COURSE DESCRIPTION: Elementary modern technique
for the general student. The emphasis is placed on body integration,
locomotor skills, dynamic variety, and musicality.
SEMESTER: Fall 2007
COURSE TIMES: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00
to 5:40 pm
LOCATIONS: Studio B, 3116 Dalton Center
INSTRUCTOR: Jane Baas, Professor of Dance, 3123
Dalton Center
TEACHING ASSISTANTS: TBA
EMAIL ADDRESS: jane.baas@wmich.edu
OFFICE PHONE: 387-5845. Please leave a detailed
message if I'm not available. PLEASE DO NOT call the main office
to leave me a message.
HOME PHONE: 628-4650 before 9:00 pm, please (also
have answering machine).
OFFICE HOURS: Sign up for appointments on in the
main dance office. Regular office hours are M & W from 3-4 pm,
T from 10:00-10:45 am, R from 9-10 am. Or see me to schedule another
time. I also do not teach immediately following this course so that
is a good time for a brief chat. If I’m not in, please feel
free to leave a message on the dry erase board outside my office
or voice mail at the office or home and I’ll get right back
to you. Remember that I do not have access to long distance, so
if your cell phone is not area code 269, I will not be able to return
your call unless I use my personal cell phone. In that case, email
is your best bet.
REQUIRED TEXTS: None
COURSE GOAL: To introduce students to the principles
of the dance discipline of modern dance.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. To provide movement experiences that explore use of gravity,
spatial awareness, rhythm, and energy.
2. To provide floorwork, center combinations and traveling combinations,
eventually focusing on performance skills.
3. To apply kinesiological concepts to movement efficiency and safety
in the modern dance genre.
Department Grading Standards and Criteria for Non-Major
Dance Technique Classes
Final grades are based on effort, improvement and technical skills
and attendance. Assessment occurs daily and through periodic testing.
Effort is demonstrated by a positive attitude, focus on class work,
willingness to listen and apply corrections, and respect shown to
instructors and others in the class. Improvement will be monitored
by daily class observations as well as a series of videotaped sessions
to be taken at the beginning, middle and end of the course. The
student who meets all course requirements should expect to receive
a grade appropriate to his/her work.
• An "A" student makes significant improvement
in technical skill displaying consistent effort and completing all
course requirements and assignments.
• A "B" student makes some improvement in technical
skill displaying consistent effort and completing all course requirements
and assignments.
• A "C" student makes minimal improvement in technical
skill displaying consistent effort and completing all course requirements
and assignments.
• A "D" student shows no improvement in technical
skill.
• An "E" student fails to fulfill the requirements
of the course regardless of his/her skills in movement reproduction.
Standard Attendance Policy For Technique Courses
Because most of the work for this course will be done in the studio,
regular attendance is crucial. On your 4th absence your final grade
will be lowered 0.5 (from an A to a BA, for example). Your grade
will continue to be lowered by an additional 0.5 for your 6th, 8th,
10th etc. absences. If you are ill or injured over a prolonged period
of time you must meet with the instructor to discuss how you will
complete the course requirements.
Observations: Three observations will count as
one absence unless the student presents a written notice from a
physician before the beginning of the class stating s/he may not
participate in any physical activity. Students who observe all or
part of a class must also submit a 1 ½ to 2-page, double-spaced,
typewritten observation paper which addresses the following questions:
1) What errors are several students making?
2) What is the class doing well?
3) What specific corrections and suggestions would you make to the
class as a whole?
The paper is due at the next class meeting.
Tardies: Students who enter class after attendance
has been taken and class has begun will be considered tardy. Three
tardies will equal one absence. It is the student’s responsibility
to see the instructor after class to confirm attendance records.
In the interest of safety, the instructor reserves the right to
require a severely tardy student to observe class.
Excused absences: The following absences are considered
excused if acceptable documentation is provided immediately following
the absence:
1) death in the family,
2) representing the University in some type of performance or
3) court summons.
Doctor’s appointments are not considered excused. The instructor
reserves the right to approve other excused absences in unusual
circumstances.
Discrepancies in attendance tracking: You are
responsible for keeping track of your attendance. If there is a
question about attendance, the instructor will ask for your personal
accounting of the record. If the discrepancy cannot be cleared up,
the instructor’s attendance record will be the official record.
It is strongly advised that you keep track of your absences in your
calendar.
Class Information, Changes and Cancellations
Class will not meet Tuesday, October 30 due to midterm conferences,
but students must sign up for a conference time during that week.
On Tuesday, October 23, we will view and critique the mid-term videotape.
