Course Syllabus

Course: DANC 1580

Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
Department: Dance
Title: Tap Dance I

Semester Approved: Fall 2023
Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2028
End Semester: Summer 2029

Catalog Description: This course will introduce the students to the basic steps, vocabulary and rhythms of Tap Dance. This course is repeatable for credit.

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 1; Lecture: 1; Lab: 1
Repeatable: Yes.


Prerequisites: None

Corequisites: None


Justification: Tap Dance is an original American dance form and is the style of dance often used in Musical Theater productions. Tap teaches poise, posture, rhythm, strength, musicality, and an awareness of the body. This course is a part of our Associate of Science core curriculum. It allows our students to transition smoothly into Tap II classes at other four-year USHE institutions.


Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, students will demonstrate beginning-level Tap technique skills including but not limited to shuffle, ball change, time steps, and cramp roll.  Integration of technical and artistic processes will be assessed via class content, a midterm practical, and a final project.

Upon completion of this course, students will develop their critical thinking skills as they apply to observation, execution and evaluation of a dance performance. Students will a submit a written review of the Snow College Dance Concert and participation in the creation and execution of the final project performed in front of a live audience. Students will cultivate critical assessment skills in evaluating the technical and artistic processes of other students.


Content:
Each class will have three essential components: warm-up, Tap exercises at the barre/center, and a cooldown. Tap exercises emphasize proper alignment, flexibility, core work, footwork, syncopated rhythms, balance, and musicality. In addition to the above, basic anatomy and physiology will be discussed to analyze movement and develop solutions to balance and other dance issues. Finally, through a written critique of the Snow College Dance Concerts students will further refine their critical thinking skills and develop a further appreciation of the art of dance. A wide focus on multiple genres and cultural contributions will allow students of all backgrounds to participate meaningfully in the class. As an entry level class, students from any cultural background, talent level or degree of familiarity will be welcomed into an environment of cultivated belonging.

Key Performance Indicators:
Class conduct 20 to 60%

Technical and Artistic process 20 to 60%

Midterm Practical 10 to 30%

Final Project 10 to 30%

Dance Concert Review 10 to 15%


Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Tap shoes

Online videos of performances.


Pedagogy Statement:
This class is open to movers of all backgrounds, ages, and body types. A special emphasis will be placed on the importance of several ethnic percussive dances (primarily West African sacred and secular step dances) along with Scottish, Irish, and English clog dances, hornpipes, and jigs as they relate to the development of Tap as an American style of dance.

Instructional Mediums:
Lecture/Lab

Maximum Class Size: 25
Optimum Class Size: 15