College Bulletin 2014-2015 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Music and Dance: Dance
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Faculty
SHARON E. FRIEDLER, Professor of Dance, Director of the Dance Program
KIM D. ARROW, Associate Professor of Dance 2
PALLABI CHAKRAVORTY, Associate Professor of Dance
GREGORY KING, Visiting Assistant Professor and Consortium on Faculty Diversity Fellow
JUMATATU POE, Assistant Professor of Dance (part time)
JON SHERMAN, Associate in Dance Performance (part time)
LADEVA DAVIS, Associate in Dance Performance (part time)
NI LUH KADEK KUSUMA DEWI, Associate in Dance Performance (part time)
DOLORES LUIS GMITTER, Associate in Dance Performance (part time)
HANS BOMAN, Dance Accompanist
BERNADETTE DUNNING, Administrative Coordinator
SUSAN GROSSI, Administrative Assistant
TARA WEBB, Arts Publicity and Costume Shop Supervisor
2 Absent on leave, spring 2015.
At Swarthmore, dance is a global discourse. The dance and music programs share an integrated approach to composition, history, performance, and theory in lecture/discussion and studio practice courses. We believe this is central to the understanding of dance as an artistic, intellectual, and social inquiry within a liberal arts context.
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The Academic Program
The mission of the program is to offer students dance experiences that privilege a merging of embodied practice and history/theory in relation to more than one situated perspective (those listed above). Some courses concentrate on one cultural context only (this is true generally in history, repertory, and technique). Others put a variety of perspectives in conversation (choreographic laboratories, improvisation, history, repertory, and theory).The role of dance as an agent of social change is also present in Swarthmore dance offerings. All dance studies courses engage students in an investigation of the relationship of dance to other arts and areas of thought.
Given the program’s emphasis on developing an awareness of the global nature of dance, study abroad opportunities are seen as a very useful aspect of a student’s undergraduate dance experience. Such study is especially encouraged for dance majors and minors. Study abroad dance programs developed by members of the dance faculty are available in France, Ghana, India, Japan, and United Kingdom. Dance components are also available in programs in Spain and Argentina. Social change engagement is available as an aspect of study abroad experiences in Ghana, India, and Northern Ireland. Additional information regarding study abroad experiences is listed below and can also be found on both the Dance Program and Off-Campus Study websites. In order to further enhance student engagement with the field at large, every year the program hosts diverse national and international dance artists and scholars.
Course Major
These prerequisites are strongly recommended for first and second year students and must be completed before the junior year. If a student has not completed all of these prerequisites at the time of an application for a major, but has done good work in one or more courses in the program, the student may be accepted on a provisional basis.
- DANC 003, 004 or 025A
- DANC 011. Dance Lab I: Making Dance
- One dance technique class (in any style) for academic credit
Prerequisite credits for majors: 2.5
The program offers three possible areas of focus for majors; composition, history/theory, or an individual focus. Requirements for each focus are as follows:
Composition
- DANC 008. Anatomy: Bones, Muscles, and Movement
- DANC 012. Dance Lab II: Making Dance or
- DANC 013. Dance Composition Tutorial
- DANC 022, 023, or 025A - one course
- DANC 036, 038, or 075, 077b. or 079 - one course
- DANC 048 section 2. Embodying Improvisation: a global cross-disciplinary discourse
- DANC 049 (any section), 071, 078, one Western and one non-Western course
- DANC 050, 051, 053, 060, or 061 - one or two courses
*DANC 094 or 095 - one course
Total credits in focus: 6.5-7.5
History/Theory
- DANC 022, 023, or 025A - two courses
- DANC 036, 038, or 075, 077b. or 079 - two courses
- DANC technique and repertory courses - one Western and one non-Western course
*DANC 094/095 - one course
Total credits in focus: 6.5-7
Total prerequisites and credits required for majors: 9.0-10.0
*The senior project/thesis is required of all majors.
The dance faculty encourages students to pursue a senior project/thesis that incorporates a comparison or integration of dance with some other creative or performing art (creative writing, music, theater, or visual art), with a community-based learning component, or with another academic discipline of the student’s interest.
Requirements
For majors, regular participation in technique classes throughout a student’s time at Swarthmore and participation in repertory courses for at least four semesters. Students may choose any style of repertory experience as long as they adhere to the distribution guidelines to participate in both Western and non-Western styles. They are also encouraged to seek out service-learning/community-based learning experiences that incorporate dance. These may substitute for repertory experiences (especially those with a composition focus). Majors are also strongly encouraged to enroll in THEA 003. Fundamentals of Design for Theater Performance and THEA 004B. Lighting Design.
