical injury. You perform physical movement exercises at your own risk. Dance students will learn about musculoskeletal health and injury prevention as part of their ACC Dance studies. To reduce and avoid injury, students are encouraged to be aware of their personal physical limitations and work safely within those, finding modifications when necessary.

ACC provides insurance for student injuries resulting from ACC course-related incidents on- or off campus. In the event of an incident resulting in injury:

• If it is an emergency, call 9-1-1. 
• If it is not an emergency, call campus police (512-223-1231) and seek medical help. The instructor will be required to submit an Incident Reporting Form and a Student Accident Insurance Form.

8. Professional Conduct

Students are expected to approach each class with a growth mindset, exploring dance technique and dance artistry. The course grade will reflect individual commitment and focus, ability, attitude, and progress. Unprofessional conduct that undermines the integrity of the course material, other class participants, or the instructor, will not be tolerated. If there is a conduct issue with a fellow student, speak with the professor immediately. 

Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will be dismissed from the day’s activity, may be withdrawn from the class, and/or barred from attending future activities. This includes verbal comments that are considered intimidating, threatening or sexually inappropriate. College policies concerning conduct are found at Code of Conduct - Human Services.

Below are the dance studio policies. It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with and practice these policies. 

B. Dance Studio Policies

All personal belongings, such as cell phones (silenced), backpacks, purses, jackets, dance bags, and shoes, should be stowed in the cubbies provided. 

Texting and talking on the phone is prohibited in the entire studio area. Phone use before or after class only. Phone use outside in the hallways only. Fit-Bit or Apple watches must be put to silence and notifications turned off.

Notebooks and water bottles are allowed in the studio and should be placed in the cubbies provided. 

Food, drink (other than water) and chewing gum are not allowed in the dance studio.

Please refrain from using body products before and during class that can make the dance floor sticky/slippery.

Check for personal belongings when leaving the studio.

Please exit the dance studio immediately following class.

Only students currently enrolled in DANC-1301 Dance Composition - Choreography are allowed in the studio outside of class time, during scheduled rehearsal times.

C. Studio Reservation Policy

The ACC Dance Department has established a policy allowing DANC-1301 Dance Composition - Choreography students restricted use of the dance studios outside of class time, without direct faculty supervision, for the sole purpose of completing their final projects. Final projects in dance composition require many hours of rehearsal. Student rehearsals are the students' homework, and this homework can only be completed in a dance studio. Final projects are performed for a public audience during our Fall and Spring Choreographers' Showcases.

During student rehearsals, only students enrolled in DANC-1301 are allowed access to the studios. To be clear, no persons who are not enrolled in DANC-1301 in the current semester are allowed to enter the studios, even as companions to students who are enrolled.

To enforce the restriction, the faculty member who teaches DANC-1301 generates a list of approved students, which he/she provides to the department chair. The chair makes the list available to the administrative assistant, campus management, and campus police. 

This list includes:

• Name and contact information for the DANC-1301 professor, who is ultimately responsible for student studio use
• Names, ID numbers and contact info for students currently enrolled in DANC-1301

D. Studio Reservation Procedures

Prior to being added to the list of approved students, DANC-1301 students must satisfactorily complete all of the Dance Student Modules with a grade of 70% or better.

Students will then work with their DANC-1301 professor to check availability and reserve the studio. 

To gain access to the studio, students will ask the departmental administrative assistant or their instructor to swipe them in first. If neither one is available, for example on weekends and outside of office hours, then Campus Management (at the Info Desk in Building 2000) can check the list and open the studio for the student. 

Students will be “single swiped” into the dance studio. This means the door will remain locked. Therefore, the door cannot be propped open. This goes for the exterior door leading to the paseo as well.

If a student needs to leave the room or building for any reason, then they will need to repeat the procedure for entering the space. 

NOTE: If a locked interior or exterior door is propped open, alerts will be sent to District Police, the Dance Department Chair, and the Dance Department Administrative Assistant. Alerts due to door propping may result in suspension of the studio reservation privilege.

