DANCE 120 Dance Vocabulary I - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

Introducing the study of diverse dance vocabulary including ballet, contemporary dance and the field of somatics. Students will examine specific technical requirements of identified dance vocabulary.

Course Overview

This course aims to establish a sound understanding and fundamental awareness of dance technique. This paper explores ideas and movement vocabulary drawn from contemporary dance and somatic practices (such as M&B, Pilates and Alexander technique). You will also have the opportunity to explore how the technical skills and physical awareness learnt in this class can be applied to choreographic practices and movement research, and also how it could inform other dance styles.

The intention of this paper is to prepare you for Dance Vocabulary papers II and III, and will focus on developing alignment, strength, control, flexibility, dynamics, coordination, and balance in movement, while also investigating how to work your body in a safe and efficient way. Parallel to the practical aspect of the class there will be opportunities for discussions, reflections and observations of pertinent issues connected to dance history, technique, choreography and aesthetics while also relating these themes to broader areas of society and culture.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Demonstrate and understand basic technique and fundamental movement ideas in a dance class drawing on contemporary and somatic vocabularies (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
Perform foundational contemporary technique in choreography (Capability 3.1)
Understand and apply these techniques to the student’s own body in a safe way (Capability 3.1)
Understand and explain the historical background of contemporary and somatic philosophies (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 4.3)
Understand and describe the broader application of the techniques taught, and how technique and fundamental movement ideas could enhance the students own dance practice and complement or fuse with other dance styles (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.3, 8.1 and 8.2)
Demonstrate abilities to work on creative processes individually and in a group. (Capability 1.3, 3.1, 6.1, 6.3, 7.1 and 7.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Essay	10%	Individual Coursework
Practical	30%	Individual Coursework
Practical	40%	Individual Coursework
Critical engagement	10%	Individual Coursework
Reflective journal	10%	Individual Coursework
5 types	100%

Assessment Type	Learning Outcome Addressed
	1	2	3	4	5	6
Essay
Practical
Practical
Critical engagement
Reflective journal

Students require a grade of 50% to pass this course.

Teaching & Learning Methods

Practical dance class
Practical tasks and creative activities
Video analysis
Group discussions
Written assignments
Readings from the literature
Self directed learning
Observation
Peer feedback

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 6 hours of practical dance workshops integrating theoretical learning, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 2 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including all movement workshops to complete components of the course.
Lectures will not be available as recordings. Other learning activities including workshops will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the physical assessments.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Health & Safety

HEALTH AND SAFETY STATEMENT

Given new the Health and Safety regulations within NZ and the University, Dance Studies staff and students are required to proactively manage risk. Staff and students are expected to communicate clearly to each other any physical, mental or social concerns that require management.

Below are several points to consider as you engage in all your Dance Studies classes and rehearsals:

• In managing risk and physical injury Dance Studies staff will firmly review student attendance. Dance Studies staff will not place a student in a situation that will knowingly cause harm. As such, staff will not let a student undertake assessment tasks if the staff member believes that the student is not prepared for the assessment. If a student attends all classes then they will be prepared for the assessment.

• Warming up properly is essential; you cannot do a practical class if you are not warm as you are running the risk of injuring yourself. It is your responsibility to warm up sufficiently, as we expect to be able to start the class immediately and not take up valuable class time getting everyone ‘warm’. Similarly, you are expected to undertake your own cool down, and daily self-care and management.

• Please inform us of any injury or health related circumstances that are relevant to your full participation in the course. If you develop a new injury, or if an old injury surfaces during the course, let us know about it BEFORE class, or as soon as it happens in class – if you are unsure about your injury or pain ASK us about it, and ALWAYS seek medical advice from medical professionals.

• In case of injury please see Kim to fill out an Accident/Incident Report form

• First aid kits are available in the KMC studio and in the Dance Studies office. Please inform the administrator when these need replenishing.

• Please be alert of personal security when rehearsing – rehearse with a friend if possible.

• Please take care of mental, physical and social wellbeing. If you need support or/and advice or need to raise a concern please speak with your lecturer or Head of Department or University Counsellor ph. 09 923 7681.

Content Warning: During this course some content of music may offend. Please discuss any issues with the teacher.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Enjoy the practice led work

Other Information

Late assignment policy:

Hand in work by 4pm on the due date to your lecturer, or place in the Dance Studies Assignment Box at the Dance Studies Office, Level one, building 113.

If you have a good reason for needing an extension, please discuss with your lecturer in advance of the deadline.

If an assignment is handed in late and no extension has been granted, the following penalties will apply:

 Within two days of the due date, your mark will be reduced by one grade (for example, A to A-).

 Between 2 and 7 days late your mark will be reduced by two grades

(for example, A to B+).

 No piece of work will be accepted after 7 days and the assignment will receive 0%.

Return and collection of coursework:

Coursework will normally be returned, or made available for collection, within 3 weeks past the due date. If material is not collected by week 2 of following semester it will be disposed of.

Attendance and participation

Engagement with course activities and readings supports academic success. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that students make every effort to attend class and complete all the necessary in-class requirements. Note: There is a critical engagement mark within this course. Please see assessment outline for details.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Capability 1:	People and Place
Capability 3:	Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4:	Critical Thinking
Capability 6:	Communication
Capability 7:	Collaboration
Capability 8:	Ethics and Professionalism

DANCE 120 : Dance Vocabulary I

Creative Arts and Industries

2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)