Dance

This course is designed for the absolute beginner or the student returning to ballet class after a lengthy hiatus and is intended to familiarize the student with the classical ballet terminology, to foster independence in this particular vocabulary, to introduce the historical context of the Western art form and conventions of a ballet class. Learning the physical practice of this centuries-old craft will give the student basic classical ballet terminology as well as gaining an anatomical understanding of the body.

This course is designed for the absolute beginner or the student returning to ballet class after a lengthy hiatus and is intended to familiarize the student with the classical ballet terminology, to foster independence in this particular vocabulary, to introduce the historical context of the Western art form and conventions of a ballet class. Learning the physical practice of this centuries-old craft will give the student basic classical ballet terminology as well as gaining an anatomical understanding of the body.

Ballet II

This course introduces students to urban dance styles, focusing on the foundations and origins of hip-hop dance, street dance culture, and the physical vocabularies of hip-hop and freestyle dance. Classes are geared to condition the body for the rigors of hip-hop technique by developing strength, coordination, flexibility, stamina, and rhythmic awareness while developing an appreciation of choreographic movement and structures. Compositional elements of hip-hop will be introduced and students may compose brief movement sequences.

This course is designed for movers with little or no experience with dance, or who are unfamiliar with modern dance styles. It is intended to introduce modern dance techniques, terminology, and historical context, as well as improve anatomical and spatial awareness, and foster physical confidence moving to music. Students of this course will also cultivate comfort with watching, interpreting, and discussing modern dance. Love of dance is not a prerequisite, but is definitely a goal. 

This course is designed for movers with little or no experience with dance, or who are unfamiliar with modern dance styles. It is intended to introduce modern dance techniques, terminology, and historical context, as well as improve anatomical and spatial awareness, and foster physical confidence moving to music. Students of this course will also cultivate comfort with watching, interpreting, and discussing modern dance. Love of dance is not a prerequisite, but is definitely a goal. 

This course is designed for movers with little or no experience with dance, or who are unfamiliar with modern dance styles. It is intended to introduce modern dance techniques, terminology, and historical context, as well as improve anatomical and spatial awareness, and foster physical confidence moving to music. Students of this course will also cultivate comfort with watching, interpreting, and discussing modern dance. Love of dance is not a prerequisite, but is definitely a goal. 

This course is designed for movers with some experience with dance, or who are unfamiliar with modern dance styles. It is intended to introduce modern dance techniques, terminology, and historical context, as well as improve anatomical and spatial awareness, and foster physical confidence moving to music. Students of this course will also cultivate comfort with watching, interpreting, and discussing modern dance. Love of dance is not a prerequisite, but is definitely a goal. 

This course is designed for movers with some experience with dance, or who are unfamiliar with modern dance styles. It is intended to introduce modern dance techniques, terminology, and historical context, as well as improve anatomical and spatial awareness, and foster physical confidence moving to music. Students of this course will also cultivate comfort with watching, interpreting, and discussing modern dance. Love of dance is not a prerequisite, but is definitely a goal. 

Tap I is a beginning level tap class for students with some previous dance or movement experience.  We will cover basic tap technique, proper use of the body to enhance sound quality and style, a variety of music styles and structures, and improvisation.

The study of yoga in practice and philosophy to deepen and complement dance training and performance.

Yoga is a broad term for different components. The study of  Yoga has 8 limbs or branches, one of which is an Asana (posture) practice. This yoga for dancers course focuses on Asana, Pranayama (breathing) and Meditation and reading to inform understanding of an ancient pratice and philosophy. Based on the principles and practices of Hatha yoga, one of the Asana yoga practices, students will  learn to integrate approaches to breathing and alignment to inform their movement practice and will learn the anatomy and histories behind the ancient practice.

