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