Course Syllabus
Course: DANC 2340
Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
Department: Dance
Title: Choreography
Semester Approved: Fall 2022
Five-Year Review Semester: Spring 2028
End Semester: Summer 2028
Catalog Description: This course introduces students to principles and practices of creating dance choreography as a form of human expression. Students will generate new choreographic material using improvisation; manipulation of movement; creation and performance of short movement studies; study of other choreographic voices, as well as observation, critical analysis, and self-reflection culminating in a self-produced showing of student works.
Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 2; Lab: 3
Prerequisites: DANC 1330 (Dance Improvisation) or Instructor Permission
Corequisites: None
Justification: Anyone can make up a dance but to be skilled at creating new, innovative movement and composing it into a cohesive whole requires rigorous study of choreography as a research-based practice. Improvisation and the exploration of new material gives students a new palate of movement choices freeing them from old habits and allowing them to find their own choreographic voice and to become true collaborators of the creative process.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course students will be able to create dance compositions that transcend a mere repetition of classroom phrases while reflecting their own individual voice as choreographers. They will know how to use works of other artists, dancers, painters, sculptors, architects, poets, writers and musicians to find inspiration. This outcome will be assessed through instructor oral and written feedback, peer review and self-assessment.
Upon completion of the course students will be able to analyze the elements of time, space and energy and be able to explain their influence in dance composition. This outcome will be assessed through instructor oral and written feedback, peer review and self-assessment.
Upon completion of the course students will be able to create their own dance performance open to public viewing. This outcome will be assessed through instructor oral and written feedback, peer review and self-assessment.
Upon completion of the course students will be able to critically evaluate works of other choreographers through attendance and review of Snow College Dance Concert, This outcome will assessed through instructor review.
Content:
This course consists of movement improvisations, choreographic assignments, classroom discussions, and studies of other artistic voices. It culminates in a student produced performance open to public viewing and evaluation.
While students are exposed to a wide range of creative techniques including manipulation of space, time, flow and weight, they are also encouraged to find their own individual voices that result in a creation of diverse dance works ranging from ballet, jazz, contemporary to tap, folk and social dance.
Key Performance Indicators:
Attendance and Participation 20 to 45%
Choreographis assignments 20 to 45%
Discussion participation 10 to 20%
Final performance creation and execution 10 to 30%
Snow College Dance Concert review 10 to 20%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
"A Choreographer's Handbook" by Jonathan Burrows
Online materials.
Pedagogy Statement:
This class welcomes students of all backgrounds and abilities. Through daily movement tasks, improvisational games, written assignments, exposure to other choreographic works students will progress from executors of movements to full-fledged creators of a movement performance. While students are introduced to general principles of choreography related to time, space, weigh and flow they are encouraged to produce diverse choreographic works that provoke, inspire and make us laugh.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture/Lab
Maximum Class Size: 15
Optimum Class Size: 12
