Courses
Dance
0404. Dance and the Child (3
s.h.)
This course addresses theories of child development and learning
as they relate to the teaching of dance in K-12 education.
Content is organized around a series of questions that a dance
teacher might have regarding how their students are experiencing
dance in a school setting. Topics include developmental milestones
and their impact on dance curriculum, integration of dance
into the broader school curriculum, and cultural issues in
dance education. Students will gain hands-on experience in
a peer teaching setting and begin to build concrete resources
for teaching dance in K-12 settings. This course satisfies
the elementary education course work requirement for the K-12
Dance Teacher Certification through the Bureau of Career and
Technical Education.
0405. Rhythm: Analysis,
Performance and Composition (3 s.h.)
Specifically for graduate level investigation, this course
offers students the opportunity to engage in a comprehensive
study of rhythm as a dance-related discipline at the graduate
level. It will focus on the basic elements of rhythm and movement,
and how these develop the student`s understanding of motion
as a sequence of effort and rest. Capacities for analysis and
performance of rhythm within dance and musical contexts will
be cultivated.
0471. Corporeal Improvisation (1-2
s.h.)
This course lays the groundwork for dance improvisation as
technique, as inquiry, and as performance. Exercises to develop
and deepen an experiential understanding of anatomy and physical
laws serve to expand physical range and imagination. Practice
of improvisational directives and personal experimentation
of movement concepts and the elements of dance increase awareness
of individual stylistic and movement preferences and strengths,
as well as areas of weakness.
0474. Graduate Dance
Repertory (2 s.h.)
This course provides insight to the choreographic process of
a master choreographer through learning and performing a major
work.
0502. Dance Technique
Field Experience (1 s.h.)
Individually arranged experiences are designed to extend specific
performance competencies. Credit will not be awarded retroactively.
0505. The Dancer and
the Dance Medium (1 s.h.)
A core course required of all entering graduate students. Participants
engage in independent and collaborative inquiry to elucidate
individual values and understandings of dance in a social learning
context. Class projects include development and performance
of personal dance histories and peer presentations based on
areas of student expertise or interest. Emphasis is on clarification
of personal voice as an important source of goal setting in
graduate dance education.
0506. The Creative Process
and the Dance Symbol (3 s.h.)
This core course deals with sources and processes for creative
transformation. The class examines the individual as an artist
and explores various influences, congruencies, symbols and
meanings affecting the art form today. It is a studio course
with assignments ranging from reading and writing to choreographing
and performing.
0512. Performance Environments
I: Dance Production (1 s.h.)
Students will master basic technical theater skills, and encounter
design theory and practice, with emphasis on preparing them
to serve as stage managers, and expose them to the vocabulary
and objectives in costume, lighting, set design, theater make-up,
the use of projections, and specifications for creating theater
in non-theatrical spaces.
0515. Performance Environments
II: Producing Dance (2 s.h.)
A professional and practical course emphasizing the development
of tools and skills necessary for realizing individual goals,
vehicles and processes for change in the various fields of
dance and related arts within our society.
0521. Modern Dance II (1
s.h.)
This course addresses the development of basic movement skills
and concepts as a means toward effective performance.
0522. Modern Dance II (1
s.h.)
This course addresses the development of basic movement skills
and concepts as a means toward effective performance.
0523. Modern Dance III (1
s.h.)
This course addresses the extension of range, control, and
clarity of performance for more complex dance sequences.
0524. Modern Dance III (2
s.h.)
This course addresses the extension of range, control, and
clarity of performance for more complex dance sequences.
0525. Modern Dance IV (1
s.h.)
This course addresses increased technical accuracy, sensitivity,
and versatility of performance. The dance material offered
covers a wide range of spatial, dynamic, and rhythmic qualities.
0526. Modern Dance IV (2
s.h.)
This course addresses increased technical accuracy, sensitivity,
and versatility of performance. The dance material offered
covers a wide range of spatial, dynamic, and rhythmic qualities.
0527. Modern Dance V (2
s.h.)
This class seeks to train the student in a variety of fundamental
issues in dance performance for the concert dance stage. Major
emphasis is placed on performance practice and artistry.
0532. Classical Ballet
II (1 s.h.)
This course provides further skills in basic classical ballet
vocabulary and preparation for professional study at the intermediate
level.
0533. Classical Ballet
III (1 s.h.)
This course addresses increased vocabulary and skills for increasing
demands of more complex combinations and sequences.
