SRJC Course Outlines

12/5/2024 8:33:01 AMDANC 35 Course Outline as of Summer 2025

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  DANC 35Title:  IMPROVISATION  
Full Title:  Dance Improvisation Techniques
Last Reviewed:1/24/2022

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum1.50Lecture Scheduled.7517.5 max.Lecture Scheduled13.13
Minimum1.50Lab Scheduled2.256 min.Lab Scheduled39.38
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total3.00 Contact Total52.50
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  26.25Total Student Learning Hours: 78.75 

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  34 - 4 Enrollments Total
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  DANCE 35

Catalog Description:
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In Dance Improvisation, students will focus on exploration of the aesthetic dance elements of space, time and energy and is designed to train the mind and body to respond and explore individual movement experiences. Dance improvisation can be structured in solo, duet and group improvisations, and is for dancers of all levels of technique and movement interests.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:


Recommended Preparation:
Course Completion of DANCE 10.1

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
In Dance Improvisation, students will focus on exploration of the aesthetic dance elements of space, time and energy and is designed to train the mind and body to respond and explore individual movement experiences. Dance improvisation can be structured in solo, duet and group improvisations, and is for dancers of all levels of technique and movement interests.
(Grade or P/NP)

Prerequisites:
Recommended:Course Completion of DANCE 10.1
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:34 - 4 Enrollments Total

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:Effective:Inactive:
 Area:
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 2022Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 2022Inactive:
 
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Certificate Applicable Course



COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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1. Invent dance movement through guided individual movement explorations.
2. Discover dance movement solutions to group improvisation problems.
3. Develop awareness of other dancers in group dance improvisations and work with others in a group toward common structural goals.
4. Create spontaneous dance movement based on the elements of dance: space, time and energy.
5. Experiment with a variety of approaches, such as the use of imagery, narrative, words, props, and sounds, to inspire new dance movement.
 

Objectives: Untitled document
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
1.  Invent dance movement through guided individual movement explorations.
2.  Discover dance movement solutions to group improvisation problems.
3.  Develop awareness of other dancers in group dance improvisations and
   work with others in a group toward common structural goals.
4.  Create spontaneous dance movement based on the elements of dance:
   space, time, and energy.
5.  Experiment with a variety of approaches, such as the use of imagery,
   narrative, words, props, and sounds, to inspire new dance movement.
6. Develop and expand personal style of movement vocabulary.
7. Discriminate between imaginative and unimaginative choices in improvisations.

Topics and Scope
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I. Proprioception, Exteroception, and Interoception Methods
II. Active Dance Warm-up
    A. Continuous individual dance movement exploration based on instructor cues.
    B. Early warm-up focuses on easy movements and use of all body parts.
    C. As warm-up progresses suggestions for more strenuous movements are introduced.
III. Duets
     A. Mirroring exercises in which two dancers face one another alternating leader and mirroring the leader's movement as accurately as possible.
    B. Exercises in which one dancer is passive and the other active such as one dancer being a ball of clay that the other dancer shapes.
    C. Weight dependency exercises in which the two dancers experiment with giving and taking of body weight.
IV. Group Improvisations
    A. Unison group "follow the leader" exercises based on dance vocabulary.
    B. Space-based explorations i.e. Improvisations based on the following aesthetic elements of dance:
         1. Floor patterns
         2. Shape
              a. Symmetrical
              b. Asymmetrical
              c. Angular
              d. Curved
         3. Focus
         4. Levels
         5. Volumes
    C. Time-based explorations i.e. Improvisations based on the following aesthetic elements of dance:
         1. Underlying Pulse
         2. Accent
         3. Meter
         4. Mixed meter
         5. Rhythmic patterns
         6. Rhythmical accompaniment with dancer produced sounds.
         7. Breath phrasing
         8. Duration and speed
    D. Energy-based explorations i.e. Improvisations based on the following aesthetic dance elements.
         1. Qualities of movement such as sustained, sudden, bound, free, strong, and light
         2. Dynamic contrasts
    E. Miscellaneous improvisational problems for discovering new Dance movement:
         1. Improvisation to music
         2. Improvisation to non-literal words or other vocal sounds
         3. Prop explorations
         4. Improvisations based on musical forms
              a. Canon
              b. ABA form
              c. Theme and Variation
         5. Narrative-based improvisations
         6. Abstracted mimetic Improvisations drawn from sources such as:
              a. Gestures
              b. Animals
              c. Machines
         7. Improvisations based on physical contact
         8. Improvisations based on expression of feelings
         9. Imagined environments to evoke dance movement qualities
         10. Use of Props
         11. Improvisations with dancer created sounds
         10. Other dance movement explorations devised by instructor
 
All topics are covered in the lecture and lab portions of the course.

Assignments:
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Participation Assignments:
1. Participate in class movement explorations.
2. Discover dance movement solutions to group improvisation challenges.
3. Employ proprioception, exteroception, and interoception methods during class explorations.
4. Create and perform spontaneous dance movement based on the elements of dance:
   space, time and energy.
5. Experiment with a variety of approaches, such as the use of imagery,
   narrative, words, props, and sounds, to inspire new dance movement and perform.  
 
Writing Assignments:
1. Journaling of weekly improvisation prompts and creative exploration outcomes.
2. Reading of instructor prepared materials and/or textbook reading assignments with journaling/essay responses (1-5 pages per
    week).
3. Study the history of Judson Church Improvisation group and the original contact improvisation groups with journaling/essay response  (1-5 pages per
    week).
4. Written 2-to-3 page critique of a live dance performance. (Alternate assignment: paper on a
    video-taped dance performance) (0-2)
 
Skill Demonstration Assignments:
1. Practice of dance skills and combinations from class (ungraded)
2. Create personal movement themes based on class improvisation prompts and perform.
3. Choreography of a dance combination (short dance sequence) either in solo, with a partner, or
   group choreography projects
4. Performance exam(s) (1 - 3)
5. Class performance (0-1)

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.Writing
10 - 40%
Journaling, live performance critique
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.Skill Demonstrations
10 - 50%
Class performances, Performance Exams
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.Exams
0 - 0%
None
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
40 - 60%
Attendance and Participation


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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Dance Improvisations. Morgenroth, Joyce. University of Pittsburgh Press. 1987 (classic)
Dance Improvisations. Reeve, Justine. Human Kinetics, Inc. 2011 (classic)
Instructor prepared materials

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