Modern 2
Dance 441
Leslie Seiters
Course Description:
Class will include physical preparation and practice, discussion, creative process, and
plenty of exalted DANCING. Because this is an advanced class, students are expected to
be actively engaged in their own education and approach to dance. We will practice with
the below questions in mind,
(Please read and consider for the first day:)
What/how are we training?
For us, what is “technique?”
What if we consider this class a lab?
What do we want to “work” on? What do we want to practice?
How do we want to approach our daily practice?
What do we want to do differently?
What inspires us?
How can we support each other?
What if “training” is less future oriented, and our experience together IS what
we are here for? How might this perspective change our approach/activity
individually and together?
OBJECTIVES:
 Participate in a learning process grounded in experimentation and observation
 Practice attention to details and whole separately and in tandem
 Develop understanding, sense, and appetite for personal and class “movement
research” (physical investigations)
 Increase capacity to choose to work in a spectrum from “inner” to “outer”
according to day, activity…
 Increase capacity to “focus” (a wide quality of attention) in duration and quantity
(how much you are attending to at one time.)
 Extend understanding of anatomy (through movement, touch, verbal and visual
cues) to further refine efficiency of movement and access greater range of motion,
articulation, and movement quality
 Use repetition as way to track change and interest over time while simultaneously
approaching repetition with a beginners mind/body
 Approach new physical research with confident curiosity
 Develop individual artistry as dancers and performers and practice “performance”
as an integral aspect of technique
 Be in active dialogue with “feedback” from teacher, classmates, environment, and
self observations that may include noticing, questioning, integrating, testing,
trying on...
 Continue to develop a self motivated approach to learning (willingness to
consider setting aside notions of “right” and “correct” in order to privilege the
experience at hand)
 Support and Respect classmates and our learning environment
Requirements
 Regular attendance and promptness (class begins together at 1:05. You are
expected to arrive [and attendance is taken] at 1:00, but you have 5 minutes to
prepare yourself. This could include laying on the floor, stretching, rolling on a
ball, hanging over, or even saying something that needs to be said to a
classmate…make a choice for this time according to your current needs.
 Attentive presence, participation and contributions to the class
 Completion of class assignments (including online viewing assignments, phrase
assignment, self-evaluation and conferences, daily writing)
 Attendance to at least two dance performances (decide/attend as group?)
Daily Writing
Students must have dedicated notebook (small) for this class. We will dedicate time daily
to recall and record reflections, impressions, feedback, questions, activities, experiences
from class that are immediately relevant or somehow key or contributing to your
learning.
What do you want to remember/be reminded of?
Did anything hold particular value, information, or importance for you?
Did you experience change/excitement/boredom/familiarity/surprise…?
This writing will help you in the midterm conferences and Final notes.
Final Notes
At the end of the semester review your notes and somehow let me in on your learning
process. What stands out to you about the semester and your learning process? How
would you address the questions in the “course description” now? Do any of the course
objectives hold different meaning for you now? What came up during the mid term
conferences and what came of those observations during the rest of the semester? How
did the performances you saw relate to your work in class?
Performance
We will make an informal performance schedule at the beginning of the semester to
practice phrases outside of the studio.
Grading/Evaluation
Your approach to the class content, willingness to learn about your dancing, active
presence, and overall positive attitude are each important parts of evaluation. You are
expected to work consistently, professionally and attentively to your full potential at
every class meeting. If you need to sit out, please “actively observe” by taking notes (see
details below.)
Grading:
-Quality of participation: not just your physical presence, but “how” you are in the room.
you will be evaluated based on your relation over time to the course objectives and the
mid term discussions.)
50%
[NOTE: Attendance, promptness and active participation
in class are requirements…more than 2 unexcused absences will
affect your grade- but again your grade is based on HOW you are in class,
not simply that you are in class.]
-Attendance to 2 Dance Performances
5%ea=10%
-Completion of midterm notes/conferences
20%
-Final notes
20%
Attendance policy
You are allowed 2 absences. Each absence beyond the 2, no matter what the excuse, will
result in lowering of final grade 1/3 of step, i.e., A to A-.
Situations such as serious illness, long-term injury, or family emergencies may be dealt
with immediately on an individual basis. In some cases, students will be given an
Incomplete to be made up within the next semester. In other cases, I may recommend
withdrawal from the course. If you stop attending the course without following procedure
you will receive a “U” which calculates as an “F”.
Students may not make up class in another instructors technique class
*Observation notes: If you are ill or injured, you may observe class two times with
instructor's consent. See me prior to class if possible. Detailed notes (typed) about the
class and your observations must be submitted at the next class. Notes should go
beyond just listing what the class activities were. Pay attention to what the students are
doing in relation to the instructor's feedback. Make correlations between what you see,
what you hear, and what you personally experience when you are physically participating
in the class. How does observing class further enrich your kinesthetic and cognitive
understanding of dance?
You are welcome and encouraged to schedule a meeting with me anytime you want (to
discuss class, departmental questions, personal issues, etc.)
My posted office hours for this semester are:
Monday 12-1, Wed 3-4
or by appointment