This course is designed for intermediate dancers who are interested in maintaining their established ballet technique as well as advancing their knowledge and familiarity with the classical vocabulary. Students of Ballet III should have completed two semesters of Ballet II or it’s equivalent, or one semester of Ballet III or its equivalent, and have a firm mental and physical understanding of barre exercises (plié, battement tendu, battement dégagé, rond de jambe à terre, battement fondu, frappé, and grand battement), as well as general center concepts such as adagio, waltz, pirouettes, and petit allegro (including changement, glissade, jeté, and assemblé). This is a graded, semester long, two credit course.

This course is designed for advanced intermediate dancers who are interested in maintaining their established ballet technique as well as advancing their knowledge and familiarity with the classical vocabulary. Students of Ballet IV should have completed two semesters of Ballet III or its equivalent, or one semester of Ballet IV or its equivalent, and have a firm mental and physical understanding of ballet technical exercises. These include all barre exercises (plié, battement tendu, battement dégagé, rond de jambe à terre, battement fondu, battement frappé, and grand battement), as well as center exercises including adagio, waltz, pirouettes, petit allegro, and grand allegro. Focus of this class will be on how to practice ballet safely, efficiently, musically, and joyfully.

This is a graded, semester long, two credit course. This class is offered in person only, and no remote learning option will be available.

This course is designed for advanced intermediate dancers who are interested in maintaining their established ballet technique as well as advancing their knowledge and familiarity with the classical vocabulary. Students of Ballet IV should have completed two semesters of Ballet III or its equivalent, or one semester of Ballet IV or its equivalent, and have a firm mental and physical understanding of ballet technical exercises. These include all barre exercises (plié, battement tendu, battement dégagé, rond de jambe à terre, battement fondu, battement frappé, and grand battement), as well as center exercises including adagio, waltz, pirouettes, petit allegro, and grand allegro. Focus of this class will be on how to practice ballet safely, efficiently, musically, and joyfully.

This is a graded, semester long, two credit course. This class is offered in person only, and no remote learning option will be available.

This class explores contemporary jazz movement using music from both American and Diasporic pop culture.
Students can expect to work on technique, performance, groove, musicality, and retention of choreography (additional emphasis on story-telling).
There will be opportunities for discussions of professional development pertaining to navigating a career in dance (auditioning, submissions, agencies/representation, etc) on evaluation days.

Prerequisites: Intermediate level of dance or permission of the instructor. This Course introduces intermediate level students to urban dance styles, focusing on foundations and origins of hip-hop dance, street dance culture, and the physical vocabularies of hip-hop and freestyle dance. Classes are geared to condition the body for the rigors of hip-hop technique by developing strength, coordination, flexibility, stamina, and rhythmic awareness, while developing an appreciation of choreographic movement and structures. Compositional elements of hip-hop will be introduced and students may compose brief movement sequences. The course meets twice weekly and is held in the dance studio. Prerequisite: Intermediate level of a dance form or permission of the instructor.

In West Africa, dance is part of daily life. It is used to mark occasions such a birth, death, harvest, and  marriage. It is also used to unite the community in times of crisis. West African dance is not as much a strict  technique as it is a movement coming from the spirit and the rhythm of the drum and the energy of the  people. While there are certain steps that go with specific rhythms, it leaves space for the individual  interpretation and improvisations which is an important element. Dancing is more about the communication  between dancer and drummer. The movement of West African dance tends to be energetic and big. It is very  expressive, and the energy is outward. 

Some African dance steps are taken directly from daily activities such as planting or hunting. Most, however,  are an expression of joy or release of the spirit. Dancing is done by communicating with a drummer to create  positive energy. It is a way to enjoy oneself and each other. In African dance, the name of the dance is the  same as the name of the rhythm played by the drummer. The individual steps that make up the dance do not  have names. In this course, we are going to be learning various West African dances such as Sikko, Socco,  Kuku, Mandiany, Farakorroba, Sunu, Soli, Lamba, Mandjo, Diambadong, Doundounba, Kaolask,  Thieboudjeune, Niarry---gorong, Ekongkong, Wolossodong, Zaouly, Ngorong, Niakka, Maraka, Djansa and  Lengeng/Kutiro. 

