Academics
Courses
The course offerings in dance at Emory College are diverse and rich, stimulating mind and body alike. Our mission is to educate the entire dancer through studio work, the creative process, special subjects in the field, and interdisciplinary approaches.
To access the course atlas for a specific semester, please use the links below. For complete course descriptions, please scroll down this page.
Course Atlas-Spring 2010
Course Atlas-Fall 2009
Course Atlas-Summer 2009
Complete Course Offerings
Modern
Modern Levels I-IVBallet
Ballet Levels I-IVJazz
Jazz Levels I-IVOther Movement
Dances and Dance Forms
Movement ImprovisationChoreography and Performance
Choreography I & II
Concert Production Workshop
Emory Dance Company
Emory Dance on TourSomatics
Alexander Technique
Fitness for Dancers
Movement FundamentalsDance History and Theory
Introduction to Dance
History of Western Concert Dance
Dance Literacy
Labanotation
Dance Pedagogy
Contemporary Issues in DanceSpecial Topics and Interdisciplinary Courses
Arts Writing and Criticism
Actors and Dancers: Text and Movement
Dance and Embodied Knowledge
Principles of DesignFreshman Seminars
All About Yoga
Creativity and CollaborationSpecial Projects
Special Projects: Performance
Special Projects: Technical Production
Special Projects: Historical/Theoretical Research
Special Projects: Internship
Special Projects: Honors Thesis
Special Projects: Directing
Special Projects: Choreography
Special Projects in Dance and Movement Studies
MODERN
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| Students in a modern dance class. |
DANC 123R: Modern Dance I (Introduction) (1 hour)
Content: This course introduces modern dance technique and vocabulary. Special emphasis will be placed on dynamic alignment, sensing and activating weight in the body, body awareness, increasing the student's ease and range of motion, balance, coordination and personal expression. Movement explorations take place on the floor, standing and in sequences locomoting through space.
Particulars: Evaluation procedures announced in class. Fulfills HPED requirement. Students are required to take this course at least two times before progressing onto the next level and should secure the permission of the instructor before doing so. May be taken up to three times for credit.
DANC 223R: Modern Dance II (Advanced Beginning) (1 hour)
Content: This course is an expansion of technical skills introduced in Modern I including dynamics, principles of connectivity, breath support, and the balance of strength and flexibility. Emphasis is placed on release work, supported by principles of weight; full articulation of the body in three dimensional space; and phrasing as an extension of technique in order to develop a deeper range of creative expression.
Particulars: This course is designed for students who have successfully mastered the skills taught in Modern I. At least 2 semesters in Modern I and consultation with instructor is required before entry into this course. Evaluation procedures announced in class. Fulfills HPED requirement. May be taken up to three times for credit.
DANC 323R: Modern III (Intermediate) (1 hour)
Content: This course is a continuation and expansion of the skills introduced in Modern Dance II. Emphasis is placed on investigating movement concepts while challenging a student’s technical and performance range. This course encourages advanced students to become articulate performers by developing their knowledge of musicality, phrasing, 3-dimensional space, partnering, and ensemble work. Master classes from local and national professionals are a regular feature of this course.
Particulars: This course is designed for students who have successfully mastered the skills taught in Modern II. At least 2-3 semesters in Modern II and consultation with instructor is required before enrolling in this course. Evaluation procedures announced by instructor. Fulfills HPED requirement. May be taken up to three times for credit.
DANC 423R: Modern Dance IV (Advanced) (1 hour)
Content: This course is a continuation and expansion of skills introduced in Modern Dance III. Emphasis is placed on increasing technical and performance skills while developing a sophisticated understanding of movement concepts through assignments, class experiences, and discussion. Master classes from local and national professionals are a regular feature of this course.
Particulars: Modern IV is taught at an advanced level and is designed for students who have mastered the skills taught in Dance 323R or permission of instructor. At least 2 semesters in Modern III and consultation with instructor is required before enrolling in this course. Evaluation procedures announced by instructor. Fulfills the HPED requirement. May be taken up to nine times for credit.
