Spring 2010 Courses

DAN 209
Introduction to Movement and Dance
A mix of movement techniques, improvisation, and composition. Students with no previous dance training will learn how to recognize their own movement potential and how to build their own dances. The essential principles and evolution of 20th-century modern and post-modern dance will be studied through readings and viewings of live and videotaped dance performances.

DAN 211
The American Dance Experience and Africanist Dance Practices
A studio course introducing students to American dance aesthetics and practice, with a focus on how American dance has been influenced by African American choreographers and dancers. An ongoing study of movement practices from traditional African dances and those of the African diaspora, touching on American jazz dance, modern dance, and American ballet. Studio work will be complemented by readings, video viewings, guest speakers, and dance studies.

DAN 220
Modern Dance: Beginning/Intermediate Technique and Choreography
The practice of primarily modern dance and some ballet techniques designed to further expand movement vocabulary and expressive range. Students will be introduced to the influence of Modernism on choreographic practices through structured improvisations, choreographic studies, viewing videotapes and readings. Two two-hour classes in technique, one two-hour class in choreography.

DAN 311
Dancing East to West: Traditional Practices and Contemporary Debates in World Dance
A studio course introducing students to historical and evolving dance traditions - Kathak of North India and Flamenco of Spain. We shall study these movement languages and dance forms as well as their historical, social and cultural contexts. Lectures, readings, class discussions and video viewings will complement regular visits by dance specialists in these traditions as we examine the contemporary gender and identity issues they raise as well as the emergence of new, hybrid forms and internationalist, postmodern practices.

DAN 321
Special Topics in Dance History, Criticism, and Aesthetics: Music Collaborations in the 20th Century
This course, an interdisciplinary venture between the Department of Music and the Program in Dance, concerns the interaction between music choreography in late modern ballet, contemporary dance, and post-modern dance. To establish a viable context for analysis and interpretation, the course will be taught chronologically, beginning with the late collaborations between Igor Stravinsky and George Balanchine, Aaron Copland and Martha Graham, John Cage and Merce Cunningham, and extending up through the recent reliance on ambient and natural sound. The course will both address the manner in which dance and music represent, challenge, and recode each other.

DAN 409
Contemporary Dance: Advanced Technique and Choreography
Advanced technique and performance. In this course, students will participate in the staging of the restored version of Claude Debussy’s final ballet, The Toy Box. Performances will take place in the Berlind Theater with live music by the student jazz ensemble conducted by Anthony Branker.

DAN 431
Approaches to Ballet: Technique and Repertory
A studio course in ballet technique for Advanced/Intermediate students. The course consists of a pre-professional ballet class and selections of classical, neo-classical and contemporary repertory and will focus on the work of four ballet choreographers: Marius Petipa, George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon and Mark Morris. Guest Artists for the course are Suki Schorer, Jeffrey Edwards and Susan Jaffe. Readings, viewings of live and taped performances will further students' knowledge of the major trends of 20th century ballet. Informal Studio showing. Three 1 hour, 50 minute classes.

ATL 498/DAN 451
Accidental Narrative: Dance, Video, Installation Project
Susan Marshall, Jeff Sugg
Choreographer and Princeton professor Susan Marshall and projection designer Jeff Sugg will collaborate to develop a new art installation and theatrical performance event. The project will involve the creation of a movement score for cameras that will be determined not by the images the cameras catch, but by a rhythmic and visual logic all its own. Rather than use cameras to record and enhance predetermined movements, scripted events and choreographed figures, Marshall and Sugg will capture random actions with predetermined movements of the cameras, thereby creating an “accidental narrative.” Atelier students will learn how directors have used setting, lighting, camera angle and camera movement to create and enhance narrative impact and will apply their research findings to create their own short, wordless, frame-and-figure-focused video works. Students’ work will both feed the group's discussions and help to shape the direction of the project on which they will collaborate with Marshall and Sugg from start to finish.
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Fall 2009 Courses

DAN 209
Introduction to Movement and Dance
Edisa Weeks
A mix of movement techniques, improvisation, and composition. Students with no previous dance training will learn how to recognize their own movement potential and how to build their own dances. The essential principles and evolution of 20th-century modern and post-modern dance will be studied through readings and viewings of live and videotaped dance performances.

DAN 219
Modern Dance: Beginning Technique and Choreography
Technique: Edisa Weeks
Composition: Patricia Hoffbauer
To understand Dance through experiencing the technical discipline required, as well as the historical and creative aspects of the art. The practice of modern dance and some ballet techniques, structured improvisations and dance compositions are designed to explore abstract movement in relation to time, space, and energy, as well as theatrical aspects of movement in human behavior and group dynamics.

DAN 319
Dance Performance Workshop: Intermediate Repertory and Choreography
Repertory: Tina Fehlandt
Composition: Susan Marshall
In the repertory component of the course, students will learn and perform Mark Morris's [Prelude and Prelude]. The choreography component will guide students through improvisation to explore theme, concepts and structures to nurture the development of a personal movement style. Students will read essays about and view videos of the major figures in 20th Century dance to broaden their understanding of dance's position in the world of art and ideas.

DAN 419
Dance Performance Workshop: Advanced Repertory and Choreography
Technique: Rebecca Lazier
Composition: Patricia Hoffbauer
Students will master the performance of a technically advanced choreographic work with the aim to further challenge their technical expertise, expressive range, and stylistic clarity, created in collaboration with faculty. Students will also create choreography infusing movement invention with ideas informed by historical and contemporary dance practices.

DAN 420
Chamber Dance: Repertory and Choreography
Repertory: Jennifer Way Rawe
Composition: Susan Marshall
This course covers the study and performance of seminal historical and contemporary chamber dances ranging from solos to septets. This year, students will learn and perform Twyla Tharp's [The Fugue]. We will emphasize performance techniques encouraging rich, subtle, and stylistically accurate renditions of the repertoire while fostering intelligent and imaginative artistic interpretations. Student choreography will be geared toward the creation of small ensembles. The study of existing master works will be done by viewing videotapes of the dance literature, attending live concerts, and reading and analyzing historical works.