In West Africa, dance is part of daily life. It is used to mark occasions such a birth, death, harvest, and  marriage. It is also used to unite the community in times of crisis. West African dance is not as much a strict  technique as it is a movement coming from the spirit and the rhythm of the drum and the energy of the  people. While there are certain steps that go with specific rhythms, it leaves space for the individual  interpretation and improvisations which is an important element. Dancing is more about the communication  between dancer and drummer. The movement of West African dance tends to be energetic and big. It is very  expressive, and the energy is outward. 

Some African dance steps are taken directly from daily activities such as planting or hunting. Most, however,  are an expression of joy or release of the spirit. Dancing is done by communicating with a drummer to create  positive energy. It is a way to enjoy oneself and each other. In African dance, the name of the dance is the  same as the name of the rhythm played by the drummer. The individual steps that make up the dance do not  have names. In this course, we are going to be learning various West African dances such as Sikko, Socco,  Kuku, Mandiany, Farakorroba, Sunu, Soli, Lamba, Mandjo, Diambadong, Doundounba, Kaolask,  Thieboudjeune, Niarry---gorong, Ekongkong, Wolossodong, Zaouly, Ngorong, Niakka, Maraka, Djansa and  Lengeng/Kutiro. 

Prerequisites: DNCE BC2252 or permission of instructor.

In West Africa, dance is part of daily life. It is used to mark occasions such a birth,  death, harvest, and marriage. It is also used to unite the community in times of  crisis. West African dance is not as much a strict technique as it is a movement  coming from the spirit and the rhythm of the drum and the energy of the people.  While there are certain steps that go with specific rhythms, it leaves space for the  individual interpretation and improvisations which is an important element. Dancing  is more about the communication between dancer and drummer. The movement of  West African dance tends to be energetic and big. It is very expressive, and the  energy is outward. 

Some African dance steps are taken directly from daily activities such as planting or  hunting. Most, however, are an expression of joy or release of the spirit. Dancing is  done by communicating with a drummer to create positive energy. It is a way to  enjoy oneself and each other. 

In African dance, the name of the dance is the same as the name of the rhythm  played by the drummer. The individual steps that make up the dance do not have  names. 

In this course, we are going to be learning various West African dances such as  Sikko, Socco, Kuku, Mandiany, Farakorroba, Sunu, Soli, Lamba, Mandjo,  Diambadong, Doundounba, Kaolask, Thieboudjeune, Niarry-gorong, Ekongkong,  Wolossodong, Zaouly, Ngorong, Niakka, Maraka, Djansa and Lengeng/Kutiro. 

Bharatanatyam is typically studied as a theater dance form, and as a spiritual practice.  In this class, traditional and contemporary teaching approaches are combined to introduce the participant to an overview of technical and performative aspects of the form. An example of the adjusted structure of the classes is that we begin each class with hatha yoga based stretches and dance warm ups that specifically target the kind of joint articulation that the form presupposes.

We focus on the basic stance, the ardha-mandi, along with the technique of stamping as exemplified in the series of adavu, (basic combinations of hand, foot and rhythmic movement.) Following the progressive difficulty of the adavu system itself, more challenging combinations of hand and footwork will be introduced. Head and eye techniques will be introduced first in isolation then in combination.

The last stage of this class involves learning a short abstract dance to music especially pre-recorded for a particular version of a dance genre and adjusted for difficulty level. This is in order to experience how the parts of the technique are integrated and to experience the state of performing.  Students will be invited to perform at informal showings.

This course introduces students to the African-based dances of Cuba, including dances for the Orisha, Rumba, and the immensely joyful “Rueda de Casino” style of Salsa. In addition to learning rhythms, songs, and dances, we will have an ongoing, informal discussion about the historical and contemporary significance of Afro-Cuban dance performance, making connections to personal experience through practice and ongoing reflection. We engage Afro-Cuban music and dance as a living and evolving tradition, where culture, artistry, and history are intimately bound.

