Advanced Performance Practicum
Private Portraiture for Public Consumption
DANC 40272-070
2 Credit Hours
Spring 2014
Copyright: Nina Martin, MFA PhD, Texas Christian University
Professor: Nina Martin, MFA, PhD
Class Meeting Time: M W 10:30-11:50am
Office: Erma Lowe Hall (ELH) 220
Tele: 817.257.5499
Email: nina.martin@tcu.edu
Office Hours: M 12-1pm, T 11-12pm
Appointments: Email me to set up an appointment outside office hours.
I am happy to meet with you about any questions or concerns you have about class,
so please e-mail with a few times that you are available and I will respond as quickly
as possible to arrange a meeting time.
Textbook: Schechner, R. (2006). Performance studies: an introduction (2nd ed.). New
York: Routledge.
Course Description: Choreographers are challenged to enhance performance abilities and
further develop artistry through the investigation of somatic performance techniques and
their application to embodied performance. Further, choreographers will realize an
original video of professional quality to be uploaded to professional website.
Purpose of Course: To give the dancer/choreographer a focused time to concentrate on
new approaches to dance making and performance and realize these approaches in the
development of professional grade video.
Prerequisite: Senior level student. Dance major or permission of instructor.
Course Objectives: It is the objective of this course…
1. To expose dance artists to novel approaches for developing choreographic
material.
2. To help the dance artist discover the power of the voice and different
personas available to the artist through autobiographical explorations.
3. To understand the mechanics and states of presence on stage.
4. To execute a professional video as a product of the class.
Instructional Methods: Class work will contribute to a mid-term solo/video presented to
the class and a final solo realized as a film.
Course Policies:
Class Participation – In order to comprehend the breadth of material presented in class it
is necessary to pay attention. Many class periods will be spent watching dance videos
that will require your attention. If a student is seen using their cell
phone/computer (except when given permission) and/or working on homework
for another class at any time during our class an unexcused absence will be
recorded for that student for the day. Please use the restroom before class to
minimize the times that you leave class. The quality of your participation will be graded
at midterm and end of semester. Please see Course Rubric below.
Attendance Policy – This class requires your full attendance.
Two unexcused absences will be allowed, though all work must be made up. Please
contact me ahead of all absences by e-mail (nina.martin@tcu.edu). All excused
absences must have written documentation. Please contact me and the Office of the
Dean of Student Life if you have a personal and/or family emergency. Excessive
absences (more than two) and tardiness (more than three) will result in a lowering
of the student’s grade. Each unexcused absence over two will result in a one-point
reduction in the grade point. Each tardy over three will result in a one point
reduction in the grade point. Every student is responsible for correcting the
attendance role after class with the professor when they have come in tardy. It is
the responsibility of the student to correct the attendance role and change an
absence to tardy on that same day. Dance videos are in the library and must be
viewed with a one page summary essay turned into the professor for make up.
If a student is seen using their cell phone/computer (except when given
permission) and/or working on homework for another class at any time during
our class an unexcused absence will be recorded for that student for the day.
Any modifications to this policy on Absences must be requested through the TCU
Center for Academic Services at the beginning of the semester. See ADA note below.
Statement on Disability Services at TCU:
Texas Christian University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 regarding students with disabilities.
Eligible students seeking accommodations should contact the Coordinator for Students
with Disabilities in the Center for Academic Services located in Sadler Hall, 11.
Accommodations are not retroactive, therefore, students should contact the Coordinator
as soon as possible in the term for which they are seeking accommodations. Further
information can be obtained from the Center for Academic Services, TCU Box 297710,
Fort Worth, TX 76129, or at (817) 257-7486.
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Adequate time must be allowed to arrange accommodations and accommodations are not
retroactive; therefore, students should contact the Coordinator as soon as possible in the
academic term for which they are seeking accommodations. Each eligible student is
responsible for presenting relevant, verifiable, professional documentation and/or
assessment reports to the Coordinator. Guidelines for documentation may be found at
http://www.acs.tcu.edu/disability_documentation.asp.
