Arts Department

Essential Knowledge and Skills

Students in Dance II will explore dance techniques, composition, choreography and improvisation. The dancers study the history of American Modern Dance and various styles of choreography and performance. The class will conclude with an informal performance and lecture demonstration.

Indicators of Student Learning Upon the completion of this course, students will:

Technique • Demonstrate technical proficiency and knowledge of the body.

• Value dance as contributing to healthy human development.

• Develop knowledge of the body through fundamental conditioning; i.e., strength, endurance, flexibility, coordination, and agility.

• Develop an awareness of performing techniques.

• Demonstrate basic concepts of performing techniques; i.e., kinesthetic awareness, concentration/focus, fluidity in movement transitions, clarity of rhythmic acuity, spatial intent, full exploration of energy fluctuation, and link of inner intent to outer expression.

Elements of Dance • Demonstrate knowledge and skills in the elements of dance

• Demonstrate knowledge of contrasting spatial planes; i.e., vertical, horizontal, diagonal, lateral.

• Demonstrate rhythmic phrasing.

• Demonstrate non-metric (breath) rhythm.

• Develop knowledge and skills in energy and motion.

Creative/Choreographic Processes • Understand choreographic principles, processes, and structures.

• Improvise within a structure

• Demonstrate choreographic principles, processes, and structures.

Communication • Understanding of dance as a means to create and communicate meaning.

• Develop knowledge and skills in the creative process of abstraction.

• Demonstrate how dance communicates meaning.

• Identify the various purposes served by dance throughout time and in world cultures.

• Demonstrate aesthetic perception

Technology • Collaborate with peers to use technology to compile and produce projects. • Use web sites on Alvin Alley and Black American dance to create their own works.

Assessment Upon the successful completion of this course, students will:

• Analyze the similarities and differences in a choreographic work and one of another art form, culture, and/or time period.

• Formulate aesthetic questions for a dance concert critique.

• Analyze the purpose of movement ritual from a historical point of view.

• Create a composition that successfully communicates a topic of personal significance.

• Analyze why a choreographer chooses a particular movement to communicate an idea in dance.

• Perform an improvisation based on two or more qualities of motion.

• Perform the seven basic qualities of motion.