Dance 1
Course Description/Overview/Welcome Statement
This is a beginning dance class. It is designed to introduce high school students to various forms of dance with an emphasis on dance as an art form. (This is not a social dance or ballroom class.) Dance is a universal language, an expressive and vibrant art with the capacity to make connections to ourselves, others, and the world around us. I’m excited to train, explore, and create with you!
Learning Expectations
What Our Class Will Include:
TECHNIQUE
- It is crucial to develop strong technical skills to prevent injury and execute movement efficiently. The class will work on various technical skills along with dance terminology.
CREATIVITY
- Through improvisation exercises and small compositions, students will understand choreographic principles, processes, and structures. Creative moving and thinking builds self-confidence and leads the students on a journey of self-discovery and expression.
THEORY
- At the beginning of each class, students will respond to a journal prompt. These prompts will focus on the elements of dance, the meaning of movement, historical aspects of dance, and other concepts in dance. There will be assignments of various mediums throughout the course that will helps students understand the concepts as well as build their personal philosophy of dance.
PERFORMING
- Dance takes a lot of self-discipline, bravery to try new or difficult things, and practice! As a performing art class, it is required to perform for peers in the class and for friends and family at the winter/spring concert. In order to perform well on stage and in the class, participation and attendance will be strictly enforced.
Grading:
65% – Attendance/Participation
This class is heavily weighted on daily attendance and participation. Preparedness for performances will be strictly enforced to achieve our goal of excellence. Absences the week of a performance may result in removal of the upcoming performance. “Pass-off” days (when we space in the location we will perform in) are also mandatory.
Participation Point Grade Deductions:
- -10 Absence
- -2 Tardy
- -2 Not dressing down
- – 1-6 Not participating, bad attitude, disrespect for rules, warnings, etc.
25% – Assignments/Written Work
Assignments will include, but not limited to, concert critique of a college level or professional concert, reflection on a master class,, ‘pass-off’ days, assignments linked to their choreography process, journal checks, and returning costumes after performances.
10% – Final
There will be a final for each term of Dance 1. It may be a presentation on a dance genre, dance artist, or company. It also may be a choreography assignment. The final decision on what the final is will be posted on Canvas.
Assessment of Progress
Formative Assessments:
Formative assessments will be done everyday in class in many different forms. The most obvious formative assessment is watching the students dance and giving immediate feedback on their technique in order to help them improve. Other forms of formative assessment includes:
- Rubrics for technique, performance, and student choreography
- Checklist for student’s attendance and participation
- Journals
- Students will earn points for completing the journals fully. Peers in the class will be asked to review with a partner their journals and complete the journal form for credit.
Summative Assessments:
Summative assessments are built in to the course to showcase what the students have learned. They will be asked to complete the following things in this course:
- Performances
- Concert Critiques
- Reflection Paper
- Presentation on a Professional Choreographer or Company
- Concert Production Project
Course Materials
Required Course Materials:
DANCE CLOTHING
- Acceptable dancewear includes:
- Form fitting t-shirts, cap sleeves, or one-inch straps on top.
- Form fitting capris or pant length bottoms.
- Girls – workout pants, yoga clothes, athletic clothes, leggings, etc.
- Boys – workout pants, sweatpants, cut-off sweats, long shorts, etc.
- Not acceptable:
- Shirts that show cleavage, bare midriff, or bare back
- Shorts
- Anything against school policy and dress codes – No spaghetti straps
- Footwear – socks (optional) and tennis shoes (hip-hop)
CLASS FEE
- $20 – Class Fee pays for costume rental and other concert related materials.
- Any other additional fees (t-shirt, field-trips, etc.) will be given notice in advance.
- Please pay all fees to the Finance Office located near the Main Office.
COMBINATION LOCK
- Students are provided a locker but must bring a lock to keep their personal items secure. They are responsible for lost or stolen items if they choose not to bring a lock.
FIRMLY-BOUND NOTEBOOK
Students will be completing a journal through many writing prompts and by receiving various handouts to glue in this journal. Please bring a well-bounded notebook. Mead Composition Notebooks, 9.5” X 7.5” are best!
Classroom Procedures
The daily procedure for this class include 5 main steps.
- Change – Students have 3 minutes to dress down into their dance clothes
- Journal Prompt – Students will have 5-10 minutes to respond to the prompt in their journals
- Theory – Students will be learning content, vocabulary, exploration activities etc.
- Technique/Choreography – Students dance
- Change – Students have 5 minutes to dress back into their school clothes
Class Policies/Rules
I will give my best effort.
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- Have a good attitude and be willing to try new things.
- Proper dance attire is required. This allows for optimal range of motion, analysis of alignment, and clarity in movement.
- Hair must be off the face and no large jewelry.
- No Gum, Food, or Drink in class. A water bottle is highly encouraged!
- Turn in assignments on time.
- Participate 100% of the time. Do your best!
I will not interrupt my own learning or the learning of anyone else in the class.
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- No cell phones, iPods, or other electronic devices will be allowed in this class unless given consent by the teacher. Leave your phone in your locker.
- Respect and support other students. This classroom is a place where we all have things to work on and can feel free to try new things.
- Do not touch mirrors, sound system or things in Mrs. Smith’s office.
Performance Week
Students cannot miss practice during the week of any performance. They will be taken out of a dance or that piece may be pulled from the performance. If a piece is not cleaned or ready, it will also be pulled from the performance.
Get work off NOW! Performance weeks can be stressful (especially concert weeks). All students must stay to “strike” at the end of the concert and stay until everyone is done. No leaving early.
All attendance and tardy rules are still in effect during this time.
Dance Disclaimer
- Physical Contact
- Instructor – Because of the physical nature of dance, some appropriate tactile (touch) corrections may be made to better facilitate understanding of dance concepts and alignment. I will always ask permission from the student to do so.
- Student – Partnerwork will be explored throughout the semester. This includes lifting, pulling, pushing as a partnership or group.
- If you feel uncomfortable at all about any of the situations listed above, you must let me know. It is my goal to keep a safe environment for all students.
- Video Release
- For feedback and personal growth, the students will be filmed on their progression. These videos will be uploaded to our Google Classroom for students to view and analyze their progression.
- Students will be watching various YouTube videos and clips from concerts to describe, analyze, interpret, and judge. All clips will be related specifically to the concept and will be age appropriate.
- Dressing
Students must change clothes INSIDE the locker rooms provided in our studio or the bathrooms down the hall. Students will have 2 minutes at the beginning of class to ‘dress-down’ and 5 minutes at the end of class to ‘dress-up’ back into their school clothes.
Calendar of Due Dates for Major Assignments
The performance and term finals are the main assignments in this course. Please refer to the events calendar for the dates of all performances located on Canvas. Details for the choreography assignments and term finals will be given in advanced and will be available on Canvas.
Progress Reports and Report Cards
Grades will be kept in PowerTeacher and updated regularly. There you can see what assignments are due over the course of each term so there should be no surprises. Be sure to read this section carefully and check PowerSchool before asking about your grade.
Connecting Home to School
Director: Jocelyn Smith
Email: jocelyns@provo.edu
Phone: (801) 373-6550 Ext. 3432
Website: www.provohighdance.weebley.com
Follow us on social media:
- Instagram: @provohighdance
- Facebook: Provo High Dance
Office Hours: M-F: 7:00–7:25am & 2:30–3:00pm
Personal Statement and other items (optional)
PHS Student Code of Conduct
Students are expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct outlined in the school’s student handbook. It can be found on the school’s website.