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Dance

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Faculty

Director: Chambers
Professor: Sandback
Associate Professors: Hempel, Nunn, Willis

Offered by the School of Music and Dance

Major in dance with the B.A. degree in liberal arts and sciences.

Minor in dance.

The Major

The dance program in the School of Music and Dance provides professional preparation for dance majors in choreography, performance, scholarship, and teaching; more specifically, as choreographers and dancers with professional companies, teachers in community and recreation programs, schools and colleges, movement educators, and candidates for graduate work in dance scholarship.

Philosophically, the program promotes dance as a communicative and expressive medium uniquely effective in the conveyance of meaning, emotion, and cultural values. Dance is a rigorous and specialized area of the performing arts, demanding a high level of physical preparation as well as a thorough understanding of aesthetics.

As members of the University Dance Company, students perform in faculty choreography and repertory works set by distinguished guest artists in periodic workshops and residencies. Each student also stages original work in a senior recital. Dance activity courses provided in the school offer experiences for the general student population in modern, jazz, ballet, folk, and social forms.

Dance Major

With the B.A. Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences
(Major Code: 10081)

All candidates for a degree in liberal arts and sciences must complete the requirements listed in the section of this catalog on "Graduation Requirements." No more than 64 units in dance courses can apply to the degree.

A minor is not required with this major.

For information regarding this program contact the adviser, Patricia R. Sandback, or the School of Music and Dance.

Preparation for the Major. Dance 110, 111, 121, 131, 141, 171, 181, 183, 221, 241, 253, 255, 256, 261 (four units), 271, 281, 285; Anthropology 102; Biology 212; Psychology 101. (45 units)

Foreign Language Requirement. Competency (successfully completing the third college semester or fifth college quarter) is required in one foreign language as part of the preparation for the major. Refer to the section of this catalog on "Graduation Requirements."

Upper Division Writing Requirement. Passing the University Writing Examination or completing one of the approved writing courses with a grade of C (2.0) or better.

Major. A minimum of 35 upper division units to include Dance 321, 341, 353, 354, 365 (two units), 371, 381, 441, 453, 481, 483, 486, 487; Biology 336; Exercise and Nutritional Sciences 303.

Dance Minor

Prerequisites to the minor: Dance 110, 121, and 131. (6 units)

The minor in dance consists of a minimum of 24 units in dance, of which eight units must be upper division, to include Dance 141, 171, 181, 183, 241, 253, 255, 271, 341, 353, 354, and 371.

Courses in the minor may not be counted toward the major, but may be used to satisfy preparation for the major and general education requirements, if applicable. A minimum of six upper division units must be completed in residence at San Diego State University.

Courses

LOWER DIVISION COURSES

100. Dance Activity (1)
Two hours of activity.

Open to all students. Provides physically skilled instruction and knowledge of ballroom, folk, ballet, jazz, and modern dance forms at the beginning and intermediate levels.

A. Beginning Ballroom Dance

B. Intermediate Ballroom Dance

C. Beginning Folk Dance

E. Beginning Ballet

F. Intermediate Ballet

G. Beginning Jazz Dance

H. Intermediate Jazz Dance

I. Beginning Modern Dance

J. Intermediate Modern Dance

110. Historical and Contemporary Social Dance Forms (2) I
Four hours of activity.

Court and country dances of Renaissance and Baroque periods. Social dances of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. (Formerly numbered Dance 101.)

111. Ethnic Dance Forms (2) II
Four hours of activity.

Techniques, styles, and rhythms of traditional dance in selected cultures.

121. Ballet I (2) I
Four hours of activity.

Prerequisite: Dance majors and minors only.

Ballet skills for dance majors and minors emphasizing placement, coordination, ballet terminology, and technical principles.

131. Jazz Dance I (2)
Four hours of activity.

Prerequisite: Dance majors and minors only.

Jazz dance technique and fundamentals. (Formerly numbered Dance 231.)

141. Modern Dance I (3) I
Six hours of activity.

Prerequisite: Open only to dance majors and minors.

Basic modern dance skills with emphasis on alignment.

171. Dance Production I (1) Cr/NC I
Three hours of laboratory.

Technical experience in dance production.

181. Introduction to Dance (3) I, II

Foundations of dance in Western civilization. Dance as art, therapy, fitness, ritual, and social discourse. Analysis of dance in film, video, and live performance with an appreciation for artistic intent, technique, and style.

183. Rhythmic Analysis (2) II
One lecture and two hours of activity.

Music as related to movement; notation and simple music forms applied to all movement activities; percussion accompaniment; writing of percussion scores, music repertoire for dance.

221. Ballet II (2) II
Four hours of activity.

Prerequisite: Dance 121.

Ballet skills for dance majors emphasizing increased complexity, strength, and endurance.

