Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

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

Rationale

NB INFORMATION IN THIS UNIT OUTLINE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF SEMESTER
This is the second in a suite 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 enhance technical competence and provide 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 objectives listed below, gradually and progressively, through safe but stimulated application.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Apply and consistently use correct alignment, move with an expanding range of dynamics, apply spatial awareness skills in a variety of contexts and demonstrate a developed understanding of musicality.
2. Display dance-specific fitness and consistent safe dance practice, applying receptivity and reflective practice skills.
3. Consistently dance with accuracy and clarity in replication; and project developed genre-specific and personal stylistic presentation and communication.

Content

You will generally take ballet class and contemporary dance class four days per week until Dance exam week. In addition, there may be classes designed as cross-training.

Class content will be devised by the lecturer and pitched at a level to stimulate your learning, facilitate safe and correct physical practice, broaden your movement range and vocabulary, encourage creativity, embed artistic praxis, develop musicality, strengthen your body and promote personal expression and communication. Steps and sequences may be taken from the standard repertoires. The lecturer may also use originally choreographed movements and combinations. Many distinct ballet and contemporary styles are codified, for example R.A.D., Cecchetti, Vaganova, Bournonville, Graham, Limon, Cunningham and Horton. However, no one prescribed method is favoured exclusively by the Dance discipline.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

QUT 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. The lecturers allocate you to a class level during the first two weeks of each semester. During this period, level placement can be negotiated. 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 personal, individuated and self-relevant property. You are explicitly given the control and responsibility for your own learning and development

Assessment

LATE ASSIGNMENTS
An assignment submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked. If you are unable to complete your assignment on time, you should submit on time whatever work you have done.

Faculty Assessment Information
To access complete Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information please refer to the Blackboard site for this unit.Feedback to students

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Lecturers give you verbal and demonstrated feedback, collectively or individually, in every class. You are encouraged to assimilate this information into your physical and conceptual development and interpretation 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.

Assessment name: Demonstration
Description: This is an assessment by your lecturer against the unit's performance standards of your development in dance technique in classes throughout the Semester.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Throughout Semester

Assessment name: Practical Examination
Description: This involves a presentation for each class group under examination conditions, comprising set and/or unseen work derived from the Semester's studies.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Late 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 is no set text for this unit.
It is strongly recommended that you own a dictionary of ballet terminology.


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.
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 Masters, University of South Florida Press, Tampa.

Contemporary
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) Coversations 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: 27-Mar-2013