Catalog 2023-2024

DAN - Dance

DAN 100 Introduction to Dance

A studio/performance-oriented, course that explores, dance vocabulary, dance technique and dance history in various dance disciplines and familiarizes students with little or no dance experience with basic movement concepts and styles.

Spartan Studies:

VPA

Credit Hours: 3

DAN 102 Applied Dance Fundamentals I

For Applied Dance Majors and Minors only.  This studio/performance multimodal course focuses on introducing the student to healthy, well-informed engagement as a practicing dance educator.  Material covered includes instruction and practice in overall self-care; an introduction to creative movement and, dance vocabulary; the concept of multiple intelligences; and introduction to brain-compatible dance pedagogy; and an introduction to the National Dance Standards.

Credit Hours: 2

DAN 110 Ballroom Dance I

A studio/performance-oriented course that focuses on development of basic skills of ballroom dance, the art of two bodies moving as one through the use of lead and follow techniques, including improvisation and creativity.  Emphasis is on standard ballroom dances, including waltz, rumba, mambo/salsa, tango, swing, and hustle.  May be repeated once.

Spartan Studies:

VPA

Credit Hours: 3

DAN 141 Beginning Jazz Dance I

A studio/performance-oriented course that focuses on fundamentals of jazz techniques and includes strengthening, stretching, basic movement combinations, improvisation, postural awareness, and creativity. Required for a major in Musical Theatre. May be repeated once.

Spartan Studies:

VPA

Credit Hours: 3

DAN 142 Beginning Modern Dance I

A studio/performance-oriented course that focuses on fundamentals of modern dance technique, and includes strengthening, stretching, basic movement combinations, improvisation, postural awareness, and creativity. May be repeated once.

Spartan Studies:

VPA

Credit Hours: 3

DAN 144 Beginning Tap Dance

A studio/performance-oriented course that focuses on basics of tap dance technique and includes basic movement combinations, improvisation, postural awareness, and creativity. Required for a major in Musical Theatre. May be repeated once.

Spartan Studies:

VPA

Credit Hours: 3

DAN 145 Dance Partnering for the Stage

A studio/performance-oriented course that focuses on development of basic skills of working with a partner in class as well as onstage. Explores the fundamentals of two bodies moving as one through the use of lead and follow techniques as well as an introduction to basic lifts and dynamics of mutual support. Includes some basic ballroom forms as well as partner improvisation. Required for a major in Musical Theatre. May be repeated once.

Spartan Studies:

VPA

Credit Hours: 3

DAN 149 Beginning Ballet I

A studio/performance-oriented course that focuses on fundamentals of classical ballet techniques and includes basic movement combinations, improvisation, postural awareness, and creativity. Required for a major in Musical Theatre. May be repeated once.

Spartan Studies:

VPA

Credit Hours: 3

DAN 151 Beginning Hip Hop, Urban and Funk

A studio/performance-oriented course that focuses on the fundamentals of hip hop and funk technique and includes basic movement combinations, improvisation, postural awareness, and creativity.  May be repeated once.

Spartan Studies:

VPA

Credit Hours: 3

DAN 191 West African Dance

A studio/performance-oriented course that focuses on development and exploration of West African dance techniques and tradition and includes basic movement combinations, improvisation, postural awareness, and creativity.  May be repeated once. 

Spartan Studies:

VPA

Credit Hours: 3

DAN 197 Beginning Jazz Dance II

A studio/performance-oriented course that focuses on the further development of jazz techniques and includes strengthening, stretching, more advanced movement combinations, improvisation, postural awareness, and creativity. Required for a major in Musical Theatre.  May be repeated once.

Spartan Studies:

VPA

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites

DAN 141 or consent of instructor.

DAN 198 Beginning Modern Dance II

A studio/performance-oriented course that focuses on the further development of modern dance techniques, and includes strengthening, stretching, more advanced movement combinations, improvisations, postural awareness and creativity. May be repeated once.

Spartan Studies:

VPA

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites

DAN 142 or consent of instructor.

DAN 199 Beginning Ballet II

A studio/performance-oriented course that focuses on further development of classical ballet techniques and incorporates strengthening, stretching, more advanced movement combinations, improvisation, postural awareness and creativity. May be repeated once.

Spartan Studies:

VPA

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites

DAN 149 or permission of instructor.

DAN 201 Dance History

A historical overview of 3,000 years of dance as an art form that has become a unique means of aesthetically expressing human emotions. Enhances study through viewing of videotapes and live performances.

Spartan Studies:

TBH

Credit Hours: 4

DAN 202 Applied Dance Fundamentals II

This studio/performance multimodal course builds on concepts and practices from Applied Dance Fundamentals I.  Includes the 5-part lesson plan and dance concepts of brain-compatible teaching methods and teaching philosophy. Required for Dance Majors and Minors.

Credit Hours: 2

Prerequisites

DAN 102

DAN 210 Ballroom Dance II

A studio/performance-oriented course focuses on development of basic skills of Latin ballroom dance, the art of two bodies moving as one through the use of lead and follow techniques, including improvisation and creativity. Emphasis is on Latin dance forms, including salsa, samba, bachata, rumba and merengue. May be repeated once.

Spartan Studies:

VPA

Credit Hours: 3

DAN 231 Dance Happening Repertory

A seven week studio/performance-oriented course for credit that includes choreographing, performing or assisting with the presentation of the Dance Happening. May be repeated for credit.

Credit Hours: 0-1

DAN 232 Spring Dance Concert Repertory

A studio/performance-oriented course for credit that includes performing in, or assisting with the technical production of the Spring Dance Concert. May be repeated for credit.