On Tuesday, December 11 at 5 pm during final exam week, we will
view and critique the final videotape. You do not need to dress
for class on these days.
In dance classes it is common for the instructor to touch students
to help them understand a correction. Any touching in this class
is done for instructional purposes.
Please do all you can to make each class period a positive experience
for you and your classmates. This includes not talking when corrections
are being given, arriving prior to the beginning of class whenever
possible to make your own necessary mental and physical preparations
for class, applying corrections made to others to yourself when
appropriate, and being supportive of your peers.
No gum, food or drinks are allowed in the studios. Bottled water
with a secure lid is acceptable. Please assist us in keeping the
studios clean by removing your papers, tissues, band aid wrappers,
empty water bottles, etc. when you leave the studio. Please report
any dwindling first aid supplies to the main dance office so they
may be replenished.
Evaluation
At mid-term on Thursday, October 18, the class will be videotaped.
A record of absences to date, specific areas needing improvement,
and an estimation of the course grade earned to date will be provided
to you at your midterm conference. The video will be viewed in class
on Tuesday, October 23, and students must turn in a written self-evaluation
and self-grade at the end of the viewing. Midterm conferences will
be held on Tuesday, October 30. Final course grade will be affected
by the student's ability to address and improve upon areas needing
attention. During the final exam time on Tuesday, December 11 at
5 pm, we will view the final videotape and students must turn in
a second self-evaluation and grade at the end of that session. Students
are strongly encouraged to stop in or schedule an appointment with
the instructor at anytime during the semester to review their progress
and discuss difficulties.
Dance Concert Viewing
As part of your education, you should attend at least one of the
dance events listed below. Other performances may be acceptable,
but must be approved by the instructor in advance. Following the
performance of your choice, you must submit a critique by the deadline
listed below which will be returned to you with comments. Students
who do not turn in an acceptable critique will have their final
grades lowered by 0.5.
NOON DANCE SHOWING
Friday, October 12, Noon
Dalton Center Dance Studio B, Free admission.
CRITIQUE DUE NO LATER THAN THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18
INNOVATIONS IN TECHNOLOGY DANCE CONCERT
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, October 18-20, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday October 20, 2:00 p.m.
Multi Media Room, Dalton Center, Admission charged.
CRITIQUE DUE NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30
ORCHESIS CONCERT
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, November 29-December 1, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, December 1-2, 2:00 p.m.
Dalton Center Dance Studio B, Admission charged.
CRITIQUE DUE NO LATER THAN THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6
Concert critique guidelines
Presentation
1. The paper must be typed, double-spaced with standard margins.
2. It should have a cover page with a title, your name as author,
and the date. Be sure to indicate the name of the company, production
or concert being critiqued.
3. It should be two to three pages in length.
4. It should be written in standard English, avoiding slang and
generic adverbs and adjectives (really, pretty, awesome, neat, cool).
It should observe the standard rules of grammar with attention to
consistent tense, singular/plural agreement, spelling, correct denotation
of titles, etc. Many find it helpful to read the paper aloud to
catch errors or to share it with a colleague.
5. The paper should be stapled together (no paper clips or binders,
please).
Content
1. Your paper should have an introductory paragraph that introduces
your purpose and point of view.
2. In the body of the paper, you should discuss your aesthetic reaction
to two dances if the program is multiple repertory (e.g. WMU’s
Fall Concert of Dance) or the entire program if it is an evening-long
work (e.g. Giselle). Evaluate the choreographic, performance and
production elements. You should support your opinion with specific
examples and descriptive words.
3. The paper should conclude with a summary paragraph. Discuss how
you were affected by this dance/these dances and why you believe
you were affected in this manner.
4. You may wish to consider some of the following questions in developing
your paper:
--How were the elements of time, space and energy used effectively
or ineffectively?
--Were the production/technical elements (music, costumes, lighting,
props, sets) appropriate to the intent of the dance?
--How did the dance affect you? What were your emotional and intellectual
responses to the dance?
--How clear was the choreographer’s intent?
--Were the dancers well-trained, well-rehearsed and technically
competent?
--Did the work challenge you to expand your ideas about dance?
--What changes might make the dance a stronger work?
Evaluation
The paper will be evaluated using the Department Policy for Writing
in Dance Classes. Each instructor will determine how the paper is
assessed in relation to the course.
Department Policy for Evaluation of Writing in Dance
Courses
Students are evaluated on their mastery of language arts skills.
Each course will specify assignment requirements. The student who
meets all course requirements should expect to receive a grade appropriate
to his/her level of mastery.
