Course Syllabus

DANC 2720 Ballroom Technique III

Course Description

This class is designed for students with a previous experience in Ballroom Dance technique. Students in this course will improve their ballroom dance technique in the following ways: posture and overall aesthetics, including lines, body shapes and contra-body movement position. Footwork is a crucial element also with Standard and Latin foot placements, turnout, toe to heel timing and overall foot strengthening. Muscle tone, isolation, stretching and strengthening are core concepts at this stage of dance. Stage exhibition, competitive, social and career aspects of dance are introduced. Repeatable for credit.

Justification

Students who wish to extent their technique for competitions, exhibition or social ballroom dancing need technique courses in order to hone their talent. They need technique work that will challenge them physically, stretch them artistically and expand their skill set to prepare them for all avenues of ballroom dance. This class is most similar to DANC 3740 Ballroom Dance Choreography and DANC 3750 Studies in Ballroom Dance Styles at UVU.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will be able to display the proper intermediate/advanced ballroom dance technique.
2. Students will demonstrate knowledge of musicality, show increased flexibility, strength, mental and physical dexterity, coordination, endurance, performance skills and communicate a deep understanding of dance as an art form.
3. Increase knowledge of movement and movement's relationship to meaning.
4. Increase physical fitness and safety awareness: strength, flexibility, endurance, and coordination.

Course Content

Class will consist of warm up and practice time, review of the steps or figures previously learned, introduction of new material, practice and application of the new material, and individual practice and cool down time. Technique will be demonstrated and explained, while students emulate and practice.

Anatomy, physiology, vertical and horizontal motion and their influence on the overall aesthetics are discussed. Rhythm and musicality using classic ballroom music will be examined. Through observation and written critique, students will practice responding articulately to the artistry of ballroom performances.