E. Dance Class Etiquette and Good Dance Habits

Dance Class Etiquette

• Plan to stay in the dance space for the duration of class and use breaktime to use the restroom and refill water.
• Dress appropriately and come to class showered, clean, prepared, and ready to work.
• Do not wear dance shoes outside the studio and do not wear street shoes in the studio. 
• Dangling and sharp-edged jewelry is a safety hazard. Please remove jewelry prior to class.
• In order to leave as much space as possible for dancing, please place personal belongings in the cubbies.
• Be on time. If you do come in late, enter very quietly and go to the back, with your instructor’s permission.
• Stay until class ends. If you must leave early, clear it with your instructor before class. If you need to leave in an emergency, exit as quickly and discreetly as possible.
• Completely silence and stow away your cell phone. Even vibration mode is distracting.
• Watch closely and listen first, and then ask relevant and specific questions.
• Listen while the instructor is talking between exercises. Do not talk to your neighbor. Everything is relevant to your learning.
• Respect the personal space of others.
• Respect the dance space. Pick up trash, your clothes, and don’t turn things on, off, up, or down in the space without permission.
• Making mistakes is part of the learning process. Use kind language towards yourself and others in class.
• Stay engaged. Be aware of how your body language is reading. Stay standing unless you are cued to sit down.

Good Dance Habits

• If you are late, apologize AFTER class. Do not distract the class.  Just wait for the okay from your teacher to enter the dance floor. Once permission is granted, find an easily accessible or inconspicuous place to warm up or participate.
• If you are sitting out, remain engaged. Take notes. Hand in the notes at the end of class.
• Develop spatial awareness by respecting each other’s space.
• Give the instructor space to move.
• Strive to be in the front of the class and push yourself to know the combination.
• At times, instructors will invite peer to peer feedback. Be aware of the appropriate times for offering feedback.
• If you are lost or confused, always continue your movement and pick back up where you can. Abrupt stops or dropping out can distract the flow of concentration for others around you.
• Part like the Red Sea when exiting. Clear the space. Don’t cross the center or the paths of other dancers.
• It’s good to mark combinations while waiting for your turn if you are out of the way.
• If you have further questions about the class material after the instructor has moved on, discuss during a break or after class. 
• At the end of class, applaud or thank the instructor and musician (as part of the group).
• If you are bored, get more engaged, review combinations, ask questions, go deeper, watch others.

Good Things to Know

• Bring a towel to wipe your sweat and germs off the floor, mats or barre. Please wipe and clean your mat with provided wipes after each use. 
• If you feel overly challenged or frustrated during class, stay physically and mentally engaged and spatially aware of other dancers. Ask for additional help after class if needed.
• Applaud for demonstrators.
• The studio is a spatially fluid classroom. Have spatial awareness of where you are in the group and be open and available to switch places when required.
• At the end of class, it’s especially courteous to say thanks to the instructor and musician (one to one).
• Restrain movement in a crowded class until broken into groups. If you bump into someone, quietly apologize and keep going.
• If you have a thought, opinion, or suggestion for the choreographer, wait for an appropriate time to ask if you can share it.
• If you want help with something that will take more than a minute or two, do some research on your own and/or ask for help after class.
• Do not record, photograph or post anything (social media) without permission from the teacher and the students.
• The department chair is here to support dance students and faculty. If you have a concern, please reach out to the department chair.

ACC Generative AI Policy - Dance Department

1. Introduction: In this course, the use of generative AI (GAI) technologies is strictly prohibited to preserve academic integrity and ensure the development of student competencies.
2. Rationale: The prohibition is in place to encourage original thought, manual problem-solving skills, and to maintain equity in educational opportunities and assessments.
3. Definition of GAI: Generative AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that can generate text, images, or other content based on minimal input. This includes chatbots, image generation tools, and code assistants.
4. Usage Permissions: Prohibited: Students are not allowed to use GAI for completing assignments, projects, tests, or any form of assessment in this course.
5. Penalties: Any violation of this policy will result in academic penalties, which may include a failing grade for the activity, reporting to academic affairs, and further disciplinary action.
6. Exceptions: Exceptions to this policy will only be made under specific circumstances approved by the instructor, typically where technology is used to accommodate learning differences.