An upper-level exploration of Afro-Cuban Dance focused on performance. Building on the foundation of Afro-Cuban Dance: Orisha, Rumba, Salsa, this course is a deeper dive into aesthetic principles, cultural themes, and improvisation as performance in the African dance context. Students explore multiple distinct dances and learn to engage the storytelling and cultural significance of each dance through improvisation with the drums. The course culminates with final, in-class presentations. Open to experienced movers and students who have completed Afro-Cuban Dance: Orisha, Rumba, Salsa. Permission of instructor required.

Advanced technique and repertory in hip hop. Classes are geared to condition the body for the rigors of hip-hop technique by developing strength, coordination, flexibility, stamina, and rhythmic awareness, while developing an appreciation of choreographic movement and structures. Compositional elements of hip-hop will be introduced and students may compose brief movement sequences. The course meets twice weekly and is held in the dance studio.

Modern III continues training in contemporary/modern technique for the beginning-intermediate  level dancer, emphasizing alignment and musicality while expanding on the dancer’s physical and  intellectual understanding of articulation, phrasing, dynamics, performance and focus. Our class  will incorporate relevant principals from classical modern techniques along with contemporary  aesthetics, improvisation and reflection. Our class aims to create a space that is in support of your  artistic development, aesthetic fluency, and creative explorations as a dancer

Modern III continues training in contemporary/modern technique for the beginning-intermediate  level dancer, emphasizing alignment and musicality while expanding on the dancer’s physical and  intellectual understanding of articulation, phrasing, dynamics, performance and focus. Our class  will incorporate relevant principals from classical modern techniques along with contemporary  aesthetics, improvisation and reflection. Our class aims to create a space that is in support of your  artistic development, aesthetic fluency, and creative explorations as a dancer

Modern IV is a contemporary technique class for the intermediate to advanced-intermediate level  dancer, emphasizing alignment and musicality while expanding on the dancer’s physical and  intellectual understanding of articulation, phrasing, dynamics, performance, and focus. Our class  will incorporate relevant principles from classical modern techniques with contemporary  aesthetics, improvisation, and reflection. Our class aims to create a space that is in support of your  technical and aesthetic development as a dancing practitioner, performer, and creator.

Modern IV is a contemporary technique class for the intermediate to advanced-intermediate level  dancer, emphasizing alignment and musicality while expanding on the dancer’s physical and  intellectual understanding of articulation, phrasing, dynamics, performance, and focus. Our class  will incorporate relevant principles from classical modern techniques with contemporary  aesthetics, improvisation, and reflection. Our class aims to create a space that is in support of your  technical and aesthetic development as a dancing practitioner, performer, and creator.

Course Description: 

This intermediate Contemporary Caribbean Dance class draws from different Caribbean dance styles. This Caribbean fusion class explains different cultural dances, focusing on African Diaspora principles and practices such as syncopation in body and in music.

Based on many of the dance of the Caribbean Islands, students learn to identify dances and rhythms that draw from traditions, such as Arara, Palo, Salsa, Rumba, Tambu, Tumba, Merengue, Reaggaton, Cha Cha Cha, Zouk and Afro Dance, as well as more contemporary styles such as “Technica Cubana” and learn to apply them in contemporary combinations.  The course is designed for students who have some dance training and are looking to widen their understanding of different dances and learn to use different body parts that are not traditionally used in modern dance but are recognizable in Jazz, hip hop and current offerings in popular

Tap II is an intermediate level tap class for students who have at least 2 years of tap dance training. We will cover tap technique, proper use of the body to enhance sound quality and style, a variety of musical genres and structures,classic tap dance routines, and improvisation.

The prerequisite for Intermediate Level Tap is previous experience in intermediate level tap classes. Students on this level are assumed to have mastered tap basics, be comfortable with intermediate level technique, and must be ready to learn at a slightly accelerated pace.

