Course Syllabus

Snow College

Introduction to Dance

DANC 1010.002

Fall 2014

              

Instructor(s): PattiJo Hopes

Office Hours: By Appointment Only

Email: pattijo.hopes@snow.edu (Give me 24 hours to respond)

Class Times: M/W/F 11:30-12:20, some Friday's in the Dance Room TBD         

 

Course Description 

Introduces students to the discipline of dance as an academic as well as an artistic field of study. Examines various dimensions of the discipline such as performance, teaching, choreography, dance science/medicine, movement analysis and fundamentals, dance criticism, philosophy, aesthetics, interdisciplinary collaboration, and current issues. Includes, lectures, readings, discussions, writings, research, movement, participation, and engagement. Also prepares students entering the dance major for the in-depth and multifaceted study the discipline requires. Instruction will include: lecture, discussion, demonstration, video/ DVD, readings and other activities. We will be doing minimal movement activity in class.

 

Course Objectives

To successful complete this course the student will:

• Feel comfortable attending dance performances.
• Be able to converse knowledgeably about the art of dance.
• Give a coherent, inclusive definition of dance.
• Trace the origins of dance from the Functional Period to the Post Modern Period.
• Delineate the cultural significance of dance as: ritual, religious, social or artistic expression.
• Discuss the necessary participants in dance.
• Identify and trace the development of dance styles.

 

Textbook

• Ambrosio, Nora. Learning about Dance: An Introduction to Dance as an Art Form and Entertainment. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Pub., 1999. Print.
• Purchase at Snow College Ephraim Bookstore ISBN:978-0-7575-7709-3
• Purchase online: http://www.kendallhunt.com/ambrosio/

Print Book: ISBN: 978-0-7575-7709-3 $59.80

eBook: ISBN: 978-1-4652-0441-7 $47.84

 

Course Requirements & Assignments

Attendance & Participation Policy Active participation and promptness is necessary. Due to the nature of this course, attendance is mandatory. The experiences and discussions in class are impossible to reproduce. This is a college course, and as such it is your responsibility to come to class prepared with assigned material read, and ready for engaged discussion, assignments prepared, and other requirements ready that is necessary to student success. Three absences are allowed after which your grade will be lowered. As a member of the class you will be required to work collaboratively, which means your participation includes responsibility to others as well. Absences (excluding serious illness, personal or family emergencies, etc.) will negatively impact your final grade. Each student is expected to keep an accurate record of his or her own attendance. Please note: three tardies or early departures will be considered one absence. Lack of class participation will also negatively impact your grade.

If you are having any school related problems, talk to your instructor. There are options other than giving up and dropping out! Regular class attendance is expected of every student. A failing grade of "UW" (Unofficial Withdrawal) may be submitted by the instructor if a student ceases to attend or complete assigned coursework. To avoid the punitive impact of a "UW," it is the student's responsibility to officially withdraw from a course by submitting a "Change of Program" form no later than the tenth week of the semester. See the current catalog for more details.

 

Professional Concert Attendance & Written Critique Assignment: Attend two distinctively University and/or Professional level dance concerts during the semester. Take notes on the concert and turn in your concert ticket or program (prefer a picture of the ticket or program submitted in Canvas as well).

• Write a 3 page typed critique of the concerts you have attended. Follow the critique guidelines in Canvas. As the critic, you should determine the point of view you will take with your critique, state it clearly along with other factual information in your introduction, then write a quality paper using the guidelines found on Canvas.
• Your first paper will require to be proofed by a peer and the Snow College Writing Lab and rewritten before being submitted. Papers will not be accepted that are not turned in on Canvas with a proofed copy and a final copy.

**Papers are due one week after viewing, they will not be accepted after that**

 

Reading & Written Assignments This includes reading summaries/responses, group work, writing/processing assignments, random quizzes, and video viewing notes. While reading assigned articles and text chapters, identify and write the key concepts that will give you a structure around which to build understanding as we work with ideas in class. Write or ask questions about what you read as a means of creating a dialogue with the material. Assignments may include, but are not limited to:

Weekly Reading Assignments: An important part of education is reading. Please keep a reading journal with your thoughts of readings, class discussions, insights, questions, photos, doodles, etc. Random quizzes will be given throughout the semester covering the reading materials in class.

Dance in the World Around Us Journal: Keep a list of all the ways you see dance in the community around you. Do you see it on TV? Do you see it in the newspaper? Do you see it in nature around you? Do you see dance at clubs or concerts? Do you see it at athletic events? Do you see it in parks or at schools? In what other venues can you find dance?

 

• Make a list of what you have seen by date. Be creative. Use the same type of dance genre only once (for example: use your Western Swing class just once, use an example from “Newsies” just once, use your room mates dancing just once, use YouTube just once.) Explain why it is dance to you. You need to make three entries per week between today August 29 and October 14.
• Answer the following questions at the bottom of your journal: 
• Did you see anything new? 
• What was the most memorable use of dance you saw?
• The assignment is due Friday, October 14. TYPE UP YOUR ENTRIES AND SUBMIT them here on Canvas. I will not accept late papers.
• Three entries per week @ 2 pts per entry + 2pts per questions answered at the end of all your entries = 46 pts possible.
• Example:
• September 26: I saw Swing dance on a Gap commercial while watching Gilligan’s Island. It is a form of social dance. 
• September 28: There was a Tai Chi class going on in Desert Breeze Park when I was out walking. It looked like a dance underwater.