241. Modern Dance II (3) II
Six hours of activity.

Prerequisite: Dance 141.

Continuation of development of modern dance skill with emphasis on function of alignment and articulation of the extremities in motion.

253. Choreography I (2) I
Four hours of activity.

Using concepts of space, time, and energy to investigate and explore basic elements of choreography. Studies and compositions emphasizing solo and small group works.

255. Dance Improvisation I (1) II
Two hours of activity.

Exploring improvisation through specific stimulus leading to the acquisition of basic improvisational skills.

256. Dance Improvisation II (1) I
Two hours of activity.

Prerequisite: Dance 255.

Practice in more complex arrangements of improvisation.

261. Dance Rehearsal and Performance (1) Cr/NC II
Three hours of laboratory.

Prerequisite: Entrance by audition.

Practical experience in departmental public performance. Maximum credit four units.

271. Dance Production II (1) Cr/NC II
Three hours of laboratory.

Prerequisite: Dance 171.

Technical experience in dance production.

281. Dance in World Cultures (2) I
Prerequisites: Dance 111 and Anthropology 102.

Dance in selected cultures; geographic, historical, social, and aesthetic factors which have shaped development and function.

285. Dance Pedagogy (2) I
Four hours of activity.

Teaching theory as applied to ballet, modern, jazz, and social dance for adult populations.

296. Experimental Topics (1-4)

Selected topics. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Limit of nine units of any combination of 296, 496, 596 courses applicable to a bachelor's degree.

UPPER DIVISION COURSES
(Intended for Undergraduates)

321. Ballet III (2) II
Four hours of activity.

Prerequisite: Dance 221.

Ballet skills for dance majors emphasizing turns, jumps, batterie, extended sequences, and movement quality.

341. Modern Dance III (3) I
Six hours of activity.

Prerequisite: Dance 241.

Progressively difficult movement patterns based on previously developed skills with emphasis on elevation, rhythm, body design, and dynamic flow of movement.

353. Choreography II (2) II
Four hours of activity.

Prerequisite: Dance 253.

Introducing large group works, solo and small group work in organizing more complex arrangements of the basic elements of dance composition. Utilizing music and sound as aural contributions to choreography.

354. Choreography III (2) I
Four hours of activity.

Prerequisite: Dance 353.

Approaching dance as a fundamental means of communication. Recognizing the relationship between form and content.

365. University Dance Company: Major Performance (1) Cr/NC I
More than three hours of activity per week.

Prerequisites: Open only to dance majors. Audition and approval by dance faculty.

Practical experience in University dance company including concert performances of dance repertory, production of choreographic works, presentation of master classes and workshops, and participation in major production. Maximum credit four units.


371. Dance Production III (1) Cr/NC I

Three hours of laboratory.

Prerequisite: Dance 271.

Technical experience in dance production.

381. Dance History (3)
Prerequisite: Dance 181.

Integrated approach to understanding of historical forces shaping the development of dance.

398. Dance Internship (1-3) ,
Prerequisite: Upper division standing and consent of dance director. Open only to dance majors and minors.

Supervised practical experience in dance studio management and instruction. Maximum credit three units.

441. Modern Dance IV (3) II
Six hours of activity.

Prerequisite: Dance 341.

Advanced modern dance techniques based on skills developed in Dance 141 through Dance 341 with emphasis on performance qualities in projection, vitality, and executing.

453. Choreography IV (2) II
Four hours of activity.

Prerequisite: Dance 354.

Choreography of solo and group works utilizing symbiotic relationship of movement, sound, lighting, costuming, and other interdisciplinary media. Presentation of a recital.

481. Dance Philosophy and Criticism (2) I
Prerequisite: Dance 381.

Philosophy and aesthetics of dance. Historical foundations of dance criticism. Major contemporary schools of thought. Professional preparation and function of the dance critic.

483. Dance Notation (3) I
Prerequisite: Completion of preparation for the major in dance.

Theories and application of dance notation systems and other methods of recording dance. Basic skills in writing dance in Labanotation; reading notated dance scores; experiences in recording ethnic, ballet, jazz, and modern dance.

486. Dance Practicum: Folk, Square, Ballroom (2) II
Four hours of activity.

Prerequisite: Dance 285.

Teaching techniques in folk, square, and ballroom dance and practice in the use of these techniques.

487. Dance Practicum: Modern, Ballet, Jazz (2) II
Four hours of activity.

Prerequisite: Dance 285.

Teaching techniques in modern dance, jazz dance, and ballet and practice in the use of these techniques.

496. Experimental Topics (1-4)

Selected topics. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Limit of nine units of any combination of 296, 496, 596 courses applicable to a bachelor's degree.

499. Special Study (1-3) I, II
Prerequisite: Consent of the dance director.

Individual study. Maximum credit six units.




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