San Diego State University
School of Music and Dance
SYLLABUS
Spring 2014
Course Title: DANCE 382 - Dance in World Cultures
Instructor:
(3 units - lecture)
Graham Hempel, Associate Professor of Dance
Email: ghempel@mail.sdsu.edu
Phone: 619-594-6828
Office: Music 211
Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday
8:00 – 9:00 AM
Also by appointment.
Courses that fulfill the 9-unit requirement for Explorations in General Education take the goals and skills
GE Foundations courses to a more advanced level. Your three upper division courses in Explorations will
provide greater interdisciplinary, more complex and in-depth theory, deeper investigation of local problems, and
wider awareness of global challenges. More extensive reading, written analysis involving complex
comparisons, well-developed arguments, considerable bibliography, and use of technology are appropriate in
many Explorations courses.
This is an Explorations course in the Humanities and Fine Arts. Completing this course will help you to do
the following in greater depth: 1) analyze written, visual, or performed texts in the humanities and fine arts with
sensitivity to their diverse cultural contexts and historical moments; 2) describe various aesthetic and other value
systems and the ways they are communicated across time and cultures; 3) identify issues in the humanities that
have personal and global relevance; 4) demonstrate the ability to approach complex problems and ask complex
questions drawing upon knowledge of the humanities.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Dance in selected cultures; geographic, historical, social, and aesthetic factors which have shaped
development and function. Including an introduction to dance ethnology.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the completion of this course, the student will be able to demonstrate a practical application of the
subject matter in the following ways:
1. Demonstrate an awareness of dance as a cultural phenomenon in other cultures and their own;
including identification of the anthropological perspective of dance, dance in cultural context, and
the structure and function of dance.
2. Identify significant factors that have shaped traditional dances of selected cultures including their
geographic, historical and cultural influences; their relative dance structures; & the music, dress,
and aesthetics of each. Additionally, comprehend the future of dance in the cultures of the world.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the use of space by native dancers in traditional dance forms to
include dance-floor plans and formations, directions of movement, and focus. Also, an
understanding of social conventions to include deportment, etiquette, culture-specific movements,
and cultural context.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of rhythms and tempi used in traditional dances including
fundamental, uneven, & complex rhythms; composite and syncopated rhythms; & various tempi.
5. Demonstrate an awareness for the differing technique and style of traditional dance forms in
selected cultures including their artistic expressions.
COURSE CONTENT
1.
Lectures and readings from scholars in the fields of dance ethnology and anthropology examining
dance as a phenomenon and the position of dance in the sphere of human behavioral traits.
2.
Lectures, videos, artifacts and guest speakers/performers illustrating the traditional dance forms
of selected cultures.
3.
Exploration of traditional dancing in selected cultures, to include Croatia, Georgia, Guinea,
Hungary, India, Ireland, Morocco, Roma, Russia, Serbia, and the United States.
CLASS ADMITTANCE POLICIES
Prerequisites: Completion of the General Education requirement in Foundations II.C. Humanities.
Auditing:
No auditors. You may choose the Credit/No-credit option instead.
Credit/No-Cr:
For those students choosing the credit/no-credit grade option, a grade of CREDIT
will only be assigned to those receiving a grade of C or higher, and for those
receiving a grade of C- or lower a NO CREDIT must be assigned. Therefore, all
students on this option must complete all of the requirements that are expected of all
other students.
NOTE: Observations of the class, by outside visitors, is expressly forbidden without prior consent of
the instructor. Any visitors permitted to observe must first be introduced, before the class
starts, and then observe quietly while seated in an appropriate place in the room and only if
vacant seats are available.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Required Text
and Readings: Hempel, Graham. DANCE 382: Dance in World Cultures – Syllabus & Selected
Readings. San Diego, California: Montezuma Publishing, Spring 2014.
Required Readings: These are available in the Reserve Reading Room, Love Library, SDSU.

Dils, Ann and Ann C. Albright. Moving History/Dancing Cultures.
Middletown, Connecticut: Wesleyan University Press, 2001.

Spalding, Susan and Jane Woodside. Communities in Motion.
Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1995.
Required Materials: Three Par-SCORE “Test Forms.”
CLASSROOM PROTOCAL
1. ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY – ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES MUST BE TURNED
OFF AND PUT AWAY!
Cell phones, laptops, i-pods, i-phones, blackberries, or any other electronic device may not be used
at any time while class is in session. Absolutely no text-messaging during class. Noncompliance
will result in the device being confiscated. A second offense will result in a warning being filed
with the Center for Student Rights & Responsibilities. A third offense will result in expulsion from
the class, the grade of “F” being assigned, and the denial of course forgiveness.