BALLET
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| Students work during a ballet class. |
DANC 121R: Ballet I (Introduction) (1 hour)
Content: This course is designed for students with no or very minimal experience in ballet technique. Ballet I introduces students to the basic skills and terminology of ballet. The course includes barre exercises with an emphasis on alignment. Center work will include adagio, basic turns, petite allegro, and grande allegro in simple combinations. The course is designed to develop individual body awareness, strength, flexibility and an appreciation of the art of ballet.
Particulars: Ballet I includes practical and/or written tests and fulfills the HPED requirement. Students are required to take this course at least two times before progressing onto the next level and should secure the permission of the instructor before doing so. May be taken up to three times for credit.
DANC 221R: Ballet II (Advanced Beginning) (1 hour)
Content: This advanced beginning course builds upon the students’ knowledge of the basic skills and terminology of Ballet I. It includes barre exercises with a continued emphasis on alignment. Center work will include adagio, turns, petite allegro, and grande allegro in simple combinations. The course is designed to develop individual body awareness, strength, flexibility, musicality, and an appreciation of the art of ballet.
Particulars: This course is designed for students who have successfully mastered the skills taught in Ballet I. At least 2-3 semesters in Ballet I and consultation with instructor is required before entry into this course. Ballet II includes practical and/or written tests and fulfills the HPED requirement. May be taken up to three times for credit.
DANC 321R: Ballet III (Intermediate) (1 hour)
Content: This course continues to reinforce and build upon the skills learned in Ballet II. More emphasis is placed on style and execution of movement at an intermediate level. Movement sequences become more intricate. A more extensive movement vocabulary is introduced.
Particulars: This course is designed for students who have successfully mastered the skills taught in Ballet II. At least 2-3 semesters in Ballet II and consultation with instructor is required before enrolling in this course. Evaluation procedures announced by instructor. Ballet III fulfills the HPED requirement. May be taken up to three times for credit.
DANC 421R: Ballet IV (Advanced) (1 hour)
Content: This course continues to reinforce and build upon the skills learned Dance 321R. More emphasis is placed on style and execution. Combinations increase in intricacy and a larger dance movement vocabulary is introduced.
Particulars: Ballet IV is taught at an advanced level and is designed for students who have mastered the skills taught in Dance 321R, or by permission of instructor. With permission of the instructor class may be taken on pointe. At least 2 semesters in Ballet III and consultation with instructor is required before enrolling in this course. Evaluation procedures announced by instructor. Ballet IV fulfills the HPED requirement. May be taken up to nine times for credit.
JAZZ
DANC 124R: Jazz Dance I (1 hour)
Content: An introduction to articulating and expressing rhythms through stylized movement sequences, basic technical skills, and performance. Emphasis is on development of greater body awareness, strength, flexibility, coordination, musicality (especially syncopation), and improvisation.
Particulars: Evaluation procedures announced in class. May be taken up to three times for credit. Fulfills HPED requirement.
DANC 224R: Jazz Dance II (1 hour)
Content: This course includes further development of skills introduced in Jazz Dance I with greater emphasis on style, performance, and technique. More technically challenging movement sequences will be introduced and students will be expected to individualize movement at an intermediate/advanced level.
Particulars: Jazz I or previous jazz training constitute prerequisites. Evaluation procedures announced in class. May be taken up to three times for credit. Fulfills HPED requirement.
DANC 324R: Jazz Dance III (1 hour)
Content: This course is a further development of skills introduced in Jazz Dance II with greater emphasis on style, performance, and technique. More technically challenging movement sequences will be introduced and students will be expected to individualize movement at an intermediate/advanced level.
Particulars: Jazz II or previous jazz training constitute prerequisites. Evaluation procedures announced in class. May be taken up to three times for credit. Fulfills HPED requirement.
OTHER MOVEMENT
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| Students in DANC 127R (Dances and Dance Forms) perform Kuchipudi, an Indian classical dance. |
DANC 127R: Dances and Dance Forms (1 hour)
Content: In addition to learning an existing dance work or studying a dance form, students will explore the material from a variety of perspectives including historical, cultural, political, or focus on a specific artist’s creative environment and process. The topic of study will vary each semester and could embrace western or non-western forms or works recorded through Labanotation. This course culminates in a performance or lecture demonstration.