Pilates for Dancers is a full-body, low impact exercise class based on the work of Joseph Pilates, including movement concepts from Rudolf von Laban and Irmgard Bartenieff. We’ll work on a yoga or Pilates mat doing exercises and movement sequences that build strength, flexibility, coordination and clarity in the body. The class is suitable for dancers, athletes and movement enthusiasts. A Pilates ring is highly recommended. A limited number of Pilates rings will be available in class.

This course may not be appropriate for those with spine, neck, and shoulder injuries.  If you have any of these types of injuries, kindly present a doctor’s note clearing you for participation in the class.

Moving with the Voice is an interdisciplinary creative exploration using the voice, improvised and created music, dance, and theater.  Students will explore extended vocal techniques, gesture, character and musical structures (e.g. hockets, rounds, rhythms, deconstructions) within both a solo and ensemble framework, composing their own soundscapes and creating their own voice/movement/theater work through improvisation and in-class assignments. Certain assignments will be inspired by the work of Meredith Monk or the percussion show Stomp.

Open to all levels of experience. A willingness to sing is required.

Continued study of choreography as a communicative performing art form. Focuses on the exploration of ideas and meaning. Emphasis is placed on the development of personal style as an expressive medium and unity of style in each work. Group as well as solo compositions will be assigned.

Prerequisites: Previous dance experience is necessary, a comp course in the dpt is preferered, permission of instructor This course covers basic music theory, ear training, and literature, incorporating practical exercises in which students apply musical understanding to compositional and performative modalities of movement. Students will investigate the elements of music that drive dance, the expressive influence dance can have on music, and the vital reciprocity between both activities. Emphasis will be placed on an historical survey and analysis of western musical forms from the Middle Ages to the present as well as influential music from other cultures, expanding students’ awareness of the aural characteristics of a variety of musical styles while giving historical context and critical perspective on contemporary popular styles. In addition to lectures and reading requirements, the course involves listening assignments and in-class exercises structured to develop basic musical literacy and skills. Students will be introduced to multiple approaches to listening and to creating music through a combination of studio practice, theoretical study and analysis. Exploration of musicality as perceived by performer and audience will be covered, as well as learning conventional music terminology.

Focuses on the history of theatre dance forms originating in Europe and America from the Renaissance to the present. Includes reading, writing, viewing, and discussion of sources such as film, text, original documentation, demonstration, and performance.

This course is for the intermediate advanced dancer. Material presented will focus on healthy anatomical alignment in barre work, extended combinations in the center, fostering personal artistic expression, and integrating improvisation in combinations with the ballet vocabulary. Clarification, analysis and repetition are fundamental elements for a sound technique of any dancer and are the foundation of this course. Center work will include attention to shaping adagio work, multiple turns in the large poses, batterie, and extended grand allegro. You may be assigned the construction and presentation of exercises, which will be explained in detail further into the semester. 

This course is for the intermediate advanced dancer. Material presented will focus on healthy anatomical alignment in barre work, extended combinations in the center, fostering personal artistic expression, and integrating improvisation in combinations with the ballet vocabulary. Clarification, analysis and repetition are fundamental elements for a sound technique of any dancer and are the foundation of this course. Center work will include attention to shaping adagio work, multiple turns in the large poses, batterie, and extended grand allegro. You may be assigned the construction and presentation of exercises, which will be explained in detail further into the semester. 

This course is for the intermediate advanced dancer. Material presented will focus on healthy anatomical alignment in barre work, extended combinations in the center, fostering personal artistic expression, and integrating improvisation in combinations with the ballet vocabulary. Clarification, analysis and repetition are fundamental elements for a sound technique of any dancer and are the foundation of this course. Center work will include attention to shaping adagio work, multiple turns in the large poses, batterie, and extended grand allegro. You may be assigned the construction and presentation of exercises, which will be explained in detail further into the semester. 

