Syllabus Course Title: Term: Schedule: Repertory I & II Fall Semester 2013 MWF 11:00-11:50 AM, Room 6400 Instructor Information Delma Iles, MFA Department of Music, Theater and Dance Office: 3604-38 Office Hours: MW 1:30-4:30 PM, TR 2:10-4:10 PM *Please note that if I am not in my office during these hours I am probably in 6400 completing a class or rehearsal. Office phone: 305-237-3040/alternate phone: 305-858-7002 Email: diles@mdc.edu/ alternate email: mdanceco@bellsouth.net Course Description Repertory is a course for the individual performer designed to build performance skills and stagecraft through learning, rehearsing and performing dance works in a variety of styles. It also assists the student in developing skills for auditioning, directing a rehearsal, and working in a group as a preparation for the career of a professional performer. Prerequisites: Dancers must be at a level 2 in dance technique (ballet, jazz, Afro-Caribbean, and/or modern dance). Admission to the class is at the discretion of the Instructor based on a student’s technical skill and past dance experience. Repertory is not a course for entry level dancers. This course is a Lab class. All classes are direct participation in dance instruction OBJECTIVES After the completion of two semesters of Repertory, the student will demonstrate: 1. The ability to quickly learn and correctly execute dance steps in a variety of styles 2. The ability to work as a member of a group in choreographic works, including dancing in unison, making clean formations, entrances and exits, covering mistakes, taking the lead and following, etc. 3. The ability to refine and improve a choreographic work once it is set including working with set musical counts, refining lines of the body, use of force and dynamics, interpreting and communicating the choreographer’s intent to the audience. 7/25/2016 Syllabus Components con't 4. The ability to conduct a rehearsal using the above skills to improve the performance of other dancers. 5. An understanding of how to take a dance audition including, attire, behavior, how to stand out, etc. 6. The ability to watch and evaluate professional dance performances based on the ideas and skills presented in class. 7. Basic skills and proper behavior for taking dance auditions, including auditions for academic programs, professional dance companies, musical theater shows, and film/TV/video. UNITS 1) Learning choreographic works in diverse styles by resident and guest choreographers. 2) Performing these works at Wolfson Campus activities such as Hispanic Heritage Month, Miami Book Fair International, etc., as well as other performance opportunities that may become available. Schedule for these events: Hispanic Heritage Month – October 16 at 12:00 noon Miami Book Fair International – November 22 at 10:00 AM 3) Learning how to conduct a rehearsal 4) Learning how to take an audition CLASS POLICIES Timeliness The beginning of class is essential for adequate preparation of the body/mind for dance, building a daily sequence of positive and effective conditioning. Your work in each class is an evolution in and of itself. Training yourself in this process allows you to rise to your maximum capabilities. ON TIME means physically and cognitively being in class fully prepared to participate at the time the class is scheduled to begin. The instructor will assume that you have already taken a dance class (Ballet I or II) earlier in the day and that you are warmed up. If you do not have a technique class prior to Repertory, you are responsible for warming yourself up. Do not neglect this step, because inadequate warmups lead to injuries. Tardy is defined as arriving any time after 11:00 AM. Three tardies are equal to one absence Every two unexcused absences will automatically lower your final grade by one letter grade! Textbooks/Resources/Supplies No textbook is required for this course, however the Instructor will provide handouts and websites for reference in developing performance skills. CLASS ATTIRE All students must wear proper dance attire for all classes including: Hair securely fastened away from the face and neck Dance shoes as appropriate to the style of dance of the choreographies: Ballet slippers (pink for women, white or black for men), jazz shoes (black or beige), jazz sneakers (black), aerobics shoes, etc. 7/25/2016 2 Syllabus Components con't Leotards and tights or dance pants. Dance skirts and sweaters are allowed. Not allowed: plastic pants, pantyhose, large, bulky items of clothing, hats (except as part of a costume), large jewelry, or any other item of attire that interferes with the class. No items of clothing with written content, large prints or patterns, pictures or photos, or other images that are distracting. Stick to solid colors. Exceptions will be made for dance company and dance school T-shirts and warmup clothing. Course Evaluation/Grading Policy/Assessment Methods/Schedule Class participation and effort (40%) 1. Attendance, class participation, progression, and working in a group 2. Attitude in class, discipline, respecting the instructor, classmates and yourself. 