Credit Hours: 0-1

DAN 241 Intermediate Jazz Dance

A studio/performance-oriented course that focuses on working towards mastery of jazz technique, and includes strengthening, stretching, complex movement combinations, improvisation, postural awareness, and creativity. Fulfills jazz dance requirement for a major in Musical Theatre. May be repeated once.

Spartan Studies:

VPA

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites

DAN 197 or consent of instructor.

DAN 242 Intermediate Modern Dance

A studio/performance-oriented course that focuses on working toward mastery of modern dance techniques and includes strengthening, stretching, complex movement combinations, improvisation, postural awareness, and creativity.  May be repeated once.

Spartan Studies:

VPA

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites

DAN 198 or consent of instructor.

DAN 244 Intermediate Tap Dance

A studio/performance-oriented course that focuses on working towards mastery of tap techniques, and  includes strengthening, stretching, complex movement combinations, improvisation, postural awareness, and creativity. May be repeated once.

Spartan Studies:

VPA

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites

DAN 144 or permission of instructor.

DAN 246 Musical Theatre Dance

A studio/performance-oriented course that focuses on mastery of modern and jazz dance technique as it pertains to musical theater dance/performance and includes strengthening, stretching, complex movement combinations, postural awareness, and creativity.  Required for a major in Musical Theatre. May be repeated once.

Spartan Studies:

VPA

Credit Hours: 3

DAN 249 Intermediate Ballet

A studio/performance-oriented course that focuses on working towards mastery of classical ballet techniques and includes strengthening, stretching, complex movement combinations, improvisation, postural awareness, and creativity.  May be repeated once.

Spartan Studies:

VPA

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites

DAN 199 or consent of instructor.

DAN 261 Stretching and Relaxation

A studio/performance-oriented course that focuses on development and reinforcement of positive lifestyle habits based on body awareness through a systematic program of stretching and relaxation techniques. May be repeated once.

Credit Hours: 2

DAN 269 Dance Improvisation

A studio/performance-oriented course that explores creative movement skills and practices to build confidence, as well as techniques to prepare for building and choreographing dances. Emphases are on stretching boundaries of movement through improvisation, and practicing ways in which movement can be developed and manipulated toward choreography.

Spartan Studies:

VPA

Credit Hours: 1

DAN 270 Composition and Choreography

A studio/performance-oriented course. An exploration of methods of building and structuring dances, beginning with movement, phrasing and patterns, and culminating in choreography projects. May be repeated once.

Spartan Studies:

VPA

Credit Hours: 1

Prerequisites

DAN 269.

DAN 302 Applied Dance Fundamentals III

This studio/performance multimodal course builds on concepts and practices from Applied Dance Fundamentals II.  Focuses on brain-compatible teaching practice in established dance technique classes.  Required for Dance Majors and Minors.

Credit Hours: 2

Prerequisites

DAN 202

DAN 320 Dance Anatomy, Kinesiology and Injury Prevention

Emphasis is on basic kinesiology principles and terminology as applied to dance training and technique with a focus on muscular-skeletal anatomy and function.  Includes assessment of core strength, muscular strength, balance, flexibility, and skeletal alignment in the context of a typical dance class.  Familiarizes students with common dance injuries, their causes, and basic methods of care and rehabilitation.  All of these areas will be applied to creating a safe and effective dance class.  Required for Dance Majors and Minors.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites

DAN 102, DAN 242 or DAN 342, DAN 249 or DAN 349; or permission of instructor

DAN 330 Special Topics in Dance

Special Topics in Dance will offer instruction and experiences in dance-related courses such as specialized dance techniques, dance theory and pedagogy. May be repeated once.
Credit Hours: 1-4

DAN 342 Advanced Contemporary Dance

A studio/performance-oriented course that focuses on complex contemporary dance techniques while exploring creativity and individual movement styles.  May be repeated for credit.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites

DAN 242 or permission of instructor.

DAN 349 Advanced Ballet

A studio/performance-oriented course that focuses on mastery of advanced level ballet technique and includes complex movement combinations, improvisation, and creativity.  May be repeated for credit.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites

DAN 249 or audition.

DAN 380 Teaching Methods for Dance

This course is designed to meet the needs of students to better understand the developmental considerations and the scope and sequence of dance curricular design and teaching methods appropriate to a wide range of ages and groups. National Dance Standards and application of assessment methods also will be utilized.

Credit Hours: 4

Prerequisites

For Applied Dance Majors and Minors only. DAN 202 or permission of instructor.

DAN 410 Applied Dance Internship

An intensive study involving the application of theoretical, philosophical, and pedagogical principles of dance education for the targeted population. Application for internship must be approved at least one semester prior to enrollment for the course.  Lectures and seminars about curriculums and instruction issues will be presented at the University.  Field experience placements will be based on elementary, secondary, or other community settings available at the time. 

Credit Hours: 0-4

Prerequisites

An elective course for Applied Dance Majors only. DAN 380 and senior status.

DAN 450 Senior Capstone Project

This capstone course presents an opportunity to integrate skills and experiences into a final culminating project.  Sample topics range from creating a business plan for opening a dance studio to designing a program for a community-based dance program to constructing a plan and curriculum for movement-based learning in the classroom.  There will be an emphasis on the practical application of the project. 

Credit Hours: 1

Prerequisites

For Applied Dance Majors only. Senior status.

DAN 480 Teaching Methods for Community and Diverse Populations

This course is designed to help students to understand community-based art, and how to create--through research, writing, and practice--movement-oriented programs and relationships with community centers and organizations that include age considerations, curricular choices, and teaching methods appropriate to diverse populations.  Focus includes working with a variety of populations, which may include the mentally ill, older adults, people with disabilities, people in prisons, and people in hospitals and healthcare settings.

Credit Hours: 4

Prerequisites

DAN 380. For Applied Dance Majors and Minors only.