Particulars: Required course for dance and movement studies majors. May be taken up to three times for credit. Fulfills HPED requirement.
DANC 150R: Movement Improvisation (1 hour)
Content: This course is an investigation of the body's potential to move without preconception. Explorations in a variety of improvisational forms emphasize group interplay, problem-solving, and inner listening in order to reveal new movement vocabularies and increase kinesthetic awareness.
Particulars: Required course for dance and movement studies majors and minors. May be taken up to three times for credit. Fulfills HPED requirement. Prerequisite for Choreography I.
CHOREOGRAPHY AND PERFORMANCE
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| A student in DANC 250 (Choreography I) performs a site-specific work. |
DANC 250: Choreography I (4 hours)
Content: This is a dance composition course that is designed to allow the student to investigate movement affinities and to discover new movement vocabularies through solo compositions. Studies examine the basic elements of dance – the body in time, space, and dynamics, as well as the use of music with movement. This course emphasizes personal coaching and critique within a nurturing and experimental environment.
Particulars: Prerequisite - Danc 150R: Movement Improvisation. Required course for dance and movement studies majors and minors. Must be a declared dance and movement studies major or minor, or permission of instructor.
DANC 350: Choreography II (4 hours)
Content: Students will utilize skills acquired in Choreography I. Choreography II emphasizes deeper exploration, incorporation of the elements of space, time, and energy in group works. This course meets twice a week, with an additional evening lab for viewing and critiquing works in progress. Students are involved in all aspects of the production process .
Particulars: Choreography I is prerequisite.
DANC 360R: Concert Production Workshop (2 hours)
Content: This course is designed to provide additional working experience in creating choreographic work. Students are involved in all aspects of the production process .
Particulars: Choreography II is a prerequisite.
DANC 207R: Emory Dance Company (1-2 hours)
Content: EDC offers students the opportunity to perform and gain experience in technical concert production. Students participate in student, faculty, and guest artist original works, and staging of existing works, in a variety of idioms, including modern, ballet, and jazz. Entrance by audition at the beginning of each semester. Credit hours are assigned based on the number of dances in which a student is cast. Students who enroll in DANC 207R for two credit hours will receive only one physical education elective credit.
Particulars: Simultaneous enrollment in a technique class is required.
DANC 307R: Emory Dance on Tour (2 hours)
Content: This course offers an experience of performing extensively within a touring context. Students will learn diverse repertory choreographed by faculty, guest artists, and students. These works will be presented in a variety of venues or settings.
Particulars: Entrance by audition or invitation. May be taken up to three times for credit.
SOMATICS
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| Instructor Holly Godwin demonstrates in her Alexander Technique class. |
DANC 227: The Alexander Technique (1 hour)
Content: The Alexander Technique presents a mind-body approach to addressing one's knowledge and awareness of body alignment. With improved self-awareness this technique can enhance ease and flexibility in all activities. This course is particularly valuable for dancers, athletes, musicians, and actors.
Particulars: No prerequisites required. Fulfills HPED requirement.
DANC 225: Fitness for Dancers (1 hour)
Content: This course concentrates on increasing the student’s physical capacities through study and implementation of the principles of physical fitness with the objective of improving dance performance.
Particulars: This course fulfills the Principles of Physical Fitness and HPED requirements.
DANC 226: Movement Fundamentals (1 hour)
Content: Through various body awareness techniques the body gains maximum efficiency and ease of motion. Movement explorations focus on core support, breath support, range of motion, clear initiation, and sequencing. The holistic study of Bartenieff Fundamentals addresses the interrelationship of mind and body, and can be applied to everyday activities and performance.
Particulars: This course fulfills the Principles of Physical Fitness and HPED requirements.
