Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

This is the first in a series of four practical units which establish the critically important routine of daily technique class for the dance professional. In these classes, you will learn through reflective practice and guided training, to master dance technique in order to transcend mechanistic limitations and facilitate freedom of artistic expression. Generic attributes, including strength development, correct alignment, reflective thought and creative problem solving are embedded in your training to promote Safe Dance Practice and to equip you, as a graduate, with globally portable, life-long learning skills.

Aims

This unit aims to provide technical competence with the potential for virtuosity. Kinaesthetic awareness, correct alignment, reflective practice, musicality, artistic expression and a passion for the art form constitute the foundations of Dance Technique Studies and are an important basis for your course. This unit aims to facilitate your continued development of the above qualities and the achievement of the learning outcomes listed below, gradually and progressively, through safe but stimulated application.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. apply correct alignment, move with a range of dynamics, apply spatial awareness skills and demonstrate musicality.
2. demonstrate dance-specific fitness and safe dance practice
3. apply receptivity and reflective practice skills
4. display accuracy and clarity in replication
5. project genre-specific and personal stylistic presentation

Content

Class content will be devised by each class lecturer and pitched at a level to stimulate your learning, facilitate safe and correct physical practice, broaden movement range and vocabulary, encourage creativity, embed artistic praxis, develop musicality, strengthen the body and promote personal expression. Steps, sequences and exercises may be taken from the standard repertoires. The lecturer may also use originally choreographed or designed movements and combinations. Many distinct ballet and contemporary training techniques are codified, eg. R.A.D., Cecchetti, Vaganova, Bournonville, Graham, Limon, Cunningham, Horton, Alexander, Laban, and 'release technique'. However, no one prescribed method is favoured exclusively by Creative Industries Dance.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

You will generally take a ballet class four days per week, contemporary dance class four days per week, a body fitness class and an alternative class one day per week. The first 4 weeks of the semester may comprise a different program of training.

Creative Industries Dance has established a Levels System that allows you to work in classes according to your current degree of technical ability and conceptual understanding. Level One classes address basic aspects of technique. Levels Two, Three and Four are designed for increasing complexity and greater technical and artistic challenge. For further details, please consult the 'Dance Information and Resource Booklet'. Deep learning processes are promoted through the lecturer's emphasis on the critical requirement for you to transform all given corrections, advice, imagery and artistic and physical challenges into your own personal, individuated and self-relevant property. You are explicitly given the control and responsibility of your own learning and development.

For Health and Safety reasons, admission to this unit is dependent upon 1/ an appropriate level of physical fitness to prevent injury, and 2/ having no pre-existing injuries or structural/physical issues that would prevent your safe and full participation in all physical activities within this unit. You may be required to confirm your fitness to attempt this unit. In this instance, you will be required to obtain a physiotherapists report before you can participate in this unit. If a report is required, the unit coordinator must receive and approve it before you will be permitted to participate in any classes.

Assessment

Faculty Assessment Information
To access the Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information see the Blackboard site for this unit. FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Lecturers give you verbal and demonstrated feedback, collectively and/or individually, in every class. You are encouraged to assimilate this information into both the physical and conceptual development and expression of your dancing. You will be notified mid-semester if you are failing to meet the performance standards at the minimum level required to pass the unit. Various methods of delivering feedback will be employed during the semester. Weight: 0%

Assessment name: Demonstration
Description: Description: Performance of ballet and contemporary dance styles, with progressive marks calculated at the completion of each segment.
(30% Ballet + 30% Contemporary)
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Semester

Assessment name: Practical
Description: A practical examination for each level in ballet and contemporary dance, comprising set and/or unseen work derived from the semester's studies.
(20% Ballet + 20% Contemporary)
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 4 and 5
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

There are no set texts for this unit.

Recommended References

Ballet
Bremser, M. (1993) International Dictionary of Ballet, St James Press, Detroit.
Lowski, W. (1998) The Art of Teaching Classical Ballet , Dance Books, London.
Magri, G. (1988) Theoretical and Practical Treatise on Dancing, Dance Books, London.
Peterson, J. (2011) Dance Medicine , Princeton Book Company, Hightstown, NJ.
Ward Warren, G. (1989) Classical Ballet Technique , University of South Florida Press, Tampa.
Ward Warren, G. (1999) Art of Teaching Classical Ballet -Ten Twentieth Century Master s, University of South Florida Press, Tampa.

Contemporary
Writings on Dance.
Banes, S. (1977) Terpsichore in Sneakers , Wesleyan Press, Connecticut.
Cohen, S. J. (1969) The Modern Dance - Seven Statements of Belief , Wesleyan Press, Connecticut.
Marranca, B. and Dasgupta, G. (1999)Conversations on Art and Performance , John Hopkins University Press.
Morrison Brown, J. (1980) The Vision of Modern Dance , Dance Books, London.

Risk assessment statement

The study in this unit involves physical training in purpose-built dance studios and industry standard performance venues. Full physical participation in any class / rehearsal is subject to compliance with safe dance practice.

Physical challenges are an inherent part of dance training. The development of essential risk-management skills that minimise potential injury is a high priority with all lecturing staff. You are taught safe dance principles as life-long learning skills and it is expected that you apply them in this unit.

The dance discipline provides the necessary duty of care in emergency situations through its first-aid and health and safety officers at most venues in which you are required to participate in this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 21-Sep-2012