Faculty Syllabus

Instruction in the intermediate techniques and concepts associated with ballet. May be repeated for credit once.

Credit Hours: 2 credit hours. 1 lec hour. 2 lab hours. This is a 16-week course. Students should expect to commit 3-6 hours/week to this course.

This course requires that students complete the following: 

• Consistent attendance and active participation in class meetings
• Intro Journal 
• Presentation 
• Terminology Quiz
• Movement Assessment
• Written Self-Reflection 
• Attendance at one of the two Dance Department events: Dance Film Night or Choreographers’ Showcase 
• Complete Dance Student Module: Module 3

The semester begins with basic conditioning followed by a quick review of material covered in Beginning Ballet. As the semester progresses, we will learn new ballet steps, positions of the body, and longer, more complex combinations.

In order to register for Intermediate Ballet, a student must have demonstrated achievement in DANC 1241’s or BSKX-5041’s Student Learning Outcomes at an intermediate level. Level placement and progression is based on an assessment by a dance faculty committee. Refer to the Ballet Technique Level Placement Rubric in the Dance Student Handbook. Any questions about level placement should be directed to the instructor. 

Instructional Methodology 

This course will meet face to face and students are expected to meet in person on campus for each class period. This is a participation class. This means that all students are expected to attend all classes, arrive on time and participate in the entire dance class. The instructor uses verbal instructions and physical demonstrations followed by corrections, clarification, and detailed analysis to teach ballet technique. Students will master the steps through observing, listening, and practicing the movements.

Technology 

Although this course meets face to face, you will need access to a tablet or laptop with an internet connection to receive email announcements and track your grade throughout the semester.

This is a ZTC (Zero Textbook Cost) section. In place of required textbooks, all textbook materials needed for the class will be available online to students free of charge. Students may print copies of the resources but will be responsible for printing costs.

Resources will include articles, excerpts and chapters, which will be provided within each module on Blackboard. A curated selection of dance films and videos will also be provided within each module on Blackboard. Students will be expected to access links to YouTube, Vimeo, and other public sources.

Course Level Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

• Continue to recognize and exhibit dance class etiquette such as spatial awareness, active listening, personal responsibility, commitment to the practice, and respect for the larger community of dance
• Demonstrate understanding of intermediate ballet terminology and the associated movements
• Apply strategies linking biomechanics to ballet practices such as adagio, pirouettes, petite allegro, and grand allegro
• Effectively apply artistic choices such as musicality, focus, and use of energy to performed movement
• Analyze personal progress within the legacy of ballet

Program Level Student Learning Outcomes:

PSLO1: Students will demonstrate in studio classes and performances a sound foundation of technical skills in ballet, modern, and jazz technique. Upon completion of this course, students will demonstrate intermediate level skills in:

• Placement and Alignment
• Rhythmic clarity
• Spatial awareness
• Individual expression
• Professionalism

Grading Breakdown

Grading Scale

Attendance Policy

Attendance and Participation will weigh the most on a student’s overall class grade and will be determined by the following, totaling 2.5 points per class meeting: 

1. Attendance (up to 1 point)  
   1. Arrive on time 
   2. Stay until the end
2. Participation (up to 1.5 points)
   1. Dance fully - Push the edge of your personal physicality while listening to and voicing your bodily needs so as to not cause injury 
   2. Demonstrate individual comprehension and improvement of movement  
   3. Engage in the learning process through listening, following instructions, and asking questions 
   4. Bring a supportive attitude to class 
   5. Work with others respectfully 

All students will receive an exempt grade for their first missed class. After that, each missed class will receive a 0 as daily attendance. 

Late Work Policy - Assignments in Blackboard 

Assignments are due at the posted deadline. Work submitted after the deadline will receive reduced credit: 1 point (1%) per day late. 

If a personal, medical, or family issue arises, please communicate with me as possible and we can work together to set a reasonable deadline extension.

Dress Code

Students are expected to wear form-fitting, exercise-style clothing that enables a full range of movement. This also allows the instructor to observe proper alignment and execution of movement. Students must also wear ballet shoes or socks. Hair must be back and out of the face. Please remove any dangling jewelry.

