WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY

PROPOSAL FOR UNIVERSITY STUDIES COURSES

Department __Theatre and Dance___________________________                                                            Date ___2/5/2003_____________  

         ____THAD 255_________           _____MODERN DANCE II______________________                              ___2_________

         Course No.                                          Course Name                                                                                                               Credits

         This proposal is for a(n)                 ___X__ Undergraduate Course

         Applies to: ______ Major                                                 ___X__ Minor

_____ Required                                           __X__ Required

_____ Elective                                           _____ Elective

         University Studies (A course may be approved to satisfy only one set of outcomes.):

Course Requirements:

                       Basic Skills:                                                             Arts & Science Core:                                 Unity and Diversity:

                       _____ 1. College Reading and Writing                       _____ 1. Humanities                                       _____ 1. Critical Analysis

                       _____ 2. Oral Communication                                     _____ 2. Natural Science                               _____ 2. Science and Social Policy

                       _____ 3. Mathematics                                                  _____ 3. Social Science                                 _____ 3. a. Global Perspectives

                       _____ 4. Physical Development & Wellness              __X__ 4. Fine & Performing Arts                  _____     b. Multicultural Perspectives

                                                                                                                                                                                    _____ 4. a. Contemporary Citizenship

                                                                                                                                                                                    _____     b. Democratic Institutions

         Flagged Courses:                               _____ 1. Writing

                                                                        _____ 2. Oral Communication

                                                                        _____ 3. a. Mathematics/Statistics

                                                                        _____     b. Critical Analysis

         Prerequisites ______THAD 155 Modern Dance I or permission of instructor                                              

Provide the following information (attach materials to this proposal):

         Please see “Directions for the Department” on previous page for material to be submitted.

Attach a University Studies Approval Form.

Department Contact Person for this Proposal:

__Gretchen Cohenour___________________                   __457-5665__                mailto:_gcohenour@winona.edu________

Name (please print)                                                                       Phone                                          e-mail address

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY

PROPOSAL FOR UNIVERSITY STUDIES COURSE

DEPARTMENT:   THEATER AND DANCE                        DATE: February 10, 2003

COURSE NUMBER:   THAD 255 

COURSE TITLE:   Modern Dance II                         NUMBER OF CREDITS:   2

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION: This advanced beginning level course is a further exploration of the theory, technique, terminology, and history of modern dance as a performing art. The focus of expressive movement training is enhanced through experiences with improvisation and choreography. Grade only. May be repeated once for credit.  Prerequisite:  Modern Dance I or permission of instructor.

This course previously existed in the department of Physical Education and Recreation and is being transferred to the Department of Theater and Dance. This proposed course is designed to satisfy the requirements in: Fine and Performing Arts.        

Department and contact person for this course: Gretchen Cohenour, PAC 212; 457-5665

Email: gcohenour@winona.edu          

This course includes requirements and learning activities that promote students’ abilities to:

a. explore the language, skills, and materials of an artistic discipline: Through the knowledge and practice of beginning and advanced beginning level modern dance technique and improvisation, students will become increasingly articulate, technically and artistically, in various modern dance styles. They will become fluent in beginning modern dance vocabulary and Laban Movement Analysis terminology (spoken and executed) and deepen their knowledge of differing and evolving aesthetics within the art form. They will more fully integrate principles of alignment, and will continue to deepen their physical awareness through repetition of movements in tandem with guided imagery and attention.

b. use methods of an arts practitioner to actively engage in creative process or interpretive performances; Students will have the experience of learning, rehearsing and performing in class an original modern dance phrases choreographed by the instructor. Students will, in addition, create and perform an original modern dance sequence (up to 2 minutes in length) based on vocabulary and aesthetics. Students will select an arrangement of movements in combination with music, costuming and clear intent to create an artistic whole. The composition will be performed for the class as a final project.

c. to understand the cultural and gender contexts of artistic expression: Through video, lecture and discussion, students will be exposed to the history of modern dance and the changing roles of men and women throughout its evolution. Students will view dances that are products of different cultures and historical periods, providing a context for appreciating the roots of the discipline. They will, in addition, complete a research paper on an important figure in the modern dance history.

d. engage in reflective analysis of their own work or interpretive performance and respond to the work of others. Students will view, discuss, and respond in written form to diverse dances experienced through video and/or live professional performance.  Students will discuss projects and respond to peer projects through written critiques.  Students will also reflect upon and assess, in written form, their own experience of learning, both technically and creatively, through journalizing, 

Course activities and assignments that address these Fine and Performing Arts Requirements will be identified in the syllabus by letter (a), (b), (c), (d)            

COURSE OBJECTIVES

            a.         To create a stronger more integrated dance technique through ongoing movement training and exploration. (a), (b),

            b.         To recognize and begin to change inefficient movement habits, alignment patterns, and thinking patterns through a heightened awareness of breath, energy flow, anatomical limitations and movement principles.  (a), (b)

            c.         To sharpen dance skills in perceiving, repeating and reversing dance sequences with clarity.

