Fundamentals of Ballet
DANC 128 Section 0102
Fall 2014 Tu/Th 12.30-1.45pm Preinkert 2102
Sarah Beth Oppenheim
774.571.2733
Office Hours by appointment in CSPAC 1942
Course Description
Introduction to ballet technique and terminology for the beginning student.
Expanded Course Description
This is a 2 credit lab and lecture course of designed practice, investigation, viewership, and fundamental aesthete building. Strength, agility, and flexibility will be honed as the student practices basic steps, exercises, and combinations at the barre, in the center, and across the floor. The class work values a student’s commitment to process with attention to athleticism, balance, and musicality. Students will learn and use ballet terminology to reference movement, execute dance sequences, and create simple phrases. This technical approach aims toward correct body alignment and kinesthetic awareness with a semester-long expanding movement vocabulary that will include: classical foot and leg work, turns, jumps, adagios, allegros, and stretching.
Students will also develop a shared language of dance critique and apply aesthetic interpretations and critical evaluations to recorded and live performance.
Please Note:
Dance education, as a physical practice, works best with a combination of demonstration and hands-on contact to help the training body understand alignment, balance, and extension. This includes tactile cues on the limbs, head and neck, and torso. Please notify me if you are not comfortable with physical contact, and I will respect your wishes and privacy.
Course Goals
Upon completion of the course, the student can expect to:
Ø Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the expressive nature of ballet as an art form through participation and performance.
Ø Demonstrate appropriate studio etiquette.
Ø Recognize and demonstrate a working vocabulary for ballet technique.
Ø Recognize and demonstrate correct placement, alignment, and proper positions for the feet and arms.
Ø Recognize and demonstrate proper technique and sequence of stretching, barre exercises, center work, and locomotor movement.
Ø Demonstrate a command of dance critique language and develop an expressed point of view toward performative material.
Ø Apply corrections and self-evaluate to progress.
Ø Live in process: approach the learning continuum as a duality of
deconstruction and rebuilding.
LOGGING INTO Canvas:
1. Go to http://elms.umd.edu.
2. Click on Login on the far left side of the page
3. Type in your ID in the box labeled Username
4. Enter your Directory password in the Password box
5. In the top of the page, under the heading “Courses & Groups,” there should be a link for this course. Click on that link
6. Important announcements will appear on Canvas, so be sure to check it daily.
Expectations and Grading Procedures
This is a cumulative seminar and lab course with each meeting building upon the foundation of practicing, investigating, and discussing ballet. Gaps in attendance directly correlate to gaps in a comprehensive understanding of dance as a communicable art form rooted in experience and exposure. Class participation will comprise the greatest percentage of your grade. Additional course expectations and corollary grade percentages are listed below:
Class Participation 50%
Asked of each student is an earnest attempt to learn, practice, and try. Students must contribute to the ongoing physical conversation with art by applying corrections, contributing to class discussion, and engaging with interested spirit. Students are allowed only two unexcused absences before a drop in the participation grade. Students will be excused for religious observances, provided written notification is received within the first three weeks of the semester start date. If you are injured or unable to dance, but you can still attend class, you must fill out a class observation form to earn credit for participation. The first class participation form earns full participation credit for that day. Subsequent class participation forms only earn partial credit. If a student is more than ten minutes late, she will not be able to dance. Students must dress for class. No jeans. No gum. No phones.
Journal Entries 10%
6 Journal Entries throughout the semester. 3 Entries are due by Thursday, October 23rd, and the other 3 are due by Thursday, December 11th. Journaling is about your personal reaction to the class material and experience. You can write, question, draw, create, move, or speak. Any recorded entries (of audio or visual nature) can be emailed to my college address. Submission of 6 thoughtful entries that convey a clear point of view or address an artistic challenge will earn full credit. See attached list for suggested topics. Some journal entries will be Instructor-assigned topics.
Dance Performance and Response Paper 20%
Students must see an approved ballet performance and turn in a ticket stub or receipt as proof of viewing. A Response Paper following specified guidelines* will be due by Thursday, December 4th. The 3-page minimum paper must be 12 point font, 1 inch margins, and 1.5 spacing. The paper will be a critique of a live dance performance, and part of the paper must address the student’s personal connection to the performance experience and class work, and how her point of view has changed over the semester regarding the practice and performance of ballet.
