Fall 2013
Rev. 8/13/13
THEATRE 650:
SEMINAR IN MUSICAL THEATRE
DANCE HISTORY
Theatre 650 is an examination of American musical-theatre dance. Through observation,
discussion, research, and analysis, students explore dance and choreography as they have evolved
throughout the course of the American musical theatre. In addition, practical application of the
dance styles and movement vocabularies and choreography observed and discussed in Theatre 650
will be analyzed, demonstrated, and taught in Theatre 555, Movement for the Theatre II. The goals
of this course are:
1. To examine the growth and evolution of theatre dance from Colonial America to today,
analyzing, European and African influences, and their evolution toward synthesis.
2. To identify various movement idioms used in theatre dance, including ballet, jazz, modern,
tap, folk, ethnic, and ballroom dance.
3. To study and be able to discuss Broadway's pioneer dance directors and their intermediate
role in the evolution of the director-choreographer in the American musical theatre.
4. To research and be able to recognize and discuss the major dancers and choreographers of
the American musical theatre, including their careers, lineage, and influence.
5. To study the origins and development of the director-choreographer from George Balanchine to Michael Bennett and beyond, and the contributions of these artists to the
development of the American musical theatre.
6. To identify and recognize the parallels between the development of dance in America and
the evolution of the American musical theatre.
7. To develop an understanding and appreciation of musical-theatre dance and the ability to
discuss it with insight and specificity.
8. In conjunction with Theatre 555, to practice and be able to identify and demonstrate
various theatre dance styles and iconic musical-theatre choreography, including the dance
vocabularies of the major choreographers of American musical theatre.
9. To facilitate more meaningful, creative, mutually supportive collaboration between directors and choreographers.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
I. ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY
A. Arriving on time to each class session, prepared to work. A major portion of this class is
devoted to oral presentation and the observation and discussion of video examples of
selected artists’ work, which cannot be duplicated outside of class. Illnesses or emergencies should be called in to the instructor, Rick Simas (594-5848).
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II. CLASS PARTICIPATION
A. Committing to and completing in-class assignments.
B. Participating in class discussion.
III. READING
A. The Origins of Dance in the American Musical Theatre, 1796-1936, Ph.D. dissertation by
Rick Simas, chapters one through seven.
IV. ORAL PRESENTATIONS
A. Assigned 30 - 45 minute partnered PowerPoint oral report/discussion, including
video on one of the final three chapters (5 through 7) in the course text The Origins of
Dance in the American Musical Theatre, 1796-1936.
B. Assigned 60 - 75 minute solo PowerPoint presentation with video on one of the
following director-choreographers to include his/her background, education, Broadway
and film work, mentors and protégés (lineage): George Balanchine, Agnes de Mille, Jack
Cole, Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse, and Michael Bennett. These will be accompanied by
video examples of the artist's work.
C. Four 10-minute solo “capsule” reports, including video (two assigned, two chosen)
on various dancers and choreographers who have played an important role in the history
and evolution of theatre dance. These will be accompanied by brief video examples of the
artist’s work.
V. WRITING
A. One-page two-sided fact sheet on the director-choreographer discussed in the oral presentation (with picture, bibliography and videography) to be distributed on the day of
your presentation.
B. One-page two-sided fact sheet for each of the four artists discussed in the ten-minute
capsule reports (with picture, bibliography and videography) to be distributed on the
day of your presentation.
C. Written final, covering the history of theatre dance in America from John Durang (1796)
to today’s Broadway choreographers, including video identifications, due on the day of
the final—Tuesday, December 17, 2013.
GRADING
A. Chapter presentation: 15 pts.
B. Oral report/background sheet: 25 pts.
C. 4 Capsule reports/background sheets: 30 pts. (7.5 pts. each)
D. Class participation and discussion: 5 pts.
E. Final exam: 25 pts.
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TENTATIVE
CLASS SCHEDULE
CLASS #1: Tuesday, August 27, 3:30-6:10pm, DA-221
Class syllabus. Assign topics. Introduction: The Origins of Dance in the American Musical
Theatre. Video: “BC,” “King of Jazz,” “Tony Awards.” Assign Origins of Dance, chapter 2.
**CLASS #2: Wednesday, September 4, 9:30am- noon, Archive or DA-101
Discuss Chapter 2: “Dance in Colonial America”—Rick & Brandon. Video: “Agnes de
Mille’s Conversations About the Dance,” “Magic of Dance: John Durang.” Assign Origins of
Dance, chapter 3.
CLASS #3: Tuesday, September 10, 3:30-6:10pm, DA-221
Discuss Chapter 3: “Jazz and Tap: the Black Influence”—Rick & Brandon. Video: “Riverdance,” “Dance Black America,” “Tap!” Capsule reports: Bill Robinson—?, Ruby Keeler—
Rick, Nicholas Brothers—?, Eleanor Powell—Jill. Video: “Bojangles,” “That’s Dancing!,”
“Nicholas Brothers.” Assign Origins of Dance, chapter 4.
