Syllabus Components con't

Syllabus

Course Title: / Ballet I (Beginning Ballet)
Term: / Fall semester 2013
Schedule: / MWF 8:00-8:50AM AM, Room 6400

Instructor Information

·  Delma Iles, MFA

·  Department of Music, Theater and Dance

·  Office: 3604-38

·  Office Hours: MW 1:30-4:30 PM, TR 2:10-4:10 PM

·  *Please note that if I am not in my office during these hours I am probably in 6400 completing a class or rehearsal.

·  Office phone: 305-237-3040/alternate phone: 305-858-7002

·  Email: / alternate email:

Course Description

Classical Ballet is the existing, codified basis for all western forms of theatrical dance. Ballet I (Beginning Ballet) introduces the student to the basic concepts of ballet: body alignment, positions, and steps that constitute the ballet technique at the beginning level. This class will focus on proper body alignment, the use of turnout, balance, and overall physical strength. Emphasis will be placed on the exactness of the movement incorporating precision of line, coordination of the upper torso, and rhythmic forms of movement. The use of ballet vocabulary will increase the student’s performance and improve overall skills.

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Course prerequisite: There is no prerequisite for Ballet I.

This course is a Lab class. All classes are direct participation in dance instruction

OBJECTIVES

After the completion of two semesters of Ballet I, the student will demonstrate:

  1. The correct execution of beginning ballet steps using proper body alignment, turnout, and weight distribution on the feet.
  2. Understanding of the ballet vocabulary, using it correctly when referring to a movement.
  3. Responding to verbal commands, defining the movement, spelling ballet terms correctly and demonstrating them in action.
  4. Understanding the way in which correct body alignment correlates with ballet movement.
  5. Understanding of how to put together steps to form beginning level combinations that are performed with musical counts.

UNITS

Students in Beginning Ballet will study and understand:

  1. Exercises at the barre and in center floor. 7 of the 9 codified barre exercises.
  2. Positions of the torso, legs, feet, and arms in relationship to the eight positions of the room. 8 of the 13 codified basic body positions in centre.
  3. Balance, increased level of muscular strength and flexibility, outward rotation of the legs, and proper alignment.
  4. Beginning body movements such as: plie, tendu, degage, ronde de jambe, frappe, passe/retire, developpe, grand battement, balance, saute, changement, echappe, pas de chat, glissade, assemble, pas de bourree, arabesque, chasse, saute arabesque, grand jete, pique .
  5. How to spell and demonstrate the ballet vocabulary taught in class.

Please review the ballet vocabulary list distributed with this syllabus for information on the steps and concepts that will be taught in this course.

Timeliness

The beginning of class is essential for adequate preparation of the body/mind for dance, building a daily sequence of positive and effective conditioning. Your work in each class is an evolution in and of itself. Training yourself in this process allows you to rise to your maximum capabilities.

ON TIME means physically and cognitively being in class properly attired and fully prepared to participate at the time the class is scheduled to begin.

Ø  Students arriving more than 15 minutes late will not be admitted to class and the class will be counted as an absence.

Ø  Three tardy arrivals equal one absence. Tardy is defined as entering the classroom any time after the MDC designated start time up to 15 minutes thereafter.

Ø  Every three unexcused absences will automatically lower your final grade by one letter grade!

Textbooks/Resources/Supplies

No textbook required. Gail Grant’s “A Handbook in Classical Ballet Technique” is strongly recommended as supplementary study material. Available on Amazon.com

Ballet shoes absolutely required by the third day of class (August 30). No exceptions!

All students must wear proper dance attire for all classes including:

·  Hair securely fastened away from the face and neck

·  Ballet slippers (pink or white for women, black or white for men). No jazz shoes, jazz sneakers, aerobics shoes, etc.

·  Leotards and tights or dance pants in solid colors only – not prints. Dance skirts and sweaters are allowed.

·  Men must wear a dance belt (athletic support for dance) to avoid injury.

·  Not allowed: plastic pants, large, bulky items of clothing, pantyhose, large jewelry, hats, or any item of attire that interferes with the class. No bare midriffs. No street clothes in dance classes.

