To successfully complete this course, students must:

• Complete all assigned readings and video/lecture viewings
• Participate in online discussion forums
• Complete creative projects and video reflections
• Take scheduled module assessments
• Complete a final research project

Assignments will be given the following percentage for the final class grade:

This is a Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) course. All materials are available online free of charge.

Primary Textbook: Whipp, Mary Francis et al. So You Think You Know Dance? Fundamentals of Dance. LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network, 2022. Available online at no cost.

Supplemental readings, articles, and video links will be provided on Blackboard at no additional cost to students.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

DANC 2303 is a general survey of dance forms designed to create an appreciation of the vocabulary, techniques, and purposes of the creative process. This course includes critical interpretation and evaluations of choreographic works and dance forms within cultural and historical contexts.

Credit Hours: 3 credit hours. In an 16-week semester, students should expect to commit 3 hours/week to this class. This does not include time spent on homework assignments and preparation for tests.

COURSE RATIONALE

DANC 2303 will begin with students learning to identify their own aesthetic values and engage in critical thinking about dance. Students will study the development of Western theatrical dance from the Renaissance and Baroque time periods through the 20th and 21st centuries. The course will then focus on the beginnings of Modern Dance both in the United States and Europe. The course will conclude with an exploration of Contemporary Dance forms, including Musical Theater on the stage and screen.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

• Identify various forms of dance
• Articulate the relationship between dances and the historical and cultural contexts from which they emerged
• Express an informed personal reaction to dance forms
• Critically analyze and write about dance using established methods of dance criticism
• Evaluate the impact of dance on culture

Students completing this creative arts core curriculum course will meet the following objectives:

• Communication Skills: Develop, interpret, and express ideas and information through written, oral, and visual communication that is adapted to purpose, structure, audience, and medium
• Critical Thinking Skills: Gather, analyze, synthesize, evaluate and apply information for the purposes of innovation, inquiry, and creative thinking
• Personal Responsibility: Identify and apply ethical principles and practices to decision-making by connecting choices, actions and consequences
• Social Responsibility: Analyze differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities
• Teamwork: Consider different points of view to work collaboratively and effectively in pursuit of a shared purpose or goal

COURSE MODULES

This course is organized into modules covering the history and development of Western theatrical dance:

Module 0: Introduction to Dance Appreciation

Topics: Information 101: expectations, requirements, syllabus quiz, etc. 

MODULE 1: Introduction to Dance

Topics: What is dance? Elements of dance (Body, Energy, Space, Time), Dance aesthetics and personal aesthetic values, Purposes of dance

Textbook: Chapters 1-2

MODULE 2: Ballet

Topics: History of ballet from its origins through contemporary developments

Textbook: Chapter 3

MODULE 3: Modern Dance

Topics: Development of modern dance, key pioneers and innovators, post-modern and contemporary approaches

Textbook: Chapter 4

MODULE 4: American Theatrical Dance Forms

Topics: Tap dance, Jazz dance, Musical theater dance, Dance on film and television

Textbook: Chapter 5

MODULE 5: Hip Hop and Current Trends

Topics: Origins and evolution of hip hop dance, Hip hop culture, Contemporary and emerging dance forms, Current trends in dance, Dance in popular culture

Textbook: Chapters 7-8

Assignment Types:

Discussion Participation: Each week, respond to discussion prompts. This may include watching vidoes and reflecting/using critique methods, finding vidoes to share, or responding to other prompts. Peer replies are also required. 

Creative Projects: Create projects will require imagination and include activities such as photos, mini-scupture with housefold items, timelines, comparison charts, mood boards, infographics, etc. 

Audio Reflections: Record yourself talking about performances you watch or other course content. Keep it casual - 2-3 minutes using voicethread or other audio recording. 

Module Assessments: Quizzes or assessments to check understanding. May include identifying dance styles from video clips, multiple choice, matching, or short answer questions. You might also be asked to create something visual to represent learning using simple tools like Google Slides, PowerPoint, or Canva. 

Final Research Project: A presentation on your journely through the course that also includes research on a dance form, style, or artist that you will present findings on.