CLASS #4: Tuesday, September 17, 3:30-6:10pm, DA-221
Discuss Chapter 4: “Ballet and Operetta: the European Influence”—Rick & Brandon. Video:
“Magic of Dance,” “That’s Dancing!” Capsule report: Jacques d’Amboise—Cody, Video: “He
Makes Me Feel Like Dancin’,” “Who’s Dancin’ Now?” Assign Origins of Dance, chapter 5.
CLASS #5: Tuesday, September 24, 3:30-6:10pm, DA-221
Discuss Chapter 5: “Vaudeville, Revue, and Musical Comedy: Emergence of an American
Identity”—Kim & Cody. Video: “Vaudeville.” Capsule Reports: Ray Bolger”—?, Charlotte
Greenwood—Rick, Fred & Adele Astaire—Sasha. Video: “That’s Dancing!” “The Story of
Vernon & Irene Castle,” “Greenwood Compilation.” Assign Origins of Dance, chapter 6.
CLASS #6: Tuesday, October 1, 3:30-6:10pm, DA-221
Discuss Chapter 6: “In Search of New Forms: Modern Dance”—Jill & Ashlee. Video:
“Trailblazers of Modern Dance.” Capsule reports: Hanya Holm—Roxane, Katherine
Dunham—Rick, Twyla Tharp—?, Video: “Hanya: Portrait of a Dancer,” “Dance Creation by
Twyla Tharp.” Assign Origins of Dance, chapter 7.
CLASS #7: Tuesday, October 8, 3:30-6:10pm, DA-221
Discuss Chapter 7: “Precision Dance and the Dance Director”—Roxane & Sasha. Video:
“Show Dance/Precision Dance on Film,” “King of Jazz,” “Good News,” “Flying Down to
Rio.” Capsule reports: Busby Berkeley—?, Albertina Rasch—?, Robert Alton—Rick, Video:
“Busby Berkeley.”
**CLASS #2 is being held during THEA 555 class time on Wednesday, September 4, 9:30am- noon,
either DA-101 or the Archive. There will be no THEA 650 class held on Tuesday, September 5.
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CLASS #8: Tuesday, October 15, 3:30-6:10pm, DA-221
Oral report: “George Balanchine”—Kim. Video: “Balanchine,” “Balanchine in America,”
“Balanchine’s Ballerinas.” Capsule report: Vera Zorina—Ashlee Video: “Goldwyn Follies,”
“On Your Toes.”
CLASS #9, Tuesday, October 22, 3:30-6:10pm, DA-221
Oral report: “Agnes de Mille”—Jill. Video: “Agnes: The Indomitable De Mille,” “Oklahoma!”
“Carousel.” Capsule report: Gene Kelly—Kim.
CLASS #10, Tuesday, October 29, 3:30-6:10pm, DA-221
Oral report: “Jack Cole”—Roxane. Video: “Cole Compilation.” Capsule reports: Carol
Haney—Ashlee, Lee Theodore Becker—Rick. Video: “Pajama Game,” “That’s Dancing!,”
“American Dance Machine.”
CLASS #11, Tuesday, November 5, 3:30-6:10pm, DA-5B
Oral report: “Jerome Robbins”—Sasha. Video: “Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance
About,” Robbins Compilation.” Capsule reports: Peter Gennaro—Cody, Chita Rivera—Rick.
Video: “Profile: Chita Rivera.”
CLASS #12, Tuesday, November 12, 3:30-6:10pm, DA-5B
Oral report: “Bob Fosse”—Ashlee. Video: “Steam Heat,” “Fosse.” Capsule reports: Gwen
Verdon—?, Ann Reinking—Roxane. Video: “Broadway’s Lost Treasures,” “Annie.”
CLASS #13, Tuesday, November 19, 3:30-6:10pm, DA-5B
Capsule report: “Michael Kidd”—?. Video: “Kidd Compilation.” Capsule report: Onna
White—Jill. Video: “White Compilation.” Capsule report: “Gower Champion”—Kim. Video:
“Champion Compilation.”
CLASS #14, Tuesday, November 26, 3:30-6:10pm, DA-221
Oral report: “Michael Bennett”—Cody. Video: “Bennett Compilation.” Capsule report:
Donna McKechnie—Rick. Video: “Broadway’s Lost Treasures.” Capsule report: “Tommy
Tune”—Sasha. Video: “Tune Compilation.”
CLASS #15, Tuesday, December 3, 3:30-6:10pm, DA-221
Capsule reports: Susan Stroman—?. Video: “Stroman Compilation.” Capsule report: Rob
Marshall—?, Gregory Hines—?, Savion Glover—?. Video: “Tap!,” Tony Awards: “Bring in
‘da Noise.” Video: “Everybody Dance Now.”
CLASS #16, Tuesday, December 10, 3:30-6:10pm, DA-221
Review for final. Assign take-home portion of final.
CLASS FINAL, Tuesday, December 17, 3:30-6:10pm, DA-221
Theatre 650 written final: video identifications and matching.