*Please note that students may be dismissed from class for wearing improper attire!

Course Evaluation/Grading Policy/Assessment Methods/Schedule

Class participation and effort (50%)

  1. Class participation, progression, and working in a group
  2. Attitude in class, discipline, respecting the instructor, classmates and yourself.
  3. Attendance and promptness. SHOW UP ON TIME!
  4. Participation in answering questions and showing steps and combinations in class
  5. Although attendance is paramount, effort is also essential. Effort constitutes half of your classroom participation grade.

Progress (30%)

  1. The student’s progression of physical conditioning and execution of proper technique, balance, and coordination
  2. Improvement or evidence of learning
  3. Quality of performance within technical parameters

Vocabulary (10%)

  1. Knowledge and understanding of the ballet vocabulary throughout class using oral and written exams

Written Critique (10%)

1,000-word critique of a professional dance performance the student attended. Please note that you cannot make an “A” in this course if you do not turn in this paper.

Course Policies

MOST IMPORTANT: ATTENDANCE

Every three unexcused absences result in a drop of one letter grade!!!

Every three tardies/lates equal one absence.

*Students who arrive more that 15 minutes late will not be admitted to class and the class will count as an absence.

Students are only excused from class with a doctor’s note explaining a physical ailment that prohibits the student from dancing. A student is required to attend class even with a doctor’s note if the student is mobile.

*Students who are not able to dance due to illness or injury will receive full credit for attendance provided that the student arrives on time, observes the class to the end, and writes an evaluation of one of the students participating in the class, which will be turned in at the conclusion of the class.

Excused absences:

Religious holidays

Miami-Dade official activities

MDC Wolfson Dancers performances

Excused absences for unique circumstances are entirely at the discretion of the instructor.

MAKE UP POLICY

Students who have missed a class may make up the class by attending another Miami-Dade dance class approved by the instructor. Students may make up up to 6 classes in this manner. All absences beyond 6 classes are not eligible for make up and will directly result in a deduction from the final grade as described above.

*No make up classes are allowed during the final week of the semester.

EVERY THIRD TARDY RESULTS IN AN UNEXCUSED ABSENCE!

Classes begin on time! Be prompt!

The first part of the class is integral for adequate preparation of the body for dance.

Written paper:

·  Must be 1,000 words typed & single-spaced

·  Is due at the time of the class on December 13 (can be turned in early)

·  Can be submitted via email, but email submissions must be RECEIVED no later than the end of the class period on December 13

·  Will not be accepted late. Late is defined as any time after the conclusion of Ballet I class on December 13. All late papers will receive a grade of “F”.

·  All written work must be original. Any plagiarized work will receive a grade of “0” and the student may be subject to additional disciplinary measures depending on the severity of the offense. Please see the Miami Dade College Student Handbook for additional collegewide policies regarding plagiarism and academic honesty.

PLEASE NOTE THAT PLAGARISM AND CHEATING ARE ACADEMIC FELONIES. Plagiarizing will automatically result in a grade of 0 for the assignment and possibly expulsion from Miami Dade College. Please refer to the Miami Dade College Manual of Policy for complete descriptions of all college wide policies and procedures.

To avoid plagiarism: If you directly copy the words of an author, then you must place them in quotes and cite the source. If you paraphrase someone else’s ideas, you must cite the source. If an idea is not yours, cite the author and the work from which you received the idea. Common knowledge and factual information is not generally cited. Copying from performance program books is plagiarism.

Final Exam

No make up exams will be given unless arranged for IN ADVANCE for very good reason!

Final Exam Schedule:

December 11 – Exam review

December 13 – Written Exam & Practical Exam

Makeup exams will not be given except under the most extreme circumstances!

Extra credit: No extra credit is available in this course. Dance requires direct classroom participation. No outside work can substitute for class work.

Students with Special Needs: Please see the instructor at the beginning of the semester to discuss special needs as applicable.

Classroom behavior:

·  Students should raise their hand if they have a question. Talking about subjects other than the classroom material is not acceptable.