Please take advantage of the attached websites to choose a performance. Performances must be approved by Instructor. Students must choose their performance and notify the Instructor in writing by Tuesday, September 30th.
*These guidelines will be created by the class in the first half of the semester, compiled by the Instructor, and posted on ELMS by October 16th.
Midterm and Final 20%
Midterm: Students will need to demonstrate proficiency in learned barre exercises. There will also be a quiz on ballet vocabulary and dance critique terminology. The midterm will end with written self-evaluations that address the individual’s understanding of her capacity and range. The instructor will be available for one-on-one meetings the week after the Midterm.
Midterm is scheduled for Thursday, October 23rd.
Final: Each student will be responsible for creating and teaching a ballet combination. Additionally, each student will make a 2-minute presentation about her subjective and objective observations of an assigned dance clip.
Final Exam is scheduled for Friday, December 19th 1.30-3.30.
Full, active participation, willingness to explore, and pursuant exposure will garner an A grade. Failure to attend class, respond to instruction and dialogue, or contribute a point of view will result in incremental drops of grade based on the percentages above.
· No gum.
· No cell phones. (Not even for note-taking.)
· No food or drink in the studio, except for bottled water.
· Tardiness of more than 10 minutes bars dance participation. Late students can still receive credit for attendance by contributing to the class as the Instructor elicits.* A pattern of tardiness will affect the class participation grade.
· Students who are injured, or have a valid note excusing a student from physical activity, must attend class. Injured students can still receive credit for attendance by contributing to the class as the Instructor elicits.* A pattern of sit-outs will affect the class participation grade.
*See attached Observation Form, which will be part of student participation when viewing class.
Grading Rubric:
· A+, A, A- denotes excellent mastery of the subject and outstanding scholarship. The student is an engaged and active participant in all classes and hands in written work on time. The student demonstrates a working and applied understanding and improvement of the course objectives.
· B+, B, B- denotes good mastery of the subject and good scholarship
· C+, C, C- denotes acceptable mastery of the subject
· D+, D, D- denotes borderline understanding of the subject, marginal performance, and unsatisfactory progress toward a degree
· F denotes failure to understand the subject and unsatisfactory performance
Materials and Attire
Please bring a notebook to every class for lecture notes, dance critiques, and journal entries. Readings, articles, and video links will be posted on ELMS on a regular basis.
Students must dress out for every class, unless otherwise noted. Workout attire or ballet clothes are acceptable. The ankles must be visible. Hair must be pulled off the face. Ballet shoes required. It’s always a good idea to bring layers for warmth. No jeans.
Late and/or Make-up Policy for Course Work
Late work will not be accepted in this class. Each student is allowed only two unexcused absences. (Please see college-wide attendance and absence policies listed below.) Please see instructor for make-up opportunities on an individual basis; arrangements can be made through November 25th, and only once per student. Extra Credit opportunities may be offered throughout the semester.
Important Dates
Ø Tuesday, 9/9: Sign and return Page 5 of the syllabus (with your signature under the pledge). Syllabus Quiz
Ø Tuesday, 9/30: Written commitment to attend a specific live ballet performance due. (Instructor approval required.)
Ø Thursday, 10/23: Midterm and 3 Journal Entries Due
Ø Tuesday 11/25: Last Day to make arrangements for make-up work
Ø Thursday, 11/27: No Class! Happy Thanksgiving!
Ø Thursday, 12/4: Ticket Stub and Response Paper Due
Ø Thursday, 12/11: 3 Journal Entries Due
Ø Friday, 12/19 from 1.30-3.30: Final Exam
Course Procedures and Policies
ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES Students are expected to inform the instructor in advance of medically necessary absences, and present a self-signed note documenting the date of the missed class(es) and testifying to the need for the absence. This note must include an acknowledgement that (a) the information provided is true and correct, and (b) that the student understands that providing false information to University officials is a violation of Part 9(h) of the Code of Student Conduct. The university’s policies on medical and other absences can be found at: http://www.umd.edu/catalog/index.cfm/show/content.section/c/27/ss/1584/s/1540
Prolonged absence or illness preventing attendance from class requires written documentation from the Health Center and/or health care provider verifying dates of treatment when student was unable to meet academic responsibilities.