There are Five Video Viewing Assignments: The video viewing assignments have three purposes.

1. To give you the opportunity to become familiar with the videos available in the Snow College Library and online.
2. To have you become familiar with documenting video references in MLA format.
3. To expand your knowledge and descriptive language of the various genres of dance.  

• You will need to view a 10-minute segment of a professional video. I will allow 3 video's found at other libraries and 2 online sources (Hulu, Vimeo, Netflix, YouTube, etc.)   
• For each viewing you will turn in the viewing form found on Canvas. Include all the documentation it requires, video references in MLA Format. Do not submit a text entry. In the body of the form you should describe what you view.  Organize this in terms of areas we defined to analyze dance; the elements (body, action, space, time, energy); the style; the choreographic form; and the quality.  This assignment should be no longer than a 1-2 page paper.

Final Project Presentation 

Individually you will research, outline, and prepare a presentation to present to the class. Each student will be choose/assigned to research a dance choreographer/artist/company. Each student will have 6 minutes to present. One week prior to the presentation, each student will submit a first draft outline (typed, double-spaced) of key points to be covered in their presentation for teacher feedback. This outline should include several substantial sources in MLA format for sources used.

 

Midterm and Final Examination

There will be a written midterm exam and a final exam will be given to test your knowledge and ability to use the information we are reading, discussing, and experiencing in class. Midterm and final exam may or may not be open note/book so take very good notes.

 

Grade Breakdown

Participation and Attendance	10 points per day
Two Concert Critique’s	55 points each
Quizzes, Journal, Activities, & Assignments	5-50 points each
Midterm & Final Examinations	100 points each

 

FINAL DECEMBER 16 @ 7:00 am-9:00 am

 

Assignment Guidelines

Please use the following guidelines when completing each class assignment. Additional information will be given in class, but it is your responsibility to read and understand these general requirements.

1. Assignments should be clearly written following MLA guidelines. More information can be found on https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
2. You will be evaluating your own work and be providing peer evaluations.
3. Assignments must include your name, date of completion, and assignment title, and instructor’s name using MLA format. If asked for assignment in paper form, please staple (do not dog ear or paper clip) additional pages.
4. ALL of assignments should be submitted via Canvas unless specified otherwise.
5. You are responsible to hand in all assignments when due, even if they are not called for. Keep a copy of all work done.
6. Plagiarism is not allowed in this class. It also means that you may not copy each other’s work. You may work on projects together, discuss concerts you attend together, discuss class work BUT all written work must be done by only you. If you copy or plagiarize assignments you will receive 0% credit as will the person allowing the copying.
7. LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. 

The instructor reserves the right to modify the syllabus and calendar as the class needs. Notifications of any changes will be made in class. It is your responsibility to be in class and note these changes if need be.        

 

Ways To Do Well In This Course

• Attend class with a desire to learn. Be prompt, listen, think, take notes, participate, study, be responsible for your learning.
• Seek out your instructor when you need assistance, guidance, or clarifications about the course materials or assignments.
• Take advantage of outside resources: Online resources, Writing Lab, Library, etc.
• Learn the name(s) of a fellow student(s) on whose notes you can rely on case you must miss a class. Conduct yourself in a respectful manner during class.

 

Top Ten Ways To Do Poorly In This Course

 

Miss class/arrive late/leave early

Wait until the last minute to study

TEXTING (Points docked for texting)

Do homework for other classes

Take a nap, read or talk during videos

Bring food or dogs to class

Don’t take notes

Don’t participate in discussions or activities

Plagiarize

Cheating

 

School Policies 

Plagiarism is defined as presenting the work of another as one's own. Your papers will be randomly sent to <turnitin.com> where it will be checked against the above definition.  

ALL academic work you submit in this course must be your work and must not have been submitted for academic credit in any other course unless you have written permission from me and from the professor for whom you did the previous work. As a citizen in an academic community, you are expected to submit assignments that are your original work and that are properly cited.  A student is committing plagiarism when he or she borrows information without proper attribution or uses information, language, or work completed by others and submits it as one's own work. Any form of plagiarism will negatively affect your grade. If you have any questions regarding whether the work you plan on submitting is acceptable for course credit, please contact me.  I am happy to discuss any questions you have on this matter. More than four consecutive words from a source other than the writer constitutes plagiarism when the source is not clearly identified in appropriate documentation format.

In this class, it also means that you may not copy each other’s work. You may work on projects together, discuss concerts you attend together, discuss class work BUT all written work must be done by only you. If you copy assignments you will receive 50% credit as will the person allowing the copying.

MLA Formating and Plagiarism Cite 

 

 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring accommodations, academic adjustments, or auxiliary aids should contact the Accessibility Resource Center, Room 241 Greenwood Student Center, phone number 435 283 7321.  The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator in the Student Success Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of appropriate services and aids.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) It is a federal violation for a faculty member to discuss your academic record with anyone except an appropriate College official.   If your parents or any other person wishes to discuss your academic performance, you must provide me with written permission.