0534. Classical Ballet
IV (1 s.h.)
This course provides movement experience to develop confidence
and skill for an authoritative and expressive performance.
The full range of classical ballet vocabulary is used.
0535. Dance on Video (3
s.h.)
A hands-on course exploring the practical and aesthetic considerations
in recording dance. Video equipment and recording techniques
will be introduced, with a survey of selected dance video works.
0539. Movement Theater
Workshop (3 s.h.)
This course is designed to provide intensive experience exploring
the whole body as a medium for theatrical expression, and developing
group collaborative processes.
0540. Apprenticeship
in Dance (1-2 s.h.)
Designed to allow the student to practice, challenge and expand
artistic skills in a professional environment, and under the
guidance of a mentor. Credit will not be awarded retroactively.
0542. Jazz Dance II (1
s.h.)
This course provides a more sophisticated approach to jazz
dance vocabularies and sensitivities used in contemporary dance
and theater.
0543. Jazz Dance III (1
s.h.)
This course provides a complete integration to the approach
to jazz dance vocabularies and sensitivities used in contemporary
dance and theater.
0545. Sound and Movement
Partnerships (3 s.h.)
With its basis in 20th century or modern performing arts, this
course offers both a practical and a philosophical perspective
on essential topics of sound and movement partnership in an
effort to train the eye and ear to perceive dynamic relationships
between sound and movement. Critical to this class are the
investigation of performance and composition skills and the
critical discussion of choreographic issues. This class in
music and dance composition challenges student choreographers
to discover inventive sound and movement partnerships for the
creation of new work.
0560. Dance and the Gendered
Body: Historical Perspectives (3
s.h.)
Students learn ways of analyzing representations of women,
men, people of color, sexualities, and class distinctions in
dance performance situated in different historical periods,
cultural contexts, and performance venues. Students learn how
to write historical narratives by locating primary sources
and discovering the different voices/perspectives involved
in a particular dance production, genre, ritual, performance
practice. The course culminates in an ensemble performance
based upon individual research projects and reflexive understanding
of how the researcher`s identity intersects with the research.
The emphasis is on research as performance and performance
as research.
0565. Dance Science & Somatics (3
s.h.)
Somatic exploration and conceptual comparison of three systems
of movement awareness and transformation/rehabilitation: ideokinetic
facilitation (Sweigard), body mobilization in space (Bartenieff),
and traditional sports/dance medicine. Six themes are interwoven
through the course: physiological bases of dance training;
conditioning to address individual needs in dance training;
dance injuries-their causes, pathology, care, rehabilitation,
and prevention; dancers and wellness; application of motor
learning and control to dance pedagogy; and mental imagery
to enhance performance.
0570. Dance Teaching
Seminar (2 s.h.)
This course assists graduate students in developing a sound
basis for their continued growth and effectiveness as dance
educators. Grounded in theories of holistic education, critical
pedagogy, and reflective practice, the course integrates studio
experiences, observation, theoretical inquiry, and teaching
practice to examine key values adhering to the noble profession
of 'dance teacher.'
0571. Apprenticeship
in Teaching Dance (1-3 s.h.)
This course provides a supervised internship in teaching dance
supported by video assessment, one-to-one mentoring and peer
discussion groups.
0575. Meaning in Dance (3
s.h.)
This course focuses on methodologies for dance research that
start with human experience (phenomenology, autobiography,
autoethnography, and humanistic sociology) as the generative
ground of meaning making. Students will engage with multiple
perspectives and layered practices to illuminate 'lived experience'
in dance.
0576. Dance as a Mode
of Learning (3 s.h.)
This course integrates philosophical/historical perspectives
of dance as a mode of learning with critical analysis of existing
curriculum frameworks and a curriculum design project.
0579. Foundations of
Cultural Studies (3 s.h.)
This course examines performance structures, social paradigms,
and dominant themes. The course will be taught from a comprehensive,
comparative perspective of intersecting identities including
race, gender, class, and sexuality by examining and discussing
major theorists in the field and analyzing performances based
on those theorists. This course will also trace the intellectual
heritage of cultural studies vis-a-vis scholars, artists, educators,
activists, workers, and community members. The lectures, readings,
video viewings, discussions, and movement experiences will
attempt to examine the diversity and similarities in cultures.
0580. Black Performance (3
s.h.)