This course is for the intermediate advanced dancer. Material presented will focus on healthy anatomical alignment in barre work, extended combinations in the center, fostering personal artistic expression, and integrating improvisation in combinations with the ballet vocabulary. Clarification, analysis and repetition are fundamental elements for a sound technique of any dancer and are the foundation of this course. Center work will include attention to shaping adagio work, multiple turns in the large poses, batterie, and extended grand allegro. You may be assigned the construction and presentation of exercises, which will be explained in detail further into the semester. You will be assigned a grading exercise at the end of the shopping period and will get written observations from me

This course is for the intermediate advanced dancer. Material presented will focus on healthy anatomical alignment in barre work, extended combinations in the center, fostering personal artistic expression, and integrating improvisation in combinations with the ballet vocabulary. Clarification, analysis and repetition are fundamental elements for a sound technique of any dancer and are the foundation of this course. Center work will include attention to shaping adagio work, multiple turns in the large poses, batterie, and extended grand allegro. You may be assigned the construction and presentation of exercises, which will be explained in detail further into the semester. You will be assigned a grading exercise at the end of the shopping period and will get written observations from me

Variations class is a course for the intermediate to advanced dancer.  As in all other ballet classes, there will be a focus on correct physical alignment, proper technique and musicality.  The added challenges in this course will be the pointe shoe technique, creative choreographic choices, and musical phrasing. The class will include variations based on works ranging from Petipa to Balanchine to today’s choreographers.  Dancers will explore personalizing already known works, pushing the boundaries of the pointe shoe, examining how choreography has evolved and developing the stamina required to execute a full variation. Learning material rapidly while paying attention to the stylistic demands of each choreographer’s works and being able to shift from one stylistic choice to another is simply expected.

Seeing the Body: Movement and Physicality in Modern Visual Culture will examine how concepts of
movement, space, and time gained an outsized role in photographic and cinematic experimentation,
typography, interior design and exhibition, contributing a “choreographic voice” to the interwar age.

This class explores Advanced contemporary jazz movement using music from both American and Diasporic pop culture.

The study of contemporary flamenco dance technique with special emphasis on improvisation and performance. Through video and reading assignments and attendance at live performances, students will also develop a context for understanding flamenco art, pedagogy, and culture.

There are as many reasons to improvise as there are cultures. People from all over the world have turned to improvised dance for personal, social, and political reasons. Improvisation is equally as useful in developing self-expression as it is in forming community and mutual understanding. It can be a vehicle for discovering more about our world by heightening our senses and awareness. It can be a mind-puzzle, as practitioners devise creative constraints for the purposes of producing structure and clarity. Whatever the reason for improvising, all practitioners share a sense of questioning and curiosity. This course will cover five units of study, each one aimed at exploring a different function of improvisation: self- expression; music and space; our bodies and environment; structure and cognition; and community-building. Learning in the classroom will rely on reading texts and viewing images and videos, written work, peer-to-peer learning and self-directed inquiry. In the studio, students will be given different exercises and prompts to explore and refine. By the end of the semester students will understand how improvisation occurs and how it differs from codified or prescriptive work, and why different people choose to improvise. They will also be able to develop and perform their own improvisatory work, drawing from the skills learned over the semester.

This contemporary technique class invites students into an embodied practice focusing on a daily physical experimentation and challenge. Emphasis will be placed on corporeal ways to explore questions around propelling, listening, connecting, healing, and action. This course offers a chance for students to use their sensatorial experience to reflect on individual pathways/ desires for expression while, challenging the body to take risks and practice as their movement knowledge expands. Emphasis on sensation, initiation, and weight will be introduced in a floor or standing warm-up that will expand to a standing exploration of the transition between form and space. A focus will be to continue our development of a strong-grounded technique with healthy placement that moves with ease in and out of the floor. We will continue to develop our true embodied relationship to environment, people, and time.

