I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 1/27/11)
Use to propose new general education courses (except writing courses), to change existing
gen ed courses and to remove designations for existing gen ed courses.
Note: One-time-only general education designation may be requested for experimental courses
(X91-previously X95), granted only for the semester taught. A NEW request must be
submitted for the course to receive subsequent general education status.
Group
III. Language
VII: Social Sciences
(submit
III Exception: Symbolic Systems * VIII: Ethics & Human Values
separate forms X IV: Expressive Arts
IX: American & European
if requesting
V: Literary & Artistic Studies
X: Indigenous & Global
more than one
VI: Historical & Cultural Studies
XI: Natural Sciences
general
w/ lab  w/out lab 
education
group
*Courses proposed for this designation must be standing requirements of
designation)
majors that qualify for exceptions to the modern and classical language
requirement
Dept/Program School of Theatre & Dance
Course #
U DANC 115A
Course Title
Prerequisite
Jazz Dance I
Credits
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Instructor
Contact
Phone / Email
2
Date
Michele Antonioli
x2875
michele.antonioli@umontana.edu
Program Chair Mark Dean
Director
x2879
Dean
Dr. Stephen Kalm
III. Type of request
New
One-time Only
Renew
Change
Remove
X
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
Description of change
IV. Description and purpose of new general education course: General Education courses
must be introductory and foundational within the offering department or within the General
Education Group. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/archives/minutes/gened/GE_preamble.aspx
Jazz I is a dance technique class. It is a studio course that meets each criterion for the Expressive Arts
Perspective. Students learn technique in jazz and apply these techniques and processes in the learning
of dance phrases and combinations. Students incorporate movement structures through learning dance
language and terminology for purposes of conveying meaning through dance. Students in any technique
class use the same “Dance Technique Student Requirements” with an accompanying individual syllabus
specific to the dance style of that course. All technique students are required to attend dance
performances and write a critique that reflects upon and critically assesses the merits of others’ work.
These same assessment processes are used in class to reflect upon students’ own work and the work of
peers. The technique class allows students to perceive and articulate the relevance of artistic expression
in human experience.
V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
Courses guide students, whether in individual
Students physically experience dance
or group settings, to acquire foundational skills kinesthetically. The mode of instruction includes
to engage in the creative process and/or in
attention to the following areas, which lead to
interpretive performance.
technical formation of the dancer and familiarity
with the dance language: alignment, centering,
balance work; basic locomotion, basic axial
movement-flexion, extension, rotation; elevationtechniques, rhythmic awareness; basic positions
of the arms and feet; simple turns with and
without spotting; flexibility and strengthening
exercises; use of breath and vocalization.
Through direct experience (for example,
Students reflect on and critically assess the
attendance and involvement with live
merits of their work in three main ways:
performance, exhibitions, workshops, and
readings), they will engage in critical
1. Students are required to attend 2-3 dance
assessment of their own work and the work of
concerts during a semester of dance
technique. They are encouraged to
others.
voluntarily see all available dance
performances. The instructor requires a
written critique for these performances.
Guidelines are distributed prior to the
concert. Students must write a critique
referring to specific examples, so we
recommended that they take notes either
during or after the concerts.
2. Students are required to perform their own
original compositions. Professors conduct
class discussion where students are held
responsible for the critique of their own work
and the creations of their peers.
3. A Dance Program critique of the Dance
Showcase is held every semester with
outside critics invited to share their
reflections on the merits of the choreography.
Choreographers are required to attend and
dancers are highly encouraged to attend.
The critique generally lasts two hours and is
held the week following the production.
VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
Using the movement vocabulary learned
(alignment, centering, balance work; basic
locomotion, basic axial movement-flexion,
extension, rotation; elevation-techniques,
rhythmic awareness; basic positions of the arms
and feet; simple turns with and without spotting;
flexibility and strengthening exercises; use of
breath and vocalization), students are able to
express themselves using the idiom of jazz.
Understand the genres and/or forms that have
Through attending performances of local
shaped the medium.
companies and national/international
professional companies, and through viewing
dance works on video/DVD, students will
understand and differentiate between different
dance genres and the major forms that have
shaped the medium of dance.
Critique the quality of their own work and that
The dance program values critique as part of the
of others.
learning goals of all dance students. All students
who study jazz dance are required to attend
concerts and write critiques about the quality of
the work they are seeing. In addition, students
are involved in class critiques where they critique
their own work and the work of their peers.
Students also participate in a Formal Critique
conducted by a member of the Missoula
community.
VII. Justification: Normally, general education courses will not carry pre-requisites, will carry
at least 3 credits, and will be numbered at the 100-200 level. If the course has more than one
pre-requisite, carries fewer than three credits, or is upper division (numbered above the 200
level), provide rationale for exception(s).
The requirements for the course, while physically and academically rigorous, equal the number of hours
required for two credits, as many of our other 100-level Group IV dance courses do. Rather than increase
the credits and thus the course requirements, we feel the two-credit designation is sensible and
reasonable.
VIII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.  The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus
preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
Express themselves in the making of an original
work or creative performance.
Jazz Dance I
University of Montana, School of Theatre & Dance
DANC 115A Fall 2011 2 Credits
Tuesday/Thursday 3:10pm – 4:30pm, PAR-TV 005
Instructor: Joy French, joy.french@mso.umt.edu
Office hours: by appointment only
Course Objectives
DANC 115A is designed for the beginning jazz dancer. Basic skills and concepts of jazz dance will be
explored through technique practice & improvisation.