Academic Misconduct (Sec. 3.4 from the Student Handbook) – Any act that violates the
academic integrity of the institution is considered academic misconduct. The procedures
used to resolve suspected acts of academic misconduct are available in the offices of
Academic Deans and the Office of Campus Life. Specific examples include, but are not
limited to:

Cheating: Copying from another student’s test paper, laboratory report, other
report, or computer files and listings; Using, during any academic exercise,
material and/or devices not authorized by the person in charge of the test;
Collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test or laboratory
without permission; Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or
soliciting in its entirety or in part, the contents of a test or other assignment
unauthorized for release; Substituting for another student or permitting another
student to substitute for oneself;

Plagiarism: The appropriation, theft, purchase or obtaining by any means
another’s work, and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of that
work as one’s own offered for credit. Appropriation includes the quoting or
paraphrasing of another’s work without giving credit therefore.

Collusion: The unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing work offered
for credit.
Netiquette: Communication Courtesy Code. All members of the class are expected to
follow rules of common courtesy in all email messages, threaded discussions and chats.
If I deem any of them to be inappropriate or offensive, I will forward the message to the
Chair of the department and the online administrators and appropriate action will be
taken, not excluding expulsion from the course. A good rule of thumb is to use language
that you consider appropriate for formal papers. Please- no slang in your online
communications.
Communication: Please identify the course number in the subject line. Please include
your name in all communications with Professor Newton. Please use salutations in email
communications. For example: Dear Professor Martin/ Thank you (Student Name.)
TCU Campus Resources for Students: Many resources exist on the TCU campus that
may be helpful to students: Mary Couts Burnet Library (257-7117); Center for Academic
Services (257-7486, Sadler Hall. 11); the William L. Adams Writing Center (257-7221,
Rickel Bldg. 244); Student Development Services (257-7855, Student Center Rm. 220);
and University Ministries (257-7830, Student Center Rm. 111).
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Email Notification: Only the official TCU student email address will be used for all
course notification. It is your responsibility to check your TCU email on a regular basis.
Course Requirements (Grading):
Assignment
In class participation Midterm
In class participation Final
Discussion Boards 4X5
Midterm Solo Performance
Final Project: 3 minute film
Learning Evaluation
Peer Artistic Growth Assessment
Total Percentage
Percentage
05
05
20
30
30
05
05
100
Following is the philosophical basis of the grading system used by faculty in the School
for Classical and Contemporary Dance at TCU. It should be understood that these
criteria apply to both process and product and grading is both subjective and
objective. Plus and minus grade designations show the relationship of a student’s work
to the higher or lower grade.
School for Classical & Contemporary Dance Grading Narrative and Numeric Scales
Letter
Grade
100-point
scale
A
90.01-100
10-point The following narrative describes the foundation of the grading
system used by faculty in the School for Classical &
scale
Contemporary Dance at TCU. These criteria apply to both
process- and product-oriented learning, and they apply to
assessment of individual assignments and overall achievement
of course objectives. As such, the grading is necessarily based
on both subjective and objective assessment by the professor.
Plus and minus grade designations serve to fine-tune the
assessment of evidence throughout your work as it reflects the
following descriptions.
9.01-10 This grade indicates that there is clear evidence of your detailed
attention to the materials, information, and experiences that
comprise the course and of exemplary results. Your
participation in the class is mindful and constant and all
elements of your work are timely, invested and thorough. You
show evidence of improvement, growth and development of
ideas, skills and/or concepts. You consistently demonstrate that
you can challenge yourself to learn and to apply new methods
and maintain changes. Overall, your work is thoughtful and in4
A-
80.01-90
8.01-9
B+
70.01-80
7.01-8
B
60.01-70
6.01-7
B-
50.01-60
5.01-6
C+
40.01-50
4.01-5
C
30.01-40
3.01-4
C-
20.01-30
2.01-3
D+
10.01-20
1.01-2
D
0.01-10
0.01-1
depth, you regularly ask questions that forward the process of
inquiry, and you are reflective about the material in order to
apprehend and utilize it quickly and regularly. You demonstrate
knowledge and understanding that lead to self-direction, and
you work toward and consistently achieve mastery of course
content.
This grade serves to fine-tune the assessment of evidence
throughout your work as it reflects the A narrative.
This grade serves to fine-tune the assessment of evidence
throughout your work as it reflects the B narrative.