2. TALKING or DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR
Unapproved talking, or any disruptive behavior, during class time will result in expulsion from that
class session (Section 41304/California Code of Regulations/SDSU Catalogue). If you are late for
class or have to leave early please do so quietly.
3. FOOD & BEVERAGES
No food, beverages, or chewing gum allowed in the classroom at any time. Water bottles excepted.
4. CLASS STARTING & ENDING TIMES.
Class meets from 11:00 AM until 12:15 PM every Tuesday and Thursday.
5. PARTICIPATION
a. Attendance. Each student is expected to attend all classes, keep up with the reading
assignments, and participate in class discussions.
b. Absences and tardiness.
While roll may be taken absences will not be counted. Please don't be tardy.
c. Make-up policy:
Classes:
 Most sessions include video material that is essential and cannot be re-shown.
 The professor is not available for missed material (either lecture or video).
 He is available to students who attend regularly and seek assistance with assignments or
clarification of the material.
Exams: Due to the large numbers of students in this class and problems with cheating,
exam make-ups are not allowed. (The only exception to this rule is a serious and
compelling reason that is well DOCUMENTED such as an emergency medical procedure,
court appearance, or a documented family crisis.)
Assignments: Assignments cannot be made up they simply must be turned in by their
respective deadlines.
ASSIGNMENT: Traditional Dance Concert(s)
In order to more fully understand and appreciate the dances of the world’s cultures, each student is
required to attend a traditional dance concert. You may choose from one of the two options listed here.
Assignment Options (choose from one of these columns):
A
Full Concert
(30 points)
B
Two Mini-concerts
(15 pts. each)
(2 mini-concerts = 1 full concert)
Approved full-length traditional dance concert.
Note: Attendance at ballet, modern dance, jazz
dance, hip-hop, or ballroom is not approved.
1. Approved traditional dance & music miniconcert #1.
2. Approved traditional dance & music miniconcert #2.
TRADITIONAL DANCE CONCERT
Each student must attend a full-length concert(s) of traditional dance. (See your instructor for his
definition of a “traditional dance” concert.) This concert must be related to a culturally specific,
traditional (folk/ethnic) dance form (of which at least 50% is dance), preferably done to live music
that lasts for at least 1-1/2 hours. Come to the next class meeting prepared to discuss the concert.
Be sure to obtain a program and ticket stub, staple the ticket stub to the program, and write your
name & course number on the front of the program. Submit these to your instructor by the
deadline, which is Thursday, May 8, 2014 at the start of class.
Where to find concert information:
1. The bulletin board in our classroom.
2. The bulletin board in the hallway near M-113.
3. Newspapers:
Union-Tribune “Night & Day” (Thursdays); “Arts section” (Sundays)
San Diego Weekly Reader (Thursdays)
4. On-line dance calendar: http://utsandiego.com
Maypole dance
TERM PAPER
Each student is required to write and submit a term paper of eight (8) pages.
Select a research topic and have it approved by your professor by the fifth week of the semester.
The topic must be on the traditional dance of a specific culture. Note: Papers on ballet, jazz
dance, modern dance, hip-hop, or ballroom dance will not be accepted.
Overview (see pages 153-159 for details):
1) Annotated Bibliography. An annotated bibliography is required. This will be discussed in
class at the beginning of the sixth week. See pages 155 & 159 for more details.
You may submit this bibliography to your professor by the beginning of the 10th week
(March 27) for his review and advice.
2) The paper must be written in the third person, and in a standard format such as APA or MLA.
(See reference librarians if you need assistance on these formats.)
3) This critique must be word-processed using a font of 12-point type, have
one-and-a-quarter inch margins all around, and be a minimum of eight (8) pages of text
(double-spaced) using Times, or Times New Roman, font. Note: The cover page and
annotated bibliography are considered to be additional pages.
4) Detailed guidelines for the paper will be discussed before the second mid-term exam.
Paper is due no later than Thursday, May 8, 2014 at the start of class.
Late papers will be accepted, but graded down one letter grade for each school day late.
EXAMINATIONS
All exams will consist of multiple-choice questions and be electronically scanned using the
ParSCORE system.
NOTE: The University Cheating Policy will be posted & strictly enforced for each exam.
1. The first mid-term exam will be given during the fifth week.
2. The second mid-term exam will be during the tenth week.
3. The final exam will be scheduled during Final Examinations week, in accordance with
university policy, as found on the Spring 2014 Class Schedule at
http://arweb.sdsu.edu/es/registrar/finalexams/14_spring.html. The final examination is a
comprehensive exam based on all of the material covered during the semester.
