Academics: The Curriculum
The Arts: Dance
Unless specifically stated in the course description, students have the grading system option of A-No Credit or Credit-No Credit.
A-131 Beginning Contemporary Dance I
Fall .25 unit Ms. Magee
This introductory course is for students with little or no previous dance training. Through floor work and standing combinations, students gain the basic technical skills of contemporary dance. Emphasis is placed on correct muscle use and developing movement efficiency and range along with strength and control. Combinations are designed to increase the student’s understanding of space, time, gravity and dynamics as related to their technical and creative development in dance. Students discover their creative potential and movement possibilities through improvisation. Development of these ideas into a short dance encourages the exploration of personal styles of expression. The course also examines the concepts and techniques of modern dance pioneers as well as the current trends in dance.
Written assignments, discussions, video presentations, and performances further enhance learning. All class levels have the opportunity to observe or participate in master classes taught by visiting expert dance teachers. Students will perform class material in informal showings. Students wear black leotards, tights, or unitards for performances and leotards and tights of any color in class. This course may be repeated for credit.
Open to: 9/10/11/12
A-132 Beginning Contemporary Dance II
Spring .25 unit Ms. Magee
In Level II, students continue to develop the skills learned in Beginning Contemporary Dance I (A-131), although Level I is not a prerequisite for taking this course.
Open to: 9/10/11/12
A-135 Beginning Ballet
Year .5 unit Lauther
This introductory course in classical ballet emphasizes alignment and carriage of the body as well as traditional steps, musicality, and terminology. Through the work at the barre and in centre floor (adagio, petit allegro and grand allegro choreography), students gain strength, coordination, grace, and confidence in performing. In addition, students see professional dance performances in the area and discuss their responses in relation to class and their own experiences. All students have the opportunity to observe or participate in master classes taught by visiting expert dance teachers. Students also perform class material in informal showings. Required class attire includes black leotard, pink tights, and pink slippers. No experience is required. This course may be repeated for credit.
Open to 9/10/11/12
A-138 Jazz Dance
Year .5 unit Mr. Magee
This jazz dance class is for all levels of ability and background. Class choreography draws from many styles of dance: Broadway, Chicago-style, lyrical, funk, and hip-hop. Class activities include exercises, stretches, and rehearsal of jazz vocabulary to promote proper alignment, strength, flexibility, movement efficiency, and safe biomechanical use of the body. Students attend professional dance performances and discuss or write their responses. All students participate in the development and performance of jazz choreography. Required class attire: black leotards and tights and jazz shoes. Performance attire: colored leotards, black tights and jazz shoes. This course may be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Students interested in jazz should participate in dance placement class during registration in the spring or the fall.
Open to: 9/10/11/12
A-231 Intermediate Contemporary Dance
Year .5 unit Lauther
This course is a continuation of Beginning Contemporary Dance I and II (A-131, A-132) but with more technical difficulty, greater speed, and more detailed sequences. Students improve their ability to reproduce the shape, timing, quality, and dynamic of the movement combinations, and they develop their ability to perform the material with personal expression and confidence. Clarity in movement intent and coordination of the entire body increase as do strength, balance, flexibility, and stamina. Alignment, movement efficiency and safe biomechanical use of the body are stressed. In addition, students see professional dance performances in the area and discuss their responses in relation to class and their own experiences. All students have the opportunity to observe or participate in master classes taught by visiting expert dance teachers. Students also perform choreography developed in class. Required class attire includes black leotards and leggings. Students are encouraged to repeat this course for credit.
Prerequisite: Beginning Contemporary Dance (A-131 and A-132) and permission of the instructor
Open to: 9/10/11/12
A-235 Intermediate Ballet
Year .5 unit Ms. Magee
This course establishes a solid foundation in classical ballet with an emphasis on proper body alignment and musicality. Students acquire a working knowledge of the ballet French terminology. Barre, centre, and en diagonale combinations focus on developing control, strength, speed, and flexibility.
Recognition and understanding of the interrelationship of music to movement is stressed in rhythm, phrasing, and dynamics. All students have the opportunity to observe or participate in master classes taught by visiting expert dance teachers. Students perform class material in informal showings. Written work, viewing assignments, and performance complement this dance technique class. Required class attire includes black leotard, pink tights, and pink slippers. Students are encouraged to repeat this course for credit.
Prerequisite: Beginning Ballet (A-135) and permission of the instructor
Open to: 9/10/11/12
A-331 Advanced Contemporary Dance
Year .5 unit Lauther
This is an important class for dancers who are interested in training the body in the contemporary style at an advanced level. This course challenges dancers with more complex, subtle, and in-depth concepts and exercises dealing with intricate spatial, rhythmic, dynamic, and sequential patterns. These dancers are expected to learn dance sequences quickly, with great accuracy, and are expected to perform these movements with style and personal expression during class. Clarity is the major focus of this class, based on the principle that "having technique" is the ability to execute movement exactly as the dancer intends it to be performed. Alignment, movement efficiency, and safe biomechanical use of the body as inspired by Irmgard Bartinieff are stressed. In addition, students see professional dance performances in the area and discuss their responses in relation to class and their own experiences. All students have the opportunity to observe or participate in master classes taught by visiting expert dance teachers, and students also have the opportunity to perform choreography developed in class. Required class attire includes black leotards and leggings. Students are encouraged to repeat this course for credit.
Prerequisite: Intermediate Contemporary Dance (A231) and permission of the instructor
Open to: 9/10/11/12
A-335 Advanced Ballet
Year .5 unit Ms. Magee
This is an important class for dancers who are interested in training the body in the classical style at an advanced level. This course is specifically designed to strengthen students’ classical technique and performance. Students continue to develop and refine the technical skills learned at the intermediate level. All students have the opportunity to observe or participate in master classes taught by visiting expert dance teachers. Students perform class material in informal showings. Mastery of form, interpretive and expressive abilities, and musicality are emphasized in the allegro and adagio combinations. Conferences, written assignments, discussions, video presentations, and selected readings make up an integral part of the course. Students wear traditional attire of black leotard, pink tights, and pink slippers. Students are encouraged to repeat this course for credit.
Prerequisite: Intermediate Ballet I (A-235) and permission of the instructor
Open to: 9/10/11/12
A-339 Emma Willard Dance Company
Year 1 unit Lauther and Magee
Dance Company targets the highly motivated, serious, responsible, and talented student who wants additional experience performing. A member of the Emma Willard Dance Company must be enrolled in an intermediate or advanced level technique class. The Company provides an opportunity for an advanced student to develop her technique, gain performance experience, and learn about the production aspects of a performance, including preparation of the dance floor, costume design, publicity, and "strike." In an effort to be more responsive to the demands of today's choreographers, students rehearse in a variety of dance styles. Repertory dances and new works are prepared under the direction of the dance faculty, visiting artists, and guest choreographers. These pieces are performed in assemblies, the annual spring concert, on tour, and in other special performance events. Throughout the year, there are several opportunities for Dance Company members to attend dance concerts and to participate in master classes. Though the dance company has four scheduled rehearsal times every week, each student is assigned to only two of the four rehearsal periods.
Prerequisite: Invitation of the instructor
Grading System: A-No Credit
Open to: 10/11/12
More information about the dance company is available here.