This grade indicates that there is evidence of your attention to
the materials, information, and experiences that comprise the
course and of proficient results. Your participation in the class is
mindful and most elements of your work are timely, invested
and thorough. You show evidence of improvement, growth and
development of ideas, skills and/or concepts. You demonstrate
that you can challenge yourself to learn and to apply new
methods and maintain changes, with some reliance on the
professor’s prompting or cuing. Your work is thoughtful, you
ask questions when prompted, are reflective about the material
and occasionally self-direct. You demonstrate knowledge and
understanding that is proficient, but you are not yet achieving
mastery of course content.
This grade serves to fine-tune the assessment of evidence
throughout your work as it reflects the B narrative.
This grade serves to fine-tune the assessment of evidence
throughout your work as it reflects the C narrative.
This grade indicates that there is some evidence of your
attention to the materials, information, and experiences that
comprise the course, with satisfactory results. Your participation
in the class is inconsistent, yet you show passable improvement,
growth and development of ideas, skills and/or concepts. You
regularly rely on prompting or cuing to direct your learning.
You demonstrate some knowledge and understanding over time,
however, your work toward mastery of course content is
inconsistent.
This grade serves to fine-tune the assessment of evidence
throughout your work as it reflects the C narrative.
This grade serves to fine-tune the assessment of evidence
throughout your work as it reflects the D narrative.
This grade indicates that there is little evidence of your attention
to the materials, information and experiences that comprise the
course, with unsatisfactory results. Your participation in the
class is perfunctory and there is nominal evidence of
improvement, growth and development of ideas, skills and/or
concepts. Your work toward mastery of course content is
5
F
0
0
unsatisfactory.
This grade indicates that you did not meet course requirements
or assessment criteria.
This syllabus represents my current plans and objectives. As we go through the semester,
those plans may need to change to enhance the class learning opportunity. Such changes,
communicated clearly, are not unusual and should be expected.
**TCU Mission Statement
To educate individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the
global community
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DANC 40272-070
Spring 2014 Revised 1/27/14
Advanced Performance Practicum/
Private Portraiture for Public Consumption
Professor Nina Martin, MFA, PhD
Warmups throughout the semester will be in ReWire/Dancing States
Discussion Boards are due Sunday in the week that they are assigned
Introduction to Somatic Artistic Practice
Week 1 January 12
Hay: Invite Being Seen.
Week 2 January 19
Week 3 January 26
Week 4 February 2
Week 5 February 9
Week 6 February 16
Brown Bag
Week 7 February 23
Week 8 March 2
Week 9 March 9
Spring Break
Week 10 March 16
Introduction to Somatic Artistic Practice
Hay: Invite Being Seen.
Mapping interior landscapes
Orientation New Media Writing Center
Creative Impulses and Meditation
Meditation Walk Botanic Gardens
(weather permitting, rain date next good day)
Grotowsky: Plastiques
Feb 3- Preproduction meeting with New
Media Writing Center
DB #1 Due Midnight Chapter in Schechner
text
DB #2 Due Midnight Chapter in Schechner
text
Autobiographical Performance: Finding the
Dramatic in Personal Experiences
Solo Performance Showings/Video
Peer Feedback Posting #1
DB #3 Due Midnight Chapter Schechner text.
Autobiographical Performance: Finding the
Dramatic in Personal Experiences
Solo Performance Showings /Video
Peer Feedback Posting #1
Autobiographical Performance: Finding the
Dramatic in Personal Experiences
Solo Performance Showings /Video
Peer Feedback Posting #1
DB #4 Due Midnight Chapter Schechner text.
Be Safe!
Translation: Private Portraits for Public
Consumption
Orientation ImovieFinal Cut Pro with Dr.
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Rhode
Week 11 March 23
Week 12 March 30
Week 13 April 6
Week 14 April 13
Week 15 April 20
Filming and Editing of Final Project
Consultation with Dr. Rhode
Filming and Editing of Final Project
Consultation with Dr. Rhode
Editing of Final Project
Consultation with Dr. Rhode
Editing of Final Project
Consultation with Dr. Rhode
Final Editing of Film Project
Consultation with Dr. Rhode
Week 16 April 27
Peer Feedback Posting #2
Nina at Digitaldance Conference
University of Bedfordshire, UK
Post Final Video to Personal/Professional
Website
Week 17 May 6
Peer Feedback Posting #2
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