Course Syllabus
Course: DANC 1740
Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
Department: Dance
Title: Latin Ballroom Dance I
Semester Approved: Fall 2022
Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2027
End Semester: Summer 2028
Catalog Description: Latin Ballroom Dance I is a course for students with limited or no Latin Ballroom Dance experience. Students will learn the beginning (Bronze) level patterns of International Style Rumba, Samba, Cha Cha, and Paso Doble or Jive (depending on the semester). Stage exhibition, competitive, social, and career aspects of dance are introduced in this technique course. Students will improve posture and overall aesthetics, including lines, body shapes and contra-body movement position. Muscle tone, isolation, stretching and strengthening are core concepts at a beginning stage of dance. Repeatable for credit.
Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 1; Lecture: 0; Lab: 2
Repeatable: Yes.
Justification: Latin Ballroom Dance I provides students an opportunity to commence their studies in International Latin Dance, which includes Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, and Paso Doble or Jive (Depending on the Semester). This course teaches correct rhythm, poise, dance positions and forms at the beginning level, preparing students for competitions, exhibition, and performance, in order to hone their talent. They need technical work that will challenge them physically, stretch them artistically, and expand their skill set to prepare them for Latin style avenues of ballroom dance.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will be able to display the proper International Latin Ballroom technique at the Bronze level. Students will demonstrate this in class and instructor will evaluate.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of musicality, increased flexibility, strength, mental and physical dexterity, coordination, endurance, performance skills, appropriate leading/following partner work, and communicate a deep understanding of dance. Students will demonstrate this through attendance, participation in class, performances, and dance labs.
Students will increase knowledge of movement and movement's relationship to meaning. They will demonstrate this through a critical review of a Snow dance performance.
Increase physical fitness: strength, flexibility, endurance, and coordination. Through discussion of correct movement principles and how they apply to dance and all types of movement, and by practicing, students will demonstrate improved physical fitness.
Students will begin to express themselves through the freedom and language of Latin style dance. They will demonstrate this through the exams and the final presentation at the end of the semester.
Content:
Each Ballroom Technique I class will consist of warm-up and practice time, review of the steps or figures previously learned, introduction of new material, practice, and application of the new material, and individual practice and cool-down time.
Students will be introduced to the following dances in the International Latic style: Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, and either Paso Doble or Jive.
Anatomy, physiology, vertical and horizontal motion and their influence on the overall aesthetics are discussed. Rhythm and musicality are also examined, as well as lead and follow techniques.
This further increases students' knowledge of movement and movement's relationship to meaning. Though its origins are generally European and American (North and South depending on the style) Ballroom as a performing art including competitions, performance, social dance and creativity are taught and used worldwide today. It accepts all people regardless of race, culture, or population, preference orientation or other. And because it is so universally accepted today, this course too will not discriminate based on race, culture, population, orientation, or any other grounds. It is designed to develop the individual (physically, mentally, and artistically) and to cultivate a safe environment of learning and fun.
Key Performance Indicators:
Attendance and participation 40 to 50%
Student practical performance examinations 10 to 20%
Student attendance and critical review of dance performances 10 to 30%
Dance lab participation 10 to 20%
Final Presentation/Performance 10 to 20%
Pedagogy Statement:
Technique will be demonstrated and explained. Students will emulate and practice. Ballroom as a performing art including competitions, performance, social dance and creativity are taught and used worldwide today. It is designed to develop the individual (physically, mentally, and artistically) and to cultivate a safe environment of learning and fun.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture/Lab
Maximum Class Size: 40
Optimum Class Size: 12