·  If students are injured or unable to fully participate in the class, this should be discussed with the instructor prior to the beginning of the class, not after the class has started.

·  Students needing to take a bathroom break should inform the instructor, not just walk out of the room. Bathroom breaks should be brief.

·  Absolutely NO GUM, FOOD OR DRINKS DURING CLASS (water only!)

·  All students should treat each other with respect.

·  All cell phones must be turned off during the class. If your cell phone rings during class you will be counted as absent for that class!

Please note that disruption of a class is a misdemeanor under Florida state law!

Instructor Feedback:

Every dance class incorporates direct feedback from the instructor in the form of “corrections”. This is a traditional part of dance technique classes. Corrections are given both to the whole class as general information for improvement, and to individuals for personal improvement. Because each dance student is unique, personal corrections are specific to the individual student. Receiving corrections does not mean that a student is doing poorly. Even the most advanced professional dancers continue to receive corrections throughout their careers. Rather, corrections are information provided for personal improvement in technique and performance. All students should take corrections very seriously because they are the key to personal improvement. Student response (by listening to and applying the information provided) to corrections is calculated as part of the grade dedicated to classroom participation, effort, and progress.

Safety Rules for Ballet class

·  Arrive on time! Your warmup is essential to avoiding injuries!

·  Leave adequate space between dancers at the barre. The instructor will show students how to work safely when the class is crowded.

·  In the center, remain in the line assigned to you that day by the instructor and space the line evenly between the students.

·  Stay with the group you are assigned to each day. Do not change groups unless requested to do so by the instructor.

·  NEVER WALK OR RUN BACK THROUGH A GROUP OF ONCOMING DANCERS! ALWAYS EXIT THE DANCE FLOOR IN A FORWARD, THEN SIDE DIRECTION!

·  Students who place others in danger through thoughtless running around or getting in the way of other dancers will be asked to leave the class!

·  Be prepared to dance when it is your turn, hesitations throw off the space between dancers and put others in danger.

·  Deep stretching should be attempted only after the body is warmed up or you risk injury.

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Ø  Student Withdrawal from Class:

If you feel that you will be unable to complete the requirements for passing this class, you have the option to withdraw from the class by the College’s “drop date” of November 6. However, there are consequences of which you need to be aware: if you drop a class or stop attending and you should always speak to your instructor or an advisor first. For example, you must earn at least two-thirds or 67% of the total credits for which you have registered and that failure to comply with this requirement will adversely impact your financial aid status with MDC. If after considering the possible consequences, you still opt drop the class, keep in mind that it is your responsibility to do so (not the instructor’s) and failure to withdrawal will result in you earning a grade of “F” for the course you stop attending.

If extenuating circumstances (e.g., illness, accident, change in employment situation, etc.) prevent you from continuing to attend your class before the drop date, speak to your instructor first and if needed, to the Chairperson to assess your options.

Available Support Services and information

Students are encouraged to read:

The Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet by Gail Grant, Dover Books

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Ballet by Horst Koegler

Classical Ballet Technique by Gretchen Ward Warren

Additionally, students are encouraged to read and view material relevant to this course such as: dance concerts, videos, and other books.

The Miami-Dade County Public Library in downtown Miami has an excellent collection of dance books and videos available.

The MDC Wolfson library has a small, but high quality selection of dance books, videos and DVD’s.

Students are strongly encouraged to attend dance performances presented by Miami Dade College’s MDC Live Arts. These are available free or for $5 with your student ID. Announcements will be made in class when these performances are coming up.

Students are also strongly encouraged to attend dance performances at New World School of the Arts. These are available free or for $5 with your student ID.

Suggestions for success:

·  Listen carefully to all instructions and try to apply them directly to your body.

·  Applying both group and personal corrections is the key to improvement.

·  Don’t compare yourself to the other students in the class. Each person is different with a unique combination of strengths and weaknesses. Some students have had prior dance training before enrolling in this class and are starting with more experience and knowledge. YOU ARE UNIQUE! Each person progresses differently depending on their personal combination of strength, flexibility, coordination, previous experience, mind/body connection, knowledge of music, and many other factors.