Using a chronological and geographical approach, this course
traces performance trends in dance, music and theater from
West Africa to the Caribbean to the U.S. Examples of commonality
and continuity are explored in selections from Yoruba, Akan,
Vodun and African genres.
0581. Non-Western Dance
Traditions (3 s.h.)
This course is an overview of dance traditions outside North
America with the exception of selected Native American traditions.
Non-Western Dance Traditions will include movements from Asian,
African, South American and Pacific Rim traditions. The goal
in this course is to increase the student knowledge of dance
traditions, further their understanding of spatial, religious
and social restrictions on the dances, and inform their choreographic
processes by exposure to different ways of constructing movements.
This is primarily a studio course with assignments geared to
choreographic inquiries that extend the students aesthetic
parameters in terms of movement vocabulary and sturcture.
0599. Graduate Composition (2
s.h.)
A course designed to confront the elements of dance composition
through improvisation, short movement studies and dances that
are presented, discussed, and reworked in class. A final composition
will demonstrate skills, sensitivities, and understandings
acquired.
0601. Problems in Dance
Research (1-4 s.h.)
In a guided seminar setting, each student completes an annotated
bibliography, a critical review of the literature, and/or a
research study related to a topic of individual interest. Students
present their work, at various phases of development, to their
peers for critical review.
0602. Special Topics
in Dance (1-3 s.h.)
This course provides specialized graduate level study in dance
Special authorization is required.
0650. Choreographic Projects (1-3
s.h.)
Graduate students develop original work with the guidance of
dance faculty. The course culminates in the performance of
the new work developed in the class in a final showing with
modest technical elements.
0676. Arts Advocacy (3
s.h.)
This course provides information, models and practical design
experience in advocacy for dance in various settings. Emphasis
is on pertinent literature, current trends and practice guided
by student professional goals.
0677. Dance Administration (2
s.h.)
This course studies and analyzes historical, philosophical
and practical aspects of arts and dance administration. Emphasis
is on practical skills including curricular, administrative
and fiscal design and structures.
0701. Research Partnerships (1-3
s.h.)
Doctoral students work closely with a faculty member in a specific
research agenda, identified either by the student or the faculty
member. This course is designed as a mentoring experience for
the doctoral student.
0799. Preliminary Examination
Preparation (1-2 s.h.)
The student demonstrates the ability to complete independent
academic projects by preparing a course proposal and an article
judged to be of sufficient quality to be published in a professional
journal.
0899. Pre-Dissertation
Research (3-6 s.h.)
The student prepares a proposal for dissertation research with
guidance from the Primary Advisor. The proposal is formally
presented before the Sponsoring Committee and, if approved,
passes on to the Graduate School, where it must be approved
before the student can be advanced to candidacy. Student must
have passed preliminary examinations to enroll in 899.
0951. Aesthetic and Philosophical
Inquiry (3 s.h.)
Designed to introduce, analyze, and teach students to employ
aesthetic and philosophic methods of inquiry to dance. Selected
written and performance texts will demonstrate various pathways
a research might travel to unveil the philosophic bases of
dance.
0956. Research Structure:
Dance Ethnography (3 s.h.)
This course covers a range of methods, techniques, and ethical
concerns in dance research, including ethnographic methods
and techniques of oral interview. In a guided seminar setting,
each student develops an original research plan of design and
presents it to her or his peers for critical evaluation.
0958. Master's Concert
in Dance (6 s.h.)
Limited to those who plan to earn the Master's degree requirements
by completing a major choreographic work. Normally not taken
before the fifth or sixth semester of study and after the completion
of a minimum 42 credits, including all required course work
in Choreographic Skills and Resources, the stage managing and
comprehensive exam requirements.
0959. Master's Project
in Dance (3-6 s.h.)
Limited to those who plan to earn the Master's degree by completing
a project. The final project option of Ed.M. candidates who
register for 3 s.h. Also available to M.F.A. candidates for
a 6 s.h. final project if decided in advisement with major
curriculum advisor.
0960. Master`s Thesis
in Dance (6 s.h.)
Limited to those who plan to complete the Master`s degree by
writing a thesis. Note: This option is available only to those
who have successfully completed Dance 951 Aesthetic and Philosophical
Inquiry. Registration is done in advisement with major advisor.
0999. Dissertation (3-9
s.h.)
The dissertation is advised by the major advisor and the two
additional faculty members of the Sponsoring Committee. At
the time of defense, one or two faculty members are added,
comprising and examining committee of at least four to five
members.