                        (a), (b)

            d.         To gain an experiential understanding of diverse movement theories including Laban Movement Analysis, Ideokinesis, and Yoga as they relate to dance theory and technique. (a), (b)

            e.         To write and speak articulately about dance process and training through in class peer tutoring, critiques, discussions, research, written responses, and journal keeping.  (a), (c), (d)

            f.          To improve dance performance through refining stage presence, phrasing, and choreographic intent. (b),

            g.         To develop creative expression and risk-taking through improvisation and choreography experience.  (a), (b),

h.              To refine critical and aesthetic dance literacy and choice-making through exposure to divergent artistic viewpoints and theories including historic 20^th century choreographers and the influences of world dance (a), (c), (d)

BASIC INSTRUCTIONAL PLAN AND METHODS (a),(b),(c),(d)

The primary experience of dancing and class performance will be guided through lecture, demonstration, videotaping individual and group feedback and corrections, discussion, and active listening.  Creativity and expression within the form are encouraged through structured improvisation and personally stylized interpretations of phrases choreographed and taught by the instructor.  A variety of percussion and recorded music including Classical, New Age, Jazz, and World Music is used. Videos of U.S. and European dances will be viewed, discussed, and critiqued.  Video will also be used to record student progress and provide feedback on technique and expression as well as for documenting student progress.

COURSE OUTLINE

Course outline will vary with the technical level and progression of students in each semester and the sequence of applied concepts will vary with each class. This is a mixed level technique class (Modern II, III, IV meets concurrently), so the technical level of challenge will be relative to the individual students’ developmental skill level. A SAMPLE OUTLINE is as follows:

            I.          Warm-up (a), (b)

                        A.        Breathing Techniques

                        B.         Ideokinesis (guided imagery)

                        C.         Loco motor phrase with plane and level changes/ structured improvisation

                        D.        Axial phrase with Plies and swings exploring joint action        

            II.        Floor Work (a), (b), (c)

                        A.        Arc-like carving of the arms w/torso in contraction/extension in rotates 1st, parallel 1st and open 2nd in 3/4 time.

                        B.         Using breath, gravity and release to increase stretch range.

                        C.         Learn and perform phrases informed by German expressionist modern dance technique designed to explore the Laban concepts of weight and flow.

            III.       Center Work (a), (b), (c), (d)

                        A.        Suspension/Fall/Recovery through the vertical axis based on Humphrey/Limon technique

                        B.         Plie phrase w/brushes and direction changes in all 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th positions.  Repeat with contraction and arm shaping

C.             Learn and perform adagio phrase structured to reinforce and expand upon concepts presented thus far focusing on movement integration, stage presence, and clarity of intent in performance

D.             Divide into 2 groups, take turns witnessing, and giving verbal feedback and peer critiques, then make revisions and perform again

            IV.       Traveling phrases (a), (b), (c), (d)

                        A.        Allegro--quick footwork in parallel and rotated positions emphasizing lightness, clarity and alignment

                        B.         Partner work:  Within a metered time structure explore opposing Laban action drives.  (I.e. glide vs. slash or float vs. punch)

                        C.         30 count phrase (to continue to be built over a series of classes) designed to technically and aesthetically challenge the dancer in terms of space/time/weight combinations and transitions.

                        D.        Running, jumping, leaping, hopping, turning and phrases

             V.    Cool Down (a), (c), (d)

                        A.        Group circle dance

B.             Floor stretches while watching an historic video clip of German Expressionist Dance or American Dance pioneers

C.             Discussion of Choreography concepts used in projects

D.        Discussion and review of concepts applied and explored; peer feedback; teacher feedback; closure

VI.       Additional Learning Experiences (a,), (c), (d)

A.    Viewing and discussing films of contemporary and traditional dances by U.S. and European Companies

B.    Defining modern dance through its history and evolution as an art form.

C.    Exploring issues and divergent styles currently emerging in contemporary dance

D.    Creating original Modern Dance compositions

ASSESSMENT: COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION (a, b, d)

            50%    Technique Class participation and quality of progress (see attached attendance policy) (a), (b)

                        No more than two absences are permitted per semester

            20%    Dance Portfolio to include: (a), (b), (d)

            1) Dated journal entries on every class period, i.e.. Notes on movement phrases, personal perceptions about your dance process and development, corrections, assumptions, etc. 

            2) Typed Midterm and Final self-assessments which articulately track your growth process, struggles and triumphs as a dancer.                    

                                    3) Notes and quotes from your textbook synthesis and articles       

            4) Movement maps, drawings, scores, pictures, and any other visual materials that relate to or inspire your growth as a dance artist

            15%    Three Dance Concert reports: 1-2 page, typed (5 points each)  (c), (d)

              5%    Midterm Creative Project (Portfolio and midterm self assessment also due at midterms)

                        (a), (b)

            10%    Final project and final self-assessment. (a), (b), (c)

(Assessments include observations about your thinking/dancing process, strengths and weaknesses, and relate directly to your personal goals created at the beginning of the semester)

TEXTBOOKS

                   Modern II

      Penrod, James and Plastino, Janice.  The Dancer Prepares.  Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Co., 1998.