ACC Dance faculty have designed dancer health and safety, facilities, and “useful info” modules, which are mandatory for dance students. Each module is tied to a course. Module completion is counted toward the final course grade. 

Modules are tied to courses as follows:

• Module 1 Musculoskeletal Awareness is required in all Modern sections (DANC-1245/2245)
• Module 2 Injury Prevention & Management is required in Improvisation (DANC-1201)
• Module 3 Nutrition for Dancers is required in all Ballet sections (DANC-1241/2241)
• Module 4 ACC Facilities/Equip/Tech/Licensure is required in Choreography (DANC-1301)
• Module 5 Technique Level Placement is required in all Jazz sections (DANC-1247/2247)

Please note that after completing a module with a grade of 70% or better, students are not required to repeat a module, even if they repeat a course. Also, students are able to work ahead and complete the modules before registering for the corresponding class.

To access the Dance Student Modules, please follow the steps below:

• Enroll by opening Google Classroom (classroom.google.com). Make sure you are logged into your ACC student account. Join the class using Class Code: 5x6sgbt.
• Once you’re in the class, navigate to the “Classwork” tab, and choose the Module assigned to you by your instructor. The modules do not need to be completed in numeric order.
• Read the directions and progress through the module materials and then complete the quiz and / or assessment. You can print materials or have them open in another window for reference while completing quizzes. 
• Upon completion, please submit the Student Feedback Form found below. This will allow us to continue to improve the Modules and better support students!

IMPORTANT: The information provided in this course is intended to give you knowledge about how to keep yourself healthy and productive during your studies with the ACC Dance Department. Should you receive guidance from a medical care provider that conflicts with any information provided here, you should follow the advice of your medical care provider.

• Intro Journal due in Blackboard – Sunday, August 30
• Dance Student Module Day - Monday, September 14
• Presentations – Wednesday, September 30
• Terminology Quiz and Assessment – Wednesday, November 4 
• Dance Film Night - Thursday, November 12 (6:00)
• Choreographers’ Showcase - December 4 & 5 (7:30)
• Open House - Monday, December 7 (5:45 pm warm-up, 7 pm show)
• Written Self-Reflection due in Blackboard – Monday, December 7 

All assignments submitted in Blackboard are due at 11:59 pm

Austin Community College values academic integrity in the educational process. Acts of academic dishonesty/misconduct undermine the learning process, present a disadvantage to students who earn credit honestly, and subvert the academic mission of the institution. The potential consequences of fraudulent credentials raise additional concerns for individuals and communities beyond campus who rely on institutions of higher learning to certify students' academic achievements and expect to benefit from the claimed knowledge and skills of their graduates. -ACC's Academic Integrity Process

ACC Generative AI Policy - Dance Department

• 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. Using generative AI tools to substantially complete any assignment is not permitted. Using instructive generative AI to assist, edit, review, etc. any written assignments is on a case-by-case basis and under SAS guidelines.

• Rationale: The prohibition is in place to encourage original thought, manual problem-solving skills, and to maintain equity in educational opportunities and assessments. In this section of "World Dance,"  the student's personal perspectives, opinions, and insights are explored and centered in written assignments. All writing must reflect these elements through the student's unique use of subjective writing in active voice with personal insight clearly provided, unless the assignment states otherwise.

• 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 that require some form of text or visual input in order to generate an output. Alongside generative AI are instructive GAI systems and programs. These systems and applications include Grammarly, Quillbot, Packback, Microsoft WORD Editor. Some programs have less obvious GAI elements that may rely on automated tools that correct and rearrange all human-written sentences, thus removing the need for students to think critically, individually review and edit their own spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. alongside the traditional proofreading markers and suggestions. Further, these tools tend to edit and suggest text generations that are primarily objective and in passive voice, effectively eliminating the personal out of the content that a student is attempting to edit/proofread. However, these tools can also serve as examples of instructive AI that support student learning. This is where faculty discretion and SAS guidelines will come into play. GAI in the academic world is an ever-changing field with complexity for all involved; for more resources on the matter, see:

  • ACC's TLED GUIDE TO GENERATIVE AI

  • NYU's Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs)

  • TXST's Library Guide to Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Please see the link here