Objectives are:
-to emphasize safe and strengthening use of body
-to explore dance as an expressive activity reflective of each individual personality and style
(through a range of dynamic & spatial qualities, musicality, and community interactions)
-to continue to build the technical skills & vocabulary required of a dancer in the Jazz lineage
Course Requirements
Attire:
Please wear comfortable clothes that allow for freedom of movement. (No jeans or tight pants will be
allowed. If you have a question about movement-appropriate clothing, please ask Joy.) You will need
CLEAN shoes that allow turning. (Jazz shoes/boots can be purchased on-line or at local dance studios.)
You may also opt to dance with bare feet if it is comfortable for you. No food or gum in the studio.
Attendance / Punctuality:
Regular attendance & participation in class is necessary and expected. You may observe class if injury
or illness prevents you from fully participating. In this case, your written observation must be submitted
immediately following the class you have observed. Please be on time! The beginning of class is
designed to warm-up the mind & body to minimize the risk of injury. For your safety, if you are more
than ten minutes late you will be asked to observe class. Excessive lateness will lower your grade.
Attendance is important in any field, but vital in the field of dance. You will not gain in flexibility, and
strength, or in your ability to pick up movement or generate your own movement by hearing about what
happened from a classmate, or reading a book. The only way to learn to dance... is to dance! In other
words, there is no way to make up the material you miss. STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN
EVERY CLASS.
If needed, students are granted two permissible absences. Students may also make up two additional
absences by participating in and writing a one-page observation of another dance class (approved by
Joy). AFTER A STUDENT HAS USED HER/HIS TWO ABSENCES AND TWO MAKEUPS, THE
STUDENT WILL BE DOCKED ONE-THIRD OF A GRADE FOR EVERY ABSENCE
FOLLOWING.
Evaluation and Grading
In determining your grade, you will be evaluated for:
-your understanding of concepts introduced in class as indicated by your in-class performance and
your growth during the semester (35%)
-your energy, presence & commitment in class participation (30%)
-your attendance & punctuality (20%)
-creative responses (15%)
There will be a total of 100pts for the semester:
10pts: Mid-term evaluation
15pts: Concert Responses (3)
5pts: Personal Evaluation (due on the final day of class, we will not meet during finals week)
30pts: Final Evaluation
40pts: Participation/Commitment
Concerts
Students are required to attend artistic events during the fall term.
Dancers on Location
October 8&9 (Sat/Sun), noon, UM Mansfield Library courtyard, admission free)
Dance Studio Works
November 5 (Sat), time TBA,PARTV Open Space Dance Up Close
December 6-10 (Tues – Sat),7:30pm + Sat matinee, Masquer Theatre
*Tickets, if needed, can be purchased at the PARTV Box Office in the lobby.
**Creative Responses/Quizzes will be presented/taken the CLASS AFTER the show weekend. More
specific guidelines will be given as concerts approach.
***If a student is unable to attend one of the concerts and wishes to make it up, he/she can write a
10page historical paper and class presentation focusing an important time in the history of Jazz dance.
Odds and Ends
• If at any point you feel further discussion would aid your development, please schedule a meeting
with the instructor.
• If you are sick or injured please talk to the instructor as soon possible before class. This includes any
pre-existing
• conditions/injuries that should be shared.
• If you get injured during class get the instructor’s attention immediately!
• Restrooms / locker rooms are located across the hall.
• Locker rentals are available for all students in the dance classes. We recommend that you do not
leave personal
• belongings unattended in the dressing rooms, hallways, or dance studios, as thefts unfortunately occur.
Lockers may be rented for. For details, see the Dance Program administrative assistant, PARTV 199
(door across from women’s dressing room, then up the stairs.)
Academic Misconduct and the Student Conduct Code: All students must practice academic honesty. Academic
misconduct is subject to an academic penalty by the course instructor and/or disciplinary sanction by the
University. All students need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. The Code is available for review
online at http://life.umt.edu/vpsa/student_conduct.php.
** All Theatre & Dance students must have an in-depth knowledge of the practices and procedures outlined in the
School of Theatre & Dance Student Handbook. The Handbook is available online at
http://www.umt.edu/theatredance/about/handbook.
There is inherent risk involved in many Theatre & Dance classes as they are very physical in nature. Please
proceed through class, shop time, or rehearsal with caution. Always be mindful of your personal safety and the
safety of others. Students participating in class/shop/rehearsal/performance do so at their own risk.
Due to safety considerations, at no point during a student’s time spent in class or serving on a production (in any
capacity) should non-enrolled persons be guests of that student without my consent. Presence of such
unauthorized persons in a class, shop, or any backstage/off-stage area will negatively affect a student’s grade.
The University of Montana assures equal access to instruction through collaboration between students with
disabilities, instructors, and Disability Services for Students (DSS). If you think you may have a disability
adversely affecting your academic performance, and you have not already registered with DSS, please contact
DSS in Lommasson 154. I will work with you and DSS to provide an appropriate accommodation.
Please note: Approved general education changes will take effect next fall.
General education instructors will be expected to provide sample assessment items and
corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.