DANCE HISTORY AND THEORY
DANC 229: Introduction to Dance (4 hours)
Content: This course is a comprehensive study of the dance as an expressive art form, a symbolic language, and an integral aspect of world cultures. Introduction to Dance develops both aesthetic response and critical skills through an analysis of major dance forms, styles, genres, and through exploring the creative process.
Particulars: Course material will be presented through a series of lectures, performance observations, discussions, and actual movement experiences. No prerequisites required.
DANC 230: History of Western Concert Dance (4 hours)
Content: This course traces the development of Western concert dance from 15th century European court dance to the present. Emphasis will be placed on the development of American modern dance, postmodern dance, and current dance artists.
Particulars: This course is required for all dance and movement studies majors and minors. Must be a declared dance and movement studies major or minor or permission of instructor.
DANC 240: Dance Literacy (4 hours)
Content: Dance Literacy is the study of Laban Movement Analysis. LMA is a comprehensive system for analyzing, observing, experiencing, and notating movement. Its application for this course will involve the analysis of cultural traits and patterns in choreographic work. We will examine the interrelationship of body (non-verbal communication) to space (environment), shape (posture) and effort (expression). Extensive readings, movement studies, discussions, and video observation will be the means of gathering data.
Particulars: No prerequisites required. Required course for dance and movement studies majors.
DANC 339: Labanotation (4 hours)
Content: Labanotation is a system of movement notation developed by Rudolf Laban in the early twentieth century. It is a tool which is used worldwide for in-depth study, preservation and greater understanding of dance works of this century. In this course students will develop basic skills in the analysis, recording and reading of movement phrases and scores.
Particulars: Basic movement or dance training constitute prerequisite.
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| Students in DANC 330 (Dance Pedagogy) teach at the Glenn School for Young Children. |
DANC 330: Dance Pedagogy (4 hours)
Content: This course develops communicative, leadership, and creative skills while preparing the student for his/her role as a dance educator. It includes a study of dance education and practical teaching experiences in the Atlanta community.
Particulars: Permission of instructor recommended.
DANC 329: Contemporary Issues in Dance (4 hours)
Content: This course examines the practical, aesthetic, and critical issues of dance as a fine art. It exposes students to elements of various dance professions through studio experiences, project-based assignments, guest speakers, and field trips. Students will obtain practical skills which support their appreciation of and knowledge in the field of dance.
Particulars: Required course for dance and movement studies majors.
SPECIAL TOPICS AND INTERDISCIPLINARY COURSES
DANC 340SWR: Arts Writing and Criticism (4 hours)
Content: This course will be conducted as a professional workshop. During the semester, students will be required to produce a series of critical articles covering a wide spectrum of fields from music to books, dance to theater and the visual arts. Class sessions and assignments will be devoted to nurturing the requisite skills needed to become a successful reviewer or critic. Students will write reviews and talk about what goes into a well-done review. The role of the critic, various issues of fairness and public responsibility, and how a journalist goes about learning a particular critical beat will be discussed. The seminar will include talks by faculty from Journalism, Dance, Music and Theater Studies, as well as visiting professional critics.
Particulars: Permission of the department required.
DANC 385: Special Topics in Dance and Movement Studies (1-4 hours)
Content: Course based on selected topics in dance or movement studies. May be repeated for credit when topic varies.
DANC 385: Special Topics: Actors and Dancers: Text and Movement (4 hours)
Content: This course is designed to guide students towards a more in-depth understanding of the creative process of theater and dance. The translation of dramatic text into movement and movement into dramatic text will give students the opportunity to investigate both theater technique and dance theory. Students will explore gesture and articulation of the body in space utilizing music/sound and text. Students will also explore emotion, persona and interior life as a means to enhancing and strengthening the performance experience.
Particulars: Grading will be primarily based on class participation and presentation.A brief response paper and in-class worksheets may also be included.Students can expect two out-of-class rehearsals and a showcase presentation at the end of the semester.
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| Students dance during REL 334, Dance and Embodied Knowledge. |
REL 334: Dance and Embodied Knowledge
(4 hours)
Content: This is an interdisciplinary course in religion, dance, and South Asian studies. The course will provide a context in which to experience and analyze the nature of embodied knowledge and the creative power of performance, particularly in the Indian context.
