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DAN-249: Modern Dance Improvisation

Course Information

Course, prefix, number, & title: DAN-249 Modern Dance Improvisation

Hours (Class, recitation, Laboratory, studio): 4 studio hours

Credits: 2 credits

Pre-requisites (if any): DAN-125, or permission of the instructor

Course Description in college catalog:

This course is an introduction to dance improvisation. Methods of accessing authentic movement as well as an understanding of how to develop and perform an improvisation score will be addressed. There will be an emphasis on helping the student to find his/her individual creative voice through movement.

Academic programs for which this course serves as a requirement or an elective:

A.S. Dance

DAN 249 fulfills a requirement for the A.S. Degree in Dance.

General Education Outcomes: Below is a listing of General Education Outcome(s) that this course supports.

  1. Communicate effectively in various forms

  2. Use analytical reasoning to identify issues or problems and evaluate evidence in order to make informed decisions

  3. Integrate knowledge and skills in the program of study

  4. Work collaboratively to accomplish learning objectives

Course-specific student learning outcomes:

  1. Learn to eliminate judgment in evaluating individual movement choices to allow the students’ natural/authentic movement choices to be revealed.

  2. Learn to allow the body to respond and follow through with an initiation in movement and/or concept.

  3. Develop the ability to respond to stimuli (a movement, person, gesture, word, poem, character etc) through movement.

  4. Learn to move and respond to others in the group, to sense them and communicate with them through movement.

  5. Learn to maintain the intention without being distracted by external stimuli.

  6. Learn to create and follow an improvisational score.

  7. Learn to use visual focus consciously as performers.

  8. Learn about improvisation as a performance idiom and a creative tool.

  9. Learn to monitor their subjective experiences of improvising and reflect on this in discussion and in writing.

  10. Learn to view and discuss an improvisational performance.

  11. Increase their ability to stay present in the moment of improvisational performance.

  12. Increase their range of movement choices and performance approaches

  13. Learn to work with primary and secondary improvisational instructions.

  14. Explore the elements of dance: space, time and energy.

Program-specific outcomes

  1. Identify and apply the following concepts of dance: space, weight, time, dynamics/energy through writing, movement, performance, or choreography.

  2. Apply fundamental movement skills and knowledge of the body and of kinesiology.

  3. Develop and support critical response through writing and/or speech.

Other program outcomes (if applicable).

  1. Integrate knowledge and skills in the program of study

  2. Work collaboratively to accomplish learning objectives

Methods by which student learning will be assessed and evaluated; describe the types of methods to be employed; note whether certain methods are required for all sections:

  1. Attendance and Participation

  2. Growth, Progress, and Development

  3. Writing assignments

  4. Mid-term evaluation

  5. Final Movement Project 

Academic Integrity policy (department or College):
Academic honesty is expected of all students. Any violation of academic integrity is taken extremely seriously. All assignments and projects must be the original work of the student or teammates. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any questions regarding academic integrity should be brought to the attention of the instructor. The following is the Queensborough Community College Policy on Academic Integrity: "It is the official policy of the College that all acts or attempted acts that are violations of Academic Integrity be reported to the Office of Student Affairs. At the faculty member's discretion and with the concurrence of the student or students involved, some cases though reported to the Office of Student Affairs may be resolved within the confines of the course and department. The instructor has the authority to adjust the offender's grade as deemed appropriate, including assigning an F to the assignment or exercise or, in more serious cases, an F to the student for the entire course." Read the University's policy on Academic Integrity opens in a new window(PDF).

Disabilities
Any student who feels that he or she may need an accommodation based upon the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Accessibility Services in Science Building, Room S-132, 718-631-6257, to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. You can visit the Office of Accessibility Services website.

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