Introduction
to Iyengar Yoga
The study of Iyengar Yoga offers students the unique opportunity
to learn the traditions of this ancient physical art form through
their
bodies. Although our study of Yoga will focus on the physical postures
(asanas), we will also introduce accompanying aesthetic, historical
and philosophical ideas. Special classes will focus on restorative
practices and breathing (pranayama). Initially in yoga we direct our
attention to the experience of the body in an asana. The body and mind
work in harmony to complete the action of the pose. In this way the
practice of Yoga acts as a form of dynamic meditation. The benefits
of this body/mind focus translate to classroom work, daily life, sports
performance, as well as on-stage performance.
Introduction to The Art
of Dance
Introduces the student to the many roles that dance plays in different
world cultures.
Beginning Ballet I/II
Beginning Ballet I
and II introduce ballet principles with an emphasis on alignment
and movement.
Beginning Modern I/II
This course assists the beginner contemporary modern dance student
in developing and refining basic dance skills. Class begins
with a structured warm-up designed to prepare the entire body for full-out
moving. Center combinations, turning, small jumps and leaps,
as well
as traveling across the floor develop a strong foundation for
future study. Through rigorous training of the body, a deeper understanding
of dance movement, phrasing, and musicality emerges.
Beginning Jazz
Dance I/II
Beginning Jazz uses elementary and
intermediate jazz dance movements to build a strong technical base
and explore the jazz idiom.
The focus of the class is on style, coordination, phrasing,
timing and
presentation.
Tap Dance
Students develop an understanding of rhythm and style while learning
the basics of tap dancing.
Intro to Dance for Men
Creating an environment that is less intimidating than
a traditional dance class has proven to be beneficial
for male students making
their initial forays into dance. This class introduces
the beginner male
dance student to basic dance movement, phrasing and
musicality. The class is designed to give students the freedom
to
experience dance
at a slower pace, and to isolate and concentrate on
areas of difficulty.
Beginning and Intermediate African Dance
I
An introduction to the various stylistic forms of dance
and drumming accompaniment of the continent of Africa
and the Diaspora.
The course provides the student with an understanding
of the diverse
danced
forms of Africa as seen not only on the continent
itself but wherever Africans
have settled. Using the appropriate rhythmic “drum
language” as
our guide, the course emphasizes body tuning, movement
sequences and combinations and an introduction to
terminology relevant to the course.
Special attention will be given to the relationship
between the dance, history and cultural norms. Links
between African forms and the development
of “black dance” in the United States
will also be covered.
Creative Movement
Creative Movement is the introductory course in the
dance-making sequence in which students explore
a wide variety of
movement ideas from which
they invent movement phrases and build simple dance
studies.
Intro to Dancemaking Skills
A Broad introducion to contemporary dancemaking choreographic and improvisational
skills.
Dance Production and Dance Production Practicum
The course illuminates the collaborative production process with a clear understanding
of the nature of the theatrical space and the process used to shape it for
performance. It covers the performance space, terminology, roles and responsibilities
of the production team, and the range of technology that will be encountered.
A basic understanding of design issues and some facility in working with
these elements will also be included. A key element of the learning wll be
experiential, with all students taking on a production role under supervision.
Intermediate Ballet
As a second ballet class in the UWM dance curriculum,
Intermediate Ballet I and II focuses on the continued
development of students'
technical skills while fostering self-awareness
regarding the body and the potential
of the body for personal expression.
Intermediate
Modern I/II
The process of learning dance technique is one
of experimentation and investigation. As dancers
we
walk into the studio
with the intent to
discover. In Intermediate Modern dancers continue
to explore and refine their technical and expressive
contemporary
modern dance skills.
Classes
may also include an introduction to partnering
and injury prevention and recovery.
Arts in
Community Service
Students acquire means to assess personal learning
and techniques to assess impact of their
service-learning work with community partner
organizations. Body Sense Dance
Body Sense incorporates the feelings and
sense of spatial depth in and around the
body.
Music for Dancers
Music for Dancers explores the many relationships
between movement and sound: rhythmic connections,
studies of
stillness/motion connected
to sound/silence, movement response to
the timbre of instruments. Students also use
musical forms,
such
as binary and canon, in structuring
dance
studies.
Improvisation for Dance Making
Improvisation is a guided and highly structured
exploration of movement qualities and
structural possibilities.
In this course students will
concentrate on experimenting with specific
elements of movement and structure and
recognizing how
these elements
influence choreographic
craft.
Fundamentals
for Dancers
Fundamentals for Dancers is an experiential
study of the anatomy and kinesiology
of the body in
motion.
Advanced Ballet
This course is organized to deepen
the students’ understanding
of ballet technique with a high level
of expectation towards the students’ artistic
research. Students are encouraged
to feel not only the technicality
of the movement but are also motivated
to develop their uniqueness as interpreters
and performers. Through elaborated
classes
the students learn to fulfill the
artistic demands of each dance
combination in
parallel with their growth as skilled
dancers. The concept of a 3D space,
occupied by a body moving and feeling
as a
whole,
leads
the
dancers to achieve not only the complexity
of the technique but also the subtlety
of the art of dance.
Dance of the African
Diaspora
The art of dance is the study of
human behavior demonstrated through
history,
belief systems,
and cultural values
as well as social, religious,
and political thought. This course
is a journey originating on the
African continent.
