Dancing the Dance 1

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

136 hours

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Dancing the Dance 1 offers students with little or no background in dance an introduction to the fundamentals dance techniques and their use in the creation of choreography. Each weekly seminar/workshop will start with a warm up in a particular technique (contemporary dance, hip hop, flamenco or ballet for example) and progress to problem-solving and choreographic tools to explore ways of making dances. The subject develops an insight into the roles of dancer and choreographer and the use of physical language as a means of expression through the exploration of dance techniques, approaches to dance-making, choreographic tools, rehearsal techniques, dance performance and presentation.

On completing this subject, students should have:
1. an enhanced understanding of the physical language of a range of dance techniques and the basic principles of choreography
2. the capacity to understand and apply dance techniques to express movement-based ideas
3. the ability to critically analyse the application of dance making and presentation techniques to the expression of ideas
4. the capacity to work cooperatively in groups and gain an understanding of collaborative dance practice
5. an increase in strength, coordination, flexibility and range of movement

• Active, physical and on-going engagement in practical work throughout the semester (10%)

• Written analysis (500 words each) of 4 selected dance works, Weeks 3, 5, 7, 9 (40%)

• Movement task 1 (3 minute choreographic study), Week 6 (25%)

• Movement task 2 (3-5 minute choreographic study), Week 12 (25%)

Readings will be made available on LMS.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Science

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

On completion of the subject, students will have enhanced their ability in respect of:
1. preparing choreographic studies based on dance techniques and compositional strategies
2. critically analysing the use of dance-making processes in class studies and existing work
3. applying knowledge of basic dance techniques and styles fundamentals;
4. communicating in both written and visual forms
5. working collaboratively with others
6. physical strength, coordination, flexibility and range of movement