Beginning Dance
BEGINNING DANCE SYLLABUS
BEGINNING DANCE SYLLABUS![]()
Course Description
The dance styles we will work on throughout this class will include Hip-Hop, Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern and more. A dancer achieves competence in dance (any style) through dance technique and discipline. The daily classroom routine will include variations of warm-ups, technique, stretches, locomotor, choreography, and appreciation/history of dance. Since the technical foundation of all jazz dance is ballet based, a basic level of ballet technique is practiced in this course.
Format of Class
The dance styles we will work on throughout this class will include Hip-Hop, Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern and more. A dancer achieves competence in dance (any style) through dance technique and discipline. The daily classroom routine will include variations of warm-ups, technique, stretches, locomotor, choreography, and appreciation/history of dance. Since the technical foundation of all jazz dance is ballet based, a basic level of ballet technique is practiced in this course.
Format of Class
- Warm Up: increase body temperature to move large muscles
- Technique: balance, body alignment, strength
- Stretch: lengthen major muscles and loosen ligaments
- Locomotor: movement across the floor
- Center work: combination or routine to put together steps learned
- Dance History: basic study of dance history and choreography for each style
Clothing
Students must dress out in PE clothing in order to participate in class. Jazz shoes or jazz sneakers, ballet slippers, or any other dance shoe must be worn everyday in order to participate in class. I will be ordering jazz shoes for each student in the class for $18. If you do not purchase a pair of shoes outside of class, then you must order them through me. Each day you must be in dance shoes or you will have a non dress. This will result in losing half of the daily points.
Grading
Final unit and term grades will be based on participation, skill, and dance tests. All students begin each day with 10 points. Final points and term grades will be based on total points accumulated.
Overall grades are based on the following criteria:
Participation (Daily effort, behavior, assignments, and shows)
Skill (Rhythm, technique, flexibility, performance skill test)
Tests (Written quizzes and tests)
Skill portion of the grade is based on the dancer’s performance on class skill tests, on combinations presented in class, and group assigned choreography. These will be graded by instructor observation. A letter will be graded for each skill test. These grades will be averaged together for the final skill grade.
Student Expectations and Responsibilities
Students must dress out in PE clothing in order to participate in class. Jazz shoes or jazz sneakers, ballet slippers, or any other dance shoe must be worn everyday in order to participate in class. I will be ordering jazz shoes for each student in the class for $18. If you do not purchase a pair of shoes outside of class, then you must order them through me. Each day you must be in dance shoes or you will have a non dress. This will result in losing half of the daily points.
Grading
Final unit and term grades will be based on participation, skill, and dance tests. All students begin each day with 10 points. Final points and term grades will be based on total points accumulated.
Overall grades are based on the following criteria:
Participation (Daily effort, behavior, assignments, and shows)
Skill (Rhythm, technique, flexibility, performance skill test)
Tests (Written quizzes and tests)
Skill portion of the grade is based on the dancer’s performance on class skill tests, on combinations presented in class, and group assigned choreography. These will be graded by instructor observation. A letter will be graded for each skill test. These grades will be averaged together for the final skill grade.
Student Expectations and Responsibilities
- To attend class in proper clothing and shoes. Non suits will be required to complete a written assignment that day or participate. A non suit will receives half the participation points for that day when written assignment is completed by the end of the period. Hair must be pulled back off the face when participating in class. Students will lose 2 points off their grade for the day if their hair is not up. Hair holder can be purchased in class for 25 cents if needed.
- To get to class and roll call on time. Students need to be in the locker room at the beginning of the period and in the dance room in roll call lines approximately 5 minutes after the tardy bell rings. You need to use the restroom before coming to class. You must also bring your 1 inch binder with binder paper and a writing utensil daily. (This will be part of your final grade and be turned in as a portfolio)
- In order to be excused from class activities, the student must bring a signed and dated note from the parent. After three days, a doctor’s note is required. A note excuses students from participation, but not dressing. If you are not participating a writing makeup assignment will need to be completed during the period. If possible, I would like for you to do modified participation so that you do not get behind in class.
- If a student is absent or sits out during the class period (for non-dress or excused note), then it is their responsibility to learn and catch up on the technique, lecture, lesson, or choreography taught that day.
- To be sure locks and lockers are secure do not leave valuables in the locker room. The PE department is not responsible if anything is stolen in the locker room. Never leave your backpacks out in the locker room and always lock up all of your belongings in your personal locker with your lock.
- To keep the dance room clean at all times. NO FOOD, DRINKS, OR GUM PERMITTED in the dance room. I do allow water bottles with a secure top to prevent leakage in the dance room.
- You will need to wear your street shoes (NOT DANCE SHOES) to and from the locker room. When entering class you need to change shoes quickly and sit in roll call lines. If you do not have your dance shoes, you will lose points for the day. Socks are not acceptable.
- You will enter the locker room through the back door. Once you are dressed, then you will enter the dance room through the hallway door, change your shoes, and sit in roll call order with your binder. Every day you will need to look at the board to answer the daily journal question. When instructed you will put your binder by the back doors then get into warm-up spots. When I excuse you from class you will enter the locker room from the hallway doors, get changed and exit through the back doors.
Have Fun!!
Dance is a tremendous amount of work, but a lot of fun! If you work hard and keep yourself open to new ways of moving as well as thinking, by the end of the term you’ll have a skill to be proud of no matter where you started the year. I look forward to working with each and every one of you and I hope that every student will grow to love and appreciate dance as much as I do! I’m excited to work with you as you improve and build on your individual dance skills, and with every student’s help I hope to build the best dance program here at River City High School!
Thank You,
Ms. Anderson
Dance is a tremendous amount of work, but a lot of fun! If you work hard and keep yourself open to new ways of moving as well as thinking, by the end of the term you’ll have a skill to be proud of no matter where you started the year. I look forward to working with each and every one of you and I hope that every student will grow to love and appreciate dance as much as I do! I’m excited to work with you as you improve and build on your individual dance skills, and with every student’s help I hope to build the best dance program here at River City High School!
Thank You,
Ms. Anderson