Using
the art of dance
as a cultural body language,
the course studies characteristics
of
African dance on the continent
and follows these
elements through
the
migration of African slaves
and their descendants throughout
the Diaspora. The course then travels
to
the Caribbean
and the Americas,
exploring
the expressions and
mind-body experiences of African
people.
Contemporary Dance History
Contemporary dance history is the
study of how this unique and
primarily American
dance
form
came to
be and continues
to evolve. Over the
course of the semester
we will be viewing videos, discussing assigned
readings and performances, as
well as getting up
on our feet
and dancing our way
into understanding our history.
Advanced Modern
I/II
This is the level of dancing
that will be the most challenging.
Intense
and
consistent extremes
of
virtuoso phrase material will
be the daily objective.
Dance Service-Learning
Service-Learning as field work in community
partnership settings under the supervision
of a Dance faculty
member.
Rituals and Cultures
Sources, dimensions and elements of
ritual; values being ritualized.
Creation of
ritual components
through story
telling, singing/chanting,
movement/gestures,
wearing/carrying special clothing/objects.
Body Conditioning: Pilates Method
Body Conditioning/Pilates will focus
on lengthening, toning, and stretching
the
entire body. Pilates
method is a natural
progression and adjunct to intensive
dance training. This system of
exercise is a key element in helping dancers
to strengthen and realign their
bodies. Pilates method develops the
body uniformly, restores physical
vitality, and invigorates the mind;
it helps
develop
and
maintain strong, healthy dancers.
Body Conditioning/Pilates helps
students meet the rigorous
demands of a career in dance.
Partnering
The inclusion of Partnering in
the Dance Curriculum is unique.
Partnering
work
is often considered
to be auxiliary;
something
the student studies in a special
workshop or learns on the spot
in rehearsal. In the Dance Department
we believe
the understanding of
how to partner
and how to use
partnering in choreography
is mandatory training for today's
dancer. The course
is an investigation of partnering
skills and partnering as
an element
in choreography.
It begins with
a thorough
understanding of the physical
skills and strengths (weight sharing,
counter
balance,
mutual support
and trust) necessary
for partnering
work. Students
go on to investigate
partnering as a compositional
device.
Movement and Learning
Effect of movement on learning.
Learned movement patterns as
learning preparation.
Centering,
focusing, mind-clearing
activities.
Creative
movement activities
for creative problem solving.
Dance in Elementary Education
A study of the relationship
of dance experiences to the
growth
and development
of the elementary
school child.
Discussion,
lectures, experimentation
and analysis of dance materials.
Suitability
of materials for various
age groups and situations.
Dance in Secondary Education
Methods and philosophy of
teaching dance in secondary
schools
and colleges. Theory
and
practice in
solving problems arising
in practical
teaching situations.
World
Movement Traditions
Dance and movement traditions
of world cultures.
Intermediate
Yoga
This class is a continuation
of Introduction to
Iyengar Yoga, with
an added emphasis
on intermediate yoga
asanas, pranayama
and yoga
pedagogy.
Dance Composition
I/II/III
Dance Composition is
a guided laboratory
for the
study
of the advanced choreographic
and
musical forms, as
well as
the creation
of site-specific
work. Over the
course of the term,
students undertake
advanced choreographic
assignments
and work with
composition techniques
that are used in
visual arts,
music
and
poetry,
to create
dances.
Creating Community Rituals
Students will gain an understanding of how rituals evolve, common elements or
ingredients found in them, means of repeating/recording/transmitting them,
and some of the community values and the significance they celebrate.
Alexander Technique and Alexander
Technique Practicum
The class is a basic introduction coupled with a "hands-on" exploration
of the Alexander technique as it applies to performing artists. Principally
concerned with education or re-education of the psycho-physical self, the technique
is a method for understanding habitual reactions and their influence on our
daily activities.
Student Teaching
in Dance in Elementary
Schools
Teaching experience
in cooperating school
systems
in or near
Milwaukee; supervision
by critic
teacher and
members
of Dance
faculty.
Student Teaching
in Dance in Secondary
Schools
Teaching experience
in cooperating
school systems
in or near
Milwaukee; supervision
by critic
teacher and
members
of Dance
faculty.
Repertoire
and Ensemble
A work of original
choreography
passes through many phases
of development
before it reaches
its final
form. In this
course the student
experiences
the role
a dancer has
in the process of
making
a new choreographic
work for the
stage. This
process involves
exploration,
group collaboration,
and finally—interpretation.
In addition,
the dancers learn
to understand
the level of
commitment and
consciousness
required of them
throughout the
rehearsal period.
Repertory/Student
Choreography
The education
of a performer
is
a multi-faceted
process:
a mature
and
intelligent
performer is
an asset to
any choreographer.
Such a performer
is not defined
by age or talent,
but an attention
to the
craft of performing.
The objective
in this course
is
to
amplify and
train
the
skills of attention
and
commitment
that are the
qualities
of
a skilled
performer in
student choreography.
Senior
Project Dance
Intended
as the capstone
experience
of academic
training,
this
course gives
each undergraduate
the
opportunity
to create
a project
that
assimilates
the sum total
of his or
her training.
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