3. Attendance and promptness. SHOW UP ON TIME! 4. Participation in answering questions and showing steps and combinations in class 5. Although attendance is paramount, effort is also essential. Effort constitutes half of your classroom participation grade. Participation in the Wolfson Dancers campus performances (20%) THESE PERFORMANCES ARE A COURSE REQUIREMENT! Hispanic Heritage Month – October 16 at 12:00 noon Miami Book Fair International – November 22 at 10:00 AM This is an absolute requirement of the course. If you cannot participate in all stage rehearsals, technical rehearsals, and performances you should drop the class! Dancers are required to be in the dance studio ready for warmup 90 minutes prior to the performance time. Dancers who are more than 20 minutes late for thisequirement will not be allowed to perform. These dance performances are your midterm and final exams. Progress (20%) 1. The student’s progression of physical conditioning and execution of proper technique, balance, and coordination 2. Improvement or evidence of learning 3. Quality of performance within technical parameters Written Critiques (10%) Students are required to see and write critiques of two live professional dance performances. Please note that you cannot make an A without turning in these papers. Critique #1 is due on or before October 18. Critique #2 is due on or before December 13. The instructor will make every attempt to secure free and/or discounted tickets to assist students with the financial necessities of fulfilling this requirement. Course Policies MOST IMPORTANT: ATTENDANCE Every two unexcused absences result in a drop of one letter grade!!! Every three tardies equal one absence. 7/25/2016 3 Syllabus Components con't Students are only excused from class with a doctor’s note explaining a physical ailment that prohibits the student from dancing. A student is required to attend class even with a doctor’s note if the student is mobile. *Students who are not able to dance due to illness or injury will receive full credit for attendance provided that the student arrives on time, observes the class to the end, and writes a description of the choreography worked on in class that day which will be turned in at the conclusion of the class. NO MAKE UPS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE REPERTORY CLASS. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO MAKE UP MISSED REHEARSALS! Students who miss more than 3 rehearsals for a piece will be dropped from that piece. Students who are dropped from more than one piece for absences will be dropped from the class. If you miss more than 3 consecutive classes without communicating with the instructor, you will be purged from the class roster. Excused absences: Religious holidays Miami-Dade official activities MDC Dance Ensemble performances Excused absences for unique circumstances are entirely at the discretion of the instructor. Other Information EVERY THIRD TARDY RESULTS IN AN UNEXCUSED ABSENCE! Classes begin on time! Be prompt! The first part of the class is integral for adequate preparation of the body for dance. Written papers: Must be 1,000 words typed & single-spaced Paper #1 Is due at the time of the class on October 18, Paper #2 is due at the time of class on December 13 (either can be turned in early) Can be submitted via email, but email submissions must be RECEIVED no later than the end of the class period on the date the paper is due Will not be accepted late. Late is defined as any time after the conclusion class on the due date. All late papers will receive a grade of “F”. All written work must be original. Any plagiarized work will receive a grade of “0” and the student may be subject to additional disciplinary measures. Please see the Miami Dade College Student Handbook for additional collegewide policies regarding plagiarism. PLEASE NOTE THAT PLAGARISM AND CHEATING ARE ACADEMIC FELONIES. Plagiarizing will automatically result in a failing grade for the class and possibly expulsion from Miami Dade College. Please refer to the Miami Dade College Manual of Policy for complete descriptions of all college wide policies and procedures. To avoid plagiarism: If you directly copy the words of an author, then you must place them in quotes and cite the source. If you paraphrase someone else’s ideas, you must cite the source. If an idea is not yours, cite the author and the work from which you received the idea. 7/25/2016 4 Syllabus Components con't Common knowledge and factual information is not generally cited. Copying material from a concert program book is plagiarism. Final Exam Because the performances act as exams for this course, no make up exams are possible! Extra credit: No extra credit is available in this course. Dance requires direct classroom participation. No outside work can substitute for class work. Students with Special Needs: Please see the instructor at the beginning of the semester to discuss special needs as applicable. Classroom behavior: Please raise your hand if you have a question. Talking about subjects other than the classroom material is not acceptable. If students are injured or unable to fully participate in the class, this should be discussed with the instructor prior to the beginning of the class, not after the class has started. Students needing to take a bathroom break should inform the instructor, not just walk out of the room. Bathroom breaks should be brief. Absolutely NO GUM, FOOD OR DRINKS DURING CLASS (water only!) All students should treat each other with respect. All cell phones must be turned off during the class. Interruptions of class by cell phone noise may result in a reduction of your grade up to one letter grade. If your cell phone rings during class, you will be counted as absent from the class for that day! Please note that disruption of a class is a misdemeanor under Florida state law! Instructor Feedback: Every dance class and rehearsal incorporates direct feedback from the instructor in the form of “corrections”. This is a traditional part of dance classes and rehearsals. Corrections