The focus of this class is to explore ways in which the body knows and participates in ritual and religious knowledge. We will pay particular attention to differences in the ways in which the body and dance are perceived in myth, sculpture/image, aesthetic theories, and dance itself. One class each week will be spent learning basic movements of Kuchipudi classical dance under the instruction of master dancer, choreographer, and teacher Sasikala Penumarthi (an Artist Affiliate in the Dance Program). The other two class periods will frame dance movement with discussions of Indian aesthetic theories, Hindu mythology (Kuchipudi dance choreography draws from Hindu mythological tradition), and western performance theories. We will consider "how and what performance creates" in practice, rather than just theory. No dance experience is necessary, but full participation is required.
Particulars: Four short response papers, mid-term and final exams, attendance at two out-of-class performances of Indian dance, and class participation (including dance classes).
Prerequisites: None.
THEA 230: Principles of Design
Content: The focus of this course is on design for dance, providing students with a theoretical and practical understanding of the processes involved in conceiving and executing stage designs. It will serve as an introduction to the theory and practice of set, costumes, and lighting design. In a broader sense, it is aimed at helping students hear and experience music and dance with a richer sense of its visual qualities.
Particulars: A $40 supplies fee will be charged to students' Bursar accounts.
FRESHMAN SEMINARS
DANC 190S: Freshman Seminar: All About Yoga (4 hours)
Content: This is a theory practice course which explores many facets of yoga including philosophy, mythology, history, intention, and current trends, as well as the practice of basic yoga postures (asanas).
DANC 190S: Freshman Seminar: Creativity and Collaboration (4 hours)
Content: This is a seminar class that will explore the theory and practice of creativity and collaboration in the areas of Dance, Music, Theater and Visual Arts. Students will have a primary focus on one of the four disciplines and significant participation with the other three. Course work will include readings, journals, creative projects and performance work.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
DANC 491R Special Projects: Performance (1-4 hours)
Content: This course provides students with an opportunity to explore individually designed projects, under faculty supervision and evaluation. May be repeated for credit when project varies
Particulars: By consent of department only. May be taken for a total limit of eight hours. Students enrolled in this course must also be enrolled in a technique class for credit.
DANC 492R: Special Projects: Technical Production (1-4 hours)
Content: This course provides students with an opportunity to explore individually designed technical production projects in dance under faculty supervision.
Particulars: By consent of department only. May be taken for a total limit of eight hours.
DANC 493R: Special Projects: Historical/Theoretical Research (1-4 hours)
Content: This course provides students with an opportunity to explore individually designed historical and/or theoretical research projects under faculty supervision.
Particulars: By consent of department only. May be taken for a total limit of eight hours.
DANC 494R: Special Projects: Internship (1-4 hours)
Content: This course provides students with an opportunity to explore individually designed internship projects under faculty supervision.
Particulars: By consent of department only. May be taken for a total limit of eight hours.
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| Student Laura Codron performs during her honors thesis concert in 2008. |
DANC 495A, B Special Projects: Honors Thesis (1-4 hours)
Content: Open by permission to candidates for honors in their senior year.
Particulars: Consent of department only. Must be taken in addition to the major requirements. Open by permission to candidates for honors in their senior year.
DANC 496R: Special Projects: Directing (1-4 hours)
Content: This course provides students with an opportunity to explore individually designed directing projects in dance under faculty supervision.
Particulars: By consent of department only. May be taken for a total limit of eight hours.
DANC 497R: Special Projects: Choreography (1-4 hours)
Content: This course provides students with an opportunity to explore individually designed choreographic projects under faculty supervision.
Particulars: By consent of department only. May be taken for a total limit of eight hours.
DANC 499R: Special Projects in Dance and Movement Studies (1-4 hours)
Content: This course provides students with an opportunity to explore individually designed projects, under faculty supervision and evaluation. May be repeated for credit when project varies.
Particulars: By consent of department only.