Course Outline of Record

Item	Value
Curriculum Committee Approval Date	12/04/2024
Top Code	100810 - Commercial Dance
Units	3 Total Units
Hours	72 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 45; Lab Hours 27)
Total Outside of Class Hours	0
Course Credit Status	Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee	No
Basic Skills	Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable	No
Open Entry/Open Exit	No
Grading Policy	Standard Letter (S)
Associate Arts Local General Education (GE)	Area 7 Life Skills, Lifelong Learning, and Self-Development 7B Activity (OE2)

Course Description

A composition course designed for dancers with intermediate and advanced technique levels in modern dance, ballet and jazz. This course explores dance composition elements and methods for crafting movement phrases and short dances. Through a variety of assignments students will learn how to develop themes and motifs, choose music, direct rehearsals, collaborate and learn about established choreographers and their work. PREREQUISITE: DANC A160. ADVISORY: Intermediate to Advanced technique levels in modern dance, jazz or ballet, validated in class during the first week of the course. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

1. Demonstrate intermediate level skills in creative problem solving, phrase making and manipulating a motif.
2. Demonstrate increased proficiency in creating and expressing a complete concept in choreography: movement invention and development, title, use of music/sound and costumes.
3. Identify several historic choreographers and their contributions to the dance world.

Course Objectives

• 1. Develop intermediate level skills and methods for composing dances.
• 2. Develop a deeper awareness of the elements of dance composition: time, space, and energy (explored in solo and small group studies) and the correlation between dance composition and composition in art, nature and other forms.
• 3. Develop more sophisticated skills in problem solving, phrase making, manipulating, and structuring dance materials for group choreography.
• 4. Develop skills in using music effectively for dance composition--discover greater understanding of rhythmic possibilities; explore the contrast, counterpoint, and devices such as canon.
• 5. Develop better skills in motivating, organizing, and directing other dancers to learn, rehearse, and perform choreography.
• 6. Develop skills in bringing creative ideas to fruition through production elements such as: costuming, staging the dance, and communicating with a lighting designer.
• 7. Develop skills in evaluating and analyzing students? own dance material, as well as that of others.
• 8. Discover and explore non-traditional and avant-garde methods of choreography.
• 9. Develop more effective means of self-expression through dance composition, dance writing and research.

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Lecture Content

LECTURE Methods of dance construction, form and structure Development of movement themes, and methods of creating variations Directing, rehearsals, staging small groups, counterpoint Considerations for choosing music, and how to work with a composer Analysis and critiques of choreography

Lab Content

1. Directed improvisations, in class, exploring: spatial concepts, level changes, direction, shape, energy, time, music, contrast, and qualitative elements for successful choreography. 2. Solo assignments based on landscape or architecture photos (focus on phrase making, transitions, development of motifs, perspective, structure, and form). 3. Solo assignments focused on pedestrian movement, gesture, imagery, dynamics and quality, and creation of original vocabulary. 4. Research projects and oral presentation on established/professional choreographers in ballet, modern dance, jazz, tap, and ethnic dance styles and their historical contributions to the dance field. 5. Two to three minute collaborative prop dances, co-choreographing duet/trio/quartet studies with fellow choreography students that explore creating dance vocabulary, illusion and imagery with props. 6. Three to four minute choreography assignment focusing on directing a group; involves communication of movement ideas to other dancers, organizing and directing rehearsals, and dialogue with composer/music consultant. Dance must be costumed and have a title. 7. In class analysis of student choreography, faculty choreography, and work by major companies.

Method(s) of Instruction

• Lecture (02)
• Lab (04)

Instructional Techniques

Instructor will use the following methodologies: lectures, presentation of videos, analysis of students dance studies, class discussion, plus individual verbal and written feedback for the following assignments:  performances of movement problems, written essays based on live performances and composition related events, written notes from required class text, and an oral research report on an internationally recognized choreographer.

Reading Assignments

Assigned textbook: Dance, The Art of Production

Writing Assignments

Three written essays on live performance/dance related events, paper or notes on a dance concert analyzing the choreography; written notes on the assigned text conveying the author s concepts and student s personal application; written test on choreographers; written final exam.

Out-of-class Assignments

Rehearsals for three to five dance composition assignments; attendance of live dance performances and three events/exhibits.

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Evaluation and analysis of choreography; class discussion and critiques; application of concepts in each class, written events and exhibits identifying composition elements; written notes and personal application from reading assignment; essays on written final exam

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Oral Report on historic choreographer; written critique on dance concert; written observations on art and related events; written notes on reading assignment; skill tests - performances of choreography assignments; written final exam; in class improvisation exercises for creative problem solving

Eligible Disciplines

Dance: Master's degree in dance, physical education with a dance emphasis, or theater with dance emphasis, OR bachelor's degree in any of the above AND master's degree in physical education, any life science, physiology, theater arts, kinesiology, humanities, performing arts, or music OR the equivalent. Master's degree required.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required Hodes, S., Taylor, P.. A Map of Making Dances, latest ed. Roman Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 1998 Rationale: * 2. Required Schlaich, J., Dupont, B.. Dance, The Art of Production, 3d ed. Princeton Book Company Publishers, 1998 Rationale: * 3. Required Autard, J. S.. Dance Composition , 5th ed. Routledge, 2004 Rationale: * 4. Required Hodes, S., Taylor, P.. A Map of Making Dances, latest ed. Scarecrow Press , 1998 Rationale: * 5. Required Blom, L.A., Chaplin, L.T.. The Intimate Act of Choreography, ed. University of Pittsburgh Press, 1982 Rationale: * 6. Required Bremser, M., Saunders, L.. Fifty Contemporary Choreographers, 2d ed. Routledge, 2011 7. Required Brown, J.M., Mindlin, M., Woodford, C.H.. The Vision of Modern Dance, ed. Princeton Book Company Publishers, 1998 Rationale: * 8. Required Maza, J.. Prime Movers, 2d ed. Princeton Book Company Publishers, 2000 Rationale: * 9. Required Murray, L., Nikolais, A., Marceau, M.. Inside Dance, 1st ed. St. Martins Press, 1980 Rationale: * 10. Required Horst., L., Russell, C.. Modern Dance Forms, latest ed. Princeton Book Company Publishers, 1992 Rationale: * 11. Required Turner, M., Graurert, R. Zallman, A.. New Dance: Approaches to Nonliteral Choreography, ed. University of Pittsburgh Press, 1971 Rationale: *