This contemporary technique class invites students into an embodied practice focusing on a daily physical experimentation and challenge. Emphasis will be placed on corporeal ways to explore questions around propelling, listening, connecting, healing, and action. This course offers a chance for students to use their sensatorial experience to reflect on individual pathways/ desires for expression while, challenging the body to take risks and practice as their movement knowledge expands. Emphasis on sensation, initiation, and weight will be introduced in a floor or standing warm-up that will expand to a standing exploration of the transition between form and space. A focus will be to continue our development of a strong-grounded technique with healthy placement that moves with ease in and out of the floor. We will continue to develop our true embodied relationship to environment, people, and time.

Improvisation is an open level, movement based class in which students will learn collaborative improvisation tools, skills, practices, and mindset through experience, reflection, practice, and generation. Deep play, support for others, and a willingness to experiment and reflect are key in this discovery based course. 

This contemporary technique class invites students into an embodied practice focusing on a daily physical experimentation and challenge. Emphasis will be placed on corporeal ways to explore questions around propelling, listening, connecting, healing, and action. This course offers a chance for students to use their sensatorial experience to reflect on individual pathways/ desires for expression while, challenging the body to take risks and practice as their movement knowledge expands. Emphasis on sensation, initiation, and weight will be introduced in a floor or standing warm-up that will expand to a standing exploration of the transition between form and space. A focus will be to continue our development of a strong-grounded technique with healthy placement that moves with ease in and out of the floor. We will continue to develop our true embodied relationship to environment, people, and time.

This contemporary technique class invites students into an embodied practice focusing on a daily physical experimentation and challenge. Emphasis will be placed on corporeal ways to explore questions around propelling, listening, connecting, healing, and action. This course offers a chance for students to use their sensatorial experience to reflect on individual pathways/ desires for expression while, challenging the body to take risks and practice as their movement knowledge expands. Emphasis on sensation, initiation, and weight will be introduced in a floor or standing warm-up that will expand to a standing exploration of the transition between form and space. A focus will be to continue our development of a strong-grounded technique with healthy placement that moves with ease in and out of the floor. We will continue to develop our true embodied relationship to environment, people, and time.

Prerequisites: Limited to twenty people. Examination of the gender-neutral partnering technique that is now common in contemporary dance. Focus is placed on recent improvisatory forms, sensation building, center connection and risk. Emphasis is placed on listening and sensing rather than controlling or leading.

This course will introduce the exploration of a partnering technique that is enriching for the mind and body. Contact Improvisation is not only an important tool for the dancer as it informs the body how to move with weight and connection and is required by most contemporary styles – it is also a technique that informs the artist in us all as it emphasizes listening, trust, and spontaneous creativity. In this course, students will use contact to support the creation of most duets, trios, and larger group dance.   Focus is placed on recent improvisatory forms, sensation building, center connection, and finding the safe edges of risk as well as applying these studies to creation and expression. Students in this course will explore their own weight and how it relates to other bodies by listening as well as employing emotional, psychological, and cultural structures to their improvisation. Emphasis is placed on listening and sensation rather than controlling or leading. Students will explore the dynamic ride and risk taking of improvisation and trusting another body by giving and taking weight. Contact Improvisation is open to all students.

Prerequisites: Must have taken a Dance Department Composition course, have some dance training. This experiential, hands-on course requires all students to choreograph, dance, and film. Focusing on single-shot film-making, the duet of the camera and the dance will create an understanding of the interaction between the two, enabling students to create a final short film.

This course offers intensive practice in writing on dance and explores a range of
approaches to dance criticism from the 1940s through today. Starting from the premise
that criticism can be an art form in itself, we ask: What are the roles and responsibilities
of a critic? How do our own identities and experiences inform how we see and write?
With the proliferation of dance in digital spaces, what new possibilities arise for dance
criticism? Class meetings include discussion, writing exercises, and peer workshops.
Assignments involve viewing performances outside of class.

The course can be taken for 1-3 credits. Students are graded and take part in the full production of a dance as performers, choreographers, designers, or stage technicians.

The course can be taken for 1-3 credits. Students are graded and take part in the full production of a dance as performers, choreographers, designers, or stage technicians.