This new, improved dance department at Dewitt Clinton High School provides a holistic dance experience. The Dance Department seeks to provide an education that curates the application of knowledge/skills, contextual understandings and artistic expression. These crucial avenues of dance propel students to be able to apply their knowledge of dance in kinesthetic, cognitive and collaborative realms. Within the courses studied over time, students experience a curriculum that enconmpasses: technical application, improvisation studies, history/ lecture, performance skills,collaborative studies, community building/global integration, repertory, and choreography classes. Overall the content studied within this program prepares students for both concert and commercial performance realms. These skills prepare students for college dance programs/ and career readiness.
Program/ Course Description
This dance and physical conditioning course seek to provide an education that curates the application of knowledge/skills, contextual understandings and artistic expression. These crucial avenues of dance propel students to be able to apply their knowledge of dance in kinesthetic, cognitive and collaborative realms. Within the courses studied over time, students experience a curriculum that encompasses: technical application, improvisation studies, history/ lecture, performance skills, collaborative studies, community building/global integration, repertory, and choreography classes. Overall, the content studied within this program prepares students for both concert and commercial performance realms. These skills prepare students for college dance programs/ and career readiness.
In terms of physical conditioning, students are expected develop strength, flexibility and mobility through daily exercise. Students apply themselves through holistic bodily practices to achieve the stamina needed to become a high performing dancer. Lastly, students learn how to maintain their bodies through muscle conditioning, flexibility training, injury prevention practices, and alignment for dance and physical strengthening.
Objectives of the Dance Program
By taking this course, students will achieve: technical competency in multiple genres, develop an artistic voice, ability to analyze dance written and orally, choreograph content based on specific prompts, develop an artistic voice based on global and domestic contexts, assist and educate fellow dancers based on content learn, acquire leadership skills through rehearsal practices and choreographic/ improvisational projects, perform for large audiences with confidence and competence. Through physical conditioning, students develop muscular strength, mobility, agility, and flexibility needed to exhibit masterful dance practices.
Units of Study
Components of a proper stretch, Dynamic and static stretching, Flexibility training, Injury Prevention, Cardiovascular Endurance, Holistic Body Conditioning, Team Building, Dance Etiquette, Dance History, Careers in Dance, Hip Hop Technique, Jazz Technique, Contemporary Technique, Rehearsal Etiquette, Choreographic Devices, Improvisational Devices, Performance Quality while dancing, DIAE (Describe, Interpret, Appreciate, Evaluate) for analyzing in written and oral contexts , Holiday Show Preparation with repertory and performance, International Day Show Preparation with repertory and performance, Black History Month Poetry and Dance composition (February), Dance As Storytelling Unit (October and January), Responding to Global Contexts through Dance (May and June)
Assessment of Mastery Measures
Assessment occurs through formal and informal observations and written/ oral tasks: School Wide Performances, Class formal and informal showings, Performance Exams aligned to rubrics, Self and peer assessments that are aligned to rubrics, Writing assignments though Power points and organizers based on historic and analytic content, Oral presentations through Power points and ability to give artist statements based on their work. Authentic Assessments such as mock interviews and auditions occur for parts in the show or for audition training. The warm up that certifies students of preparatory mastery encompasses stretches, cardio and conditioning on a daily basis. In the full warm up, the assessment is for endurance, strength, cardio vascular capacity and improved flexibility.