are given both to the whole class as general information for improvement, and to individuals for personal improvement. Because each dance student is unique, personal corrections are specific to the individual student. Receiving corrections does not mean that a student is doing poorly. Even the most advanced professional dancers continue to receive corrections throughout their careers. Rather, corrections are information provided for personal improvement in technique and performance. All students should take corrections very seriously because they are the key to personal improvement. Student response (by listening to and applying the information provided) to corrections is calculated as part of the grade dedicated to classroom participation, effort, and progress. Safety Rules for Repertory class Arrive on time! Your warmup is essential to avoiding injuries! Learn the spacing, formations, and direction of movement for each dance first. This will help you to avoid injuries as well as keep all dancers out of each other’s way Learn the steps to each dance or portion of a dance carefully. It is helpful to keep a notebook and take notes to help you remember the sequences. 7/25/2016 5 Syllabus Components con't Stay consistent with the spacing of each dance. Your location on the stage is just as important to a choreographer as the steps. NEVER WALK OR RUN BACK THROUGH A GROUP OF ONCOMING DANCERS! ALWAYS EXIT THE DANCE FLOOR IN A FORWARD, THEN SIDE DIRECTION! Students who place others in danger through thoughtless running around or getting in the way of other dancers will be asked to leave the class! Be prepared to dance when it is your turn, hesitations throw off the space between dancers and put others in danger. Deep stretching should be attempted only after the body is warmed up or you risk injury. Student Withdrawal from Class: If you feel that you will be unable to complete the requirements for passing this class, you have the option to withdraw from the class by the College’s “drop date” of November 6. However, there are consequences of which you need to be aware if you drop a class or stop attending and you should always speak to your instructor or an advisor first. For example, you must earn at least two-thirds or 67% of the total credits for which you have registered and that failure to comply with this requirement will adversely impact your financial aid status with MDC. If after considering the possible consequences, you still opt drop the class, keep in mind that it is your responsibility to do so (not the instructor’s) and failure to withdrawal will result in you earning a grade of “F” for the course you stop attending. If extenuating circumstances (e.g., illness, accident, change in employment situation, etc.) prevent you from continuing to attend your class before the drop date, speak to your instructor first and if needed, to the Chairperson to assess your options. Available Support Services and information Students are encouraged to read: The Dancer Prepares by James Pernod & Janice Gudde Plastino, Maxfield Publishing A Sense of Dance – Exploring Your Movement Potential by Constance A. Schrader, Human Kinetics Dancing for Balanchine by Merrill Ashley, E. P Dutton, Inc. Additionally, students are encouraged to read and view material relevant to this course such as: dance concerts, videos, and other books. The Miami-Dade County Public Library in downtown Miami has an excellent collection of dance books and videos available. Youtube now features many excellent clips of dancers and choreography that are easy to view. The MDC Wolfson library has a small but high quality collection of dance books, videos and DVD’s. Students are strongly encouraged to attend dance performances presented by Miami Dade College’s MDC Live Series. These are available free or for $5 with your student ID. Announcements will be made in class when these performances are coming up. 7/25/2016 6 Syllabus Components con't Students are also strongly encouraged to attend dance performances at New World School of the Arts. These are available free or for $5 with your student ID. Suggestions for success: Listen carefully to all instructions and try to apply them directly to your body. Applying both group and personal corrections is the key to improvement. Don’t compare yourself to the other students in the class. Each person is different with a unique combination of strengths and weaknesses. Some students have had prior dance training before enrolling in this class and are starting with more experience and knowledge. YOU ARE UNIQUE! Each person progresses differently depending on their personal combination of strength, flexibility, coordination, previous experience, mind/body connection, knowledge of music, and many other factors. Don’t be afraid to request an explanation if there is something you do not understand. Do learn the names of the steps in the choreography. They will help you to remember the dance and. will be used in future dance classes and rehearsals, both at MDC and in dance rehearsals all over the world. Important Dates: Week of December 2-6: Repertory will not meet in room 6400 due to a Theater Department production. An alternative location will be assigned later in the semester. August 30 – last day to drop and receive a full refund. Also last date to change courses or add a new course. September 2 – Labor Day Holiday November 11 – veterans Day Holiday November 6 – last day to withdraw from classes November 28-December 1 - Thanksgiving Holiday December 13 – last day of regular classes December 14-20 – Final Exam Week 7/25/2016 7