Dance Company (PDC)
Course Description/Overview/Welcome Statement
This is an advanced 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 class is one of the performing companies at Provo High School and will require extra time commitment outside of the regular class time. This class is designed to enrich students with experiences in both commercial and concert dancing. 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!
Full year course
Fine Arts Credit – 1.0
Grade 10 – 12
Prerequisite course is Dance 3 AND audition.
Learning Expectations
What Our Class Will Include:
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. Early morning rehearsals for PDC will be essential to prepare for all of the performances scheduled throughout the year. (Football games, concerts, basketball games, etc.) In order to perform well on stage and in the class, participation and attendance will be strictly enforced for all rehearsals and classes.
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. Conditioning exercises will be used to help build the strength and flexibility required to facilitate the movement required in the choreography.
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. PDC will be required to choreograph throughout the year on their peers.
THEORY
- At the beginning of class, students may 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.
Year’s Objectives:
- Students will choreograph student works which will be showcased in assemblies, halftime performances, and concerts.
- Students will perform at various functions, including but not limited to the Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City, UT, the “Reflections” contest, the UDEO State High School Dance Festival, and a larger trip (tour) in the spring.
- Students will also develop co-ordination, aesthetics, agility, character, professionalism, good citizenship, leadership, integrity, teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship.
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.
- IN-CLASS Participation Point Grade Deductions:
- -10 Absence
- -2 Tardy
- -2 Not dressing down
- – 1-6 Not participating, bad attitude, disrespect for rules, warnings, etc.
- EARLY-MORNING Participation Consequences (created by the company):
- 3 Tardies Removal of upcoming performance (per term)
- 2 Absences Removal of upcoming performance (per term)
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 in this class. The final may be one of the following: concert critique of college or professional level concert, persuasive essay for dance or art advocacy, reflection paper on personal growth, presentation on professional choreographer or company, concert production project, or self-expression project. The final will be discussed at the beginning of each term and then posted to 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
Progress for PDC students will also be demonstrated and assessed through the following expectations:
Student Choreography
Each student has the assignment to choreograph at least one piece in the year. Students are encouraged to choreograph more than once! After the themes of the concerts have been decided, students will be asked to select which performance they want to choreograph for. Please see the events document for details on these performances.
Students will prepare a choreography proposal to present within the first few weeks of the semester. After the proposals, students will select which pieces they would like to be a part of. All pieces must have their music checked off, cut, and turned in before choreographing.
Once assigned rehearsals, it is up to the choreographer and their dancers to have the piece prepared and ready to perform within the given amount of rehearsal time. If the piece is not ready, it will be pulled from the performance.
Performances
The opportunity to perform as much as PDC does is a privilege. Preparation for these performances will be assessed through punctuality, positive participation, respect to other company members and director, and preparation (having the choreography prepared or knowing the choreography learned in the previous rehearsal). These formative assessments will be tallied with points given respectively.
The “pass off” day is when students will space in the performance venue, and run through the routines. It is on these days that will determine if the routine will be performed or not. In striving for excellence, if a routine is not ready due to a dancer not knowing the choreography or spatial formations, he or she may be removed from the routine. This is the final preparatory assessment before their final performance.
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
- $180 – Class Fee pays for costume rental, choreographers, concert related materials, etc.
- Any other additional fees (gear, field-trips, tour, 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
PDC is a company class. In order to maintain a standard of excellence, daily attendance and full participation in class is a crucial element for a successful year. The standard of excellence also includes being eligible to perform under the standards of the school and district. (Academic Eligibility and Code of Conduct.) 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. Please refer to the grading breakdown on Canvas or the Learning Expectations section of this page.
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
Performances, choreography assignments, and the 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 PowerSchool 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 PowerTeacher 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)
Academic Eligibility
The PHS athletic and performing arts departments follow the state/region-adopted eligibility policies. To represent Provo High School, a student must be in good standing during the participation period including auditions. The eligible student must:
- Have a minimum GPA of 2.0, maintained during the tryouts and season.
- Have a full schedule of credit-producing classes. (6 out of 8 periods scheduled. Seminary does not count.)
- Have no more than one (1) F, I, or TR earned in the previous term and during the season. Note: Summer school does not count as a term but can be used to directly replace a failed course 4th term.
- Understand that, for Distance Education, 3 credit enrollment counts as 2 PHS classes.
- Comply with the PHS Code of Conduct for Extra Curricular Activities.
Students have five (5) days after report cards are issued to verify eligibility. After five (5) school days, no eligibility appeals will be allowed. Student Government, Cheerleaders, and Dance participants follow additional guidelines. Please see the class disclosure statements and student constitution for details.
Participation in Provo High School extracurricular programs is a privilege. This privilege carries with it certain responsibilities since students in these programs represent Provo High School in the classroom, in the hallways, in the athletic arena, and in the community. For this reason, the Student Code of Conduct is in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
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.