Final Exam will be given on Tues., May 13, 2014 from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
GRADES
The final course grade is based upon the following five requirements:
1. Mid-term exam #1
2. Out of Class Assignment
Traditional Dance Concert, full-length
Points
Percentage
60
30
20
10
60
50
20
17
100
300
33
100
(If 2 mini-concerts: 15 points each)
3. Mid-term exam #2
4. Term paper
Including annotated bibliography
5. Final exam (comprehensive)
Grades will be assigned based upon the following scale:
Points
278 – 300
269 – 277
262 – 268
249 – 261
239 – 248
232 – 238
Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
219 – 231
209 – 218
202 – 208
189 – 201
179 – 188
0 – 178
C
CD+
D
DF
CLASS PROCEDURES and MISCELLANY
Class Procedures. The usual procedure in class will be as follows:
Announcements
Discussion of concerts or reading assignments
Lecture & slides
View videos, slides, & artifacts
Discussion
More lecture & videos
Adjournment
Established Office Hours of Your Professor:
If you need to reach your professor outside of class time you may see him in his office. Or, you
may contact him by e-mail or telephone. While he is not available for missed material, he is
available to students who attend regularly and seek assistance with assignments or clarification of
material. See page-1 for office hours and contact information.
DANCE 382: Dance in World Cultures – Prof. Hempel
COURSE SCHEDULE
Week
Date
Day
Jan. 23
Jan. 28
Jan. 30
Thurs.
Tues.
Thurs.
Feb. 4
Tues.
Feb. 6
Feb. 11
Feb. 13
Feb. 18
Feb. 20
Feb. 25
Thurs.
Tues.
Thurs.
Tues.
Thurs.
Tues.
6
Feb. 27
Thurs.
7
Mar. 4
Mar. 6
Mar. 11
Tues.
Thurs.
Tues.
1
2
3
4
5
Lecture/Activity
UNIT I – Dance Ethnology; The Caucasus
Orientation; Overview of World Cultures; Concert Assignment.
Differing Views; Defining Dance; Dance Ethnology Terms.
“…Ballet as a Form of Ethnic Dance;” Differences between Ethnic
dance and Folk dance; The “Ethnic” Chart; Typology.
Defining “folk” dance; Factors that Influence the formation of
Traditional Dance; Strata; Villages; Racial Terminology.
Republic of Georgia: a. Historical & Cultural overview;
Republic of Georgia: b. Djigitovka & Men’s Toe Dancing;
Republic of Georgia: c. “Kartuli” as a Courtship Ritual;
Republic of Georgia: d. Adjaristani dance style.
Term paper sign-up. Review for exam.
Mid-term Exam #1*
UNIT II – North America; Europe
Exam results. Discussion on annotating a bibliography.
Format for the Study of a Dance-culture.
Anglo-American Dance Traditions.
Dance in New England; Contra Dance as a Courtship Ritual.
Southern Appalachian Dance Forms: The Circle as Community.
8
Mar. 13
Mar. 18
Mar. 20
Mar. 25
Thurs.
Tues.
Thurs.
Tues.
10
Mar. 27
Apr. 8
Thurs.
Tues.
11
Apr. 10
Apr. 15
Apr. 17
Apr. 22
Thurs.
Tues.
Thurs.
Tues.
Apr. 24
Apr. 29
May 1
Thurs.
Tues.
Thurs.
May 6
Tues.
May 8
May 13
Thurs.
Tues.
9
12
13
14
15
16
Irish Dance; “Riverdance” Phenomenon: Is it Folklore or Fakelore?
The Balkans & South Slavic Dance Forms: a. Historical Perspective;
South Slavic: b. Croatian dance – the circle & collective society;
South Slavic: c. Serbian dance – the hierarchy of the kolo.
Balkan Rhythms.
Submit Annotated bibliography (optional). Review for exam.
Mid-term Exam #2*
UNIT III – Europe; Africa; Asia
Exam results. Bibliographies to be returned.
Dance Forms in Russia & the Ukraine.
The Theatricalization of Russian Folk Dance. Term paper mentoring.
Cultural Gestures and Body-language;
The Roma: Roma Origins & Adapting Dances to Host Countries.
Dance Traditions in Hungary.
Overview of West Africa.
West African Dance Traditions: Guinea & Ghana.
Dance in northern Africa: Morocco.
India: Classical Dance Forms – Bharata Natyam & Kathakali.
India: Folk Dance Forms – Bangra.
Term papers due! Review for exam.
Final Exam – 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM in the same classroom.
*NOTE: Mid-term exam dates are subject to change.