                   Modern III

      Olsen, Andrea.  Body Stories: A Guide to Experiential Anatomy. Barrytown, NY: Station Hill Press, 1991.

Modern IV

       Rolland, John.  Inside Motion.  Northhampton, MA:  Contact Editions, 1997.

REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY

     Brown, Jean Morrison (ed).  The Vision of Modern Dance. Princeton, N.J.  Princeton

                   Book Co., 1979.

            Cohen, Selma Jeanne (ed).  The Modern Dance: Seven Statements of Belief.

       Middletown, CT:  Wesleyan University Press, 1965.

            Dowd, Irene.  Taking Root To Fly.  Northhampton, MA:  Contact Editions, 1990.

                        Laban, Rudolf.  The Mastery of Movement.  Boston:  Plays, Inc., 1971. 

            Minton, Sandra.  Modern Dance:  Body and Mind.  Englewood, CO:  Morton

       Publishers, 1984.

            Novack, Cynthia J.  Sharing The Dance: Contact Improvisation in American Culture.

       Madison, WI:  U.W. Press, 1991.

                        Wigman, Mary.  The Language of Dance.  Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University

                   Press, 1966.

Dance Class Attendance Policy

Winona State University

Gretchen Cohenour

Attendance is mandatory.  Absences will affect your grade in two ways:

            1.         It will affect the percentage of your grade designated for participation.

2.              More than two (2) absences will lower your final grade by one letter for each excessive

            absence.

An Excused Absence includes, for example, death in the family, or debilitating illness.

            Tardiness         If you are more than ten minutes late to a dance class without having notified the instructor in advance you may not participate in the class, and that class will be counted as an unexcused absence.  Being late to class twice is equivalent to one unexcused absence, if the lateness is less than ten minutes.

Make-Up Classes Absences may be made up where there are appropriate substitutes in the curriculum, (See  calendar) at least 1 week before end of term.  Make-ups must be indicated in writing to the instructor for record keeping purposes.

Active Observation Without Participation: You are responsible for assessing your own state of health in consultation with your doctor.  If you are unable to dance, you may actively observe class for up to two weeks without participating. (This may include notating movement phrases, drawing floor patterns, giving peer feedback, journalizing, etc.)

Injury Policy                           Credit for all technique classes is contingent upon participation.  If a student

has or incurs an injury in the course of study resulting in a long term (over two weeks) lay off from dancing, it is the student's responsibility to consult with the teacher as to creative options in the learning process or withdrawal from the class.

B.      Rationale

1.     Statement of the major focus and objectives of the course.

      See above.

2.     Specify how this new course contributes to the departmental curriculum.

It is required in the dance minor program, and will also serve as a Fine Arts Core in the University Studies Program.

      3.   Indicate any course(s) which may be dropped if this course is approved.

               PER 216 Modern Dance II

C.      Impact of this Course on other Departments, Programs, Majors, or Minors

1.     Does this course increase or decrease the total credits required by a major or minor of any other department?  If so, which department(s)?

      No

2.     List the departments, if any, which have been consulted about this proposal.

Department of Physical Education and Recreation

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY

FINANCIAL AND STAFFING DATA SHEET

                                                                                                                                                                  Course or Program__THAD 255 Modern Dance II_

Include a Financial and Staffing Data Sheet with any proposal for a new course, new program, or revised program.

Please answer the following questions completely.  Provide supporting data.

1.     Would this course or program be taught with existing staff or with new or additional staff?  If this course would be taught by adjunct faculty, include a rationale.

This course will be taught with existing staff, including adjunct faculty.  The Dance Minor program has one full-time faculty member and historically has depended on adjunct faculty to meet the needs of the program.  Although WSU is currently experiencing a hiring freeze, the CLA dean has committed necessary adjunct money to maintain the Dance Minor program.

NOTE:  Modern Dance II, III, IV are taught concurrently in a mixed level class, requiring only 2 FTEs.

2.     What impact would approval of this course/program have on current course offerings?  Please discuss number of sections of current offerings, dropping of courses, etc.

Since this class is currently being offered under a PER course number, approval of this course in THAD will enable us to maintain the Dance Minor at its current level and support the Fine Arts Requirement for the University Studies Program.

When the PER Department revised its curriculum in Fall of 2002, they decided to drop dance technique classes and their involvement in the shared Dance Minor program, and offered these courses to the THAD Department.

The Modern Dance II class is taught once each semester.

Since this course has existed in the Dance Minor program for years as a PER course, transference of the course to the THAD Department will have no impact on current offerings.

3.     What effect would approval of this course/program have on the department supplies?  Include data to support expenditures for staffing, equipment, supplies, instructional resources, etc.

Approval will have no effect on department supplies.  The Department of Theatre and Dance within the College of Liberal Arts has supported the administration of the Dance Minor program for years, and has provided equipment and supplies.  A portion of the full-time THAD dance faculty member’s load has been dedicated to teaching PER dance classes, and CLA has covered PER dance adjunct salaries.  Bringing the dance courses into the Department of Theatre and Dance will have a positive effect in that there will be greater efficiency in the Dance Minor program being contained within one department (THAD) and one college (Liberal Arts).