ABSENCE DUE TO RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE will not be penalized, however, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor within the first 3 weeks of class regarding any religious observance absence(s) for the entire semester. The calendar of religious holidays can be found at: http://faculty.umd.edu/teach/attend_student.html#religious
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY The student-administered Honor Code and Honor Pledge prohibit students from cheating on exams, plagiarizing papers, submitting the same paper for credit in two courses without authorization, buying papers, submitting fraudulent documents and forging signatures. On every examination, paper or other academic exercise not specifically exempted by the instructor, students must write by hand and sign the following pledge:
I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this examination (or assignment).
Allegations of academic dishonesty will be reported directly to the Student Honor Council: http://www.shc.umd.edu .
Students who engage in academic dishonesty in this course will receive no points for the assignment in question, and will be immediately reported to the Honor Council and Office of Judicial Programs for further action. There will be no warnings. Cheating, plagiarism, or other types of fabrication are the most disrespected forms of artistry.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES The University of Maryland is committed to providing appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities. Students with a documented disability should inform the instructors within the add-drop period if academic accommodations are needed. To obtain an Accommodation Letter prepared by Disability Support Service (DSS), a division of the University Counseling Center, please call 301-314-7682, e-mail , or visit the Shoemaker Building for more information.
CAMPUS RESOURCES There are many campus resources available to students –
Counseling Center
http://www.counseling.umd.edu/
301.314.7651
Tutoring Programs
http://www.tutoring.umd.edu/
A database of tutorial programs offered at University of Maryland
Writing Center
http://www.english.umd.edu/academics/writingcenter
301.405.3785
Disability Support Services
http://www.counseling.umd.edu/DSS/registration.html
(301) 314-7682
Testing accommodations, reading accommodations, deaf and hard of hearing services, note taking, para-transit, Adaptive Technology Lab
COPYRIGHT NOTICE Class lectures and other materials are copyrighted and they may not be reproduced for anything other than personal use without written permission from the instructor.
EMERGENCY If you would like to sign up for UMD text alerts to receive up-to-the-minute information on emergency closures, go to alert.umd.edu and sign in under accounts where you can add your phone number. If classes should be cancelled, information and assignments will be posted on the ELMS site.
COURSE EVALUATIONS are a part of the process by which the University of Maryland seeks to improve teaching and learning. Your participation in this official system is critical to the success of the process, and all information submitted to CourseEvalUM is confidential. (Instructors can only view group summaries of evaluations and cannot identify which submissions belong to which students.)
DIVERSITY The University of Maryland values the diversity of its student body. Along with the University, I am committed to providing a classroom atmosphere that encourages the equitable participation of all students regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, national origin, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Potential devaluation of students in the classroom that can occur by reference to demeaning stereotypes of any group and/or overlooking the contributions of a particular group to the topic under discussion is inappropriate. (See Statement on Classroom Climate, http://www.umd.edu/catalog/index.cfm/show/content.section/c/27/ss/1584/s/1541).
ATTENDANCE POLICY of the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies: Regular attendance and in-class participation are integral components of all dance and theatre classes and seminars. Although instructors are responsible for informing each class of the nature of in-class participation and the effect of absences on the evaluation of a student’s work, the School’s general attendance policy on excused absences is consistent with the University’s policy, which allows students to be excused for the following causes:
1. Illness of the student* or illness of a dependent as defined by the Board of Regents policy on family medical leave
2. Religious observance
3. Participation in University activities at the request of University authorities
4. Compelling circumstances beyond the student’s control
*In May 2011, the University Senate and President passed a new policy for granting excused absences, which can be found at http://www.president.umd.edu/policies/v100g.html. A student may provide a self-signed note when missing a single lecture, recitation, or laboratory, with the understanding that providing false information is prohibited under Code of Student Conduct. Self-signed notes are not accepted during “Major Scheduled Grading Events.” Specific questions concerning the TDPS policy on non-consecutive medical absences should be addressed with the Head of the Cluster.