Course Syllabus

DANC 1500 Jazz Dance I

Course Description

This course introduces students to the theory and practice of a beginning jazz dance technique. It emphasizes discipline, posture, alignment, balance, and muscular control necessary to execute basic jazz steps. Movement is presented utilizing demonstration, description, and exploration. This course is repeatable for credit.

Justification

Jazz is the form of dance that stays current with the popular trends of the day while preserving the classical movement trends of the past. It often represents the pop culture of its time period in dress, attitude, music, and movement. Jazz dance includes various styles, from the slower lyrical to the faster classical and contemporary movement, and is a required course for all dance majors. This course fulfills a credit requirement at four-year institutions.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will acquire beginning-level jazz technique skills.
2. Students will develop critical thinking skills through observation and analysis of personal movement habits while displaying increased ability in areas of flexibility, strength, musicality, coordination, proprioception and endurance.
3. Students will become familiar with the basic history of jazz and its contribution to the Western European dance forms.
4. Students will analyze the relevance/application of jazz technique to a dance concert performance.

Course Content

Each class will consist of three essential components: warm-up, Jazz exercises at the barre/center, and cool-down. Jazz exercises emphasize proper alignment, flexibility, core work, syncopated rhythms, balance, and musicality. In addition to the above, basic anatomy and physiology will be discussed as part of movement analysis and developing solutions for proper balance and other technique-related issues. Finally, through observation and written critiques, students will further refine their critical thinking skills and further appreciate the art of dance.This class welcomes movers of all abilities, backgrounds, and body types. While jazz is a traditional Western dance, it influences many other styles, including folk, social, tap, African, and other dances. As a group, we will strive to build a safe and caring community.