Course Minor
The goal of the course minor in dance is to expose a student to the broad scope of the field. The distribution of required courses for the minor provides students with an introduction to composition, history, technique, and theory and allows them to direct their final credit(s) in the minor toward a specific area of interest. It is also possible for students to align required courses within the minor to reflect that specific interest, if any. Minors will participate in the senior colloquia or individualized meetings with guest artists and instructors and will be encouraged, but not required, to develop an extended paper or a significant dance performance piece as part of their program. Whether they enroll for credit or audit, all dance majors and minors are strongly encouraged to participate in technique and repertory classes each term.
These prerequisites are strongly recommended for first and second year students and must be completed before the junior year. If a student has not completed all of these prerequisites at the time of an application for a minor, but has done good work in one or more courses in the program, the student may be accepted on a provisional basis.
- DANC 003, 004 or 025A
- One technique or repertory course for academic credit
Prerequisite credits for minor: 1.5
Course requirements for minor:
- DANC 011. Dance Lab I: Making Dance
- DANC 022, 023, or 025A - one course
- DANC 036, 038, or 075, 077b. or 079 - one course
Additional courses proposed by the student and approved on an individual basis by the faculty from a combination of composition, history, repertory, technique, and theory courses - 2 credits
Total credits in minor: 5
Total prerequisites and credits required for minor: 6.5
Requirements
For minors, regular participation in technique classes throughout a student’s time at Swarthmore and participation in repertory courses for at least two semesters is required. Students may choose any style of repertory experience. They are also encouraged to seek out service-learning/community-based learning experiences that incorporate dance. These may substitute for repertory experiences.
Honors Major
The minimum requirement for admission to the honors major is at least the following 4 courses (3 credits) in dance; an introductory history/theory course (003, 004, or 025A), DANC Lab I: Making Dance (DANC 011), one dance technique class (DANC 040-048, 050-053, or 060-061) and DANC 008. Majors in the Honors Program must also have an overall B grade average before admission. In addition to the guidelines noted later, each honors major will be responsible for the material designated on the reading and video lists for senior honors study available from the department office.
All dance majors in the Honors Program must do three preparations in the department and one outside (in a related or unrelated minor). Two of the departmental preparations will be based on course combinations (one in history or theory and one in composition beyond the introductory-level course DANC 011). The third will take the form of either a senior project (DANC 094) or a senior thesis (DANC 095, 096). The portfolio submitted by each student will include both written materials and a DVD that provides examples of the student’s choreographic and/or performance work at Swarthmore (a maximum of 20 minutes in length).
Each student’s program will include the following:
History and theory. One area of emphasis linking a course from DANC 022, 023 or 025A with a course from DANC 036, 038, or 077B. Each student will demonstrate this integration via a paper written as an attachment. This paper, along with appropriate papers from each history and theory class submitted for preparation, will be sent to the examiner. The written and oral exam for this preparation will consist of a response to three questions set by the examiner.
Composition. Each student may submit a combination of Dance Lab I: Making Dance (DANC 011) plus either Dance Lab II: Making Dance (DANC 012), or Composition Tutorial (DANC 013) two times. The syllabi (where appropriate), a DVD of the final work, and a paper concerning the choreographic process from each class will be submitted to the examiner.
Senior project/thesis. These projects/theses will be individually determined. Each student will be assigned a faculty adviser who will assist the student in the creation of an initial bibliography or videography or both as well as an outline for the project or thesis. It will then be the student’s responsibility to proceed with the work independently.
Total prerequisites and credits required for honors major: 6-7
Requirements
Regular participation in technique classes throughout a student’s time at Swarthmore and participation in repertory courses for at least two semesters. Students may choose any style of repertory experience. They are also encouraged to seek out service-learning/community-based learning experiences that incorporate dance. These may substitute for repertory experiences.
Honors Minor
Students in the Honors Program who are presenting a major in another discipline and a minor in dance must do one preparation in dance. This preparation will take the form of either composition or history and theory described earlier in the text concerning honors majors in dance. The choice regarding focus for a student’s minor will be determined in consultation with an adviser from the dance faculty.
These prerequisites are strongly recommended for first and second year students and must be completed before the junior year. If a student has not completed all of these prerequisites at the time of an application for an Honors minor, but has done good work in one or more courses in the program, the student may be accepted on a provisional basis.
- DANC 003, 004, or 025A
- One technique or repertory course for academic credit
Minors in the Honors Program must also have an overall B grade average before admission. In addition to the guidelines noted below, each honors minor will be responsible for the material designated on a reading and video list for senior honors study available from the department office.
Total prerequisites and credits required for honors minor: 3-4
Requirements
For minors, regular participation in technique classes throughout a student’s time at Swarthmore and participation in repertory courses for at least two semesters is required. Students may choose any style of repertory experience. They are also encouraged to seek out service-learning/community-based learning experiences that incorporate dance. These may substitute for repertory experiences.
Special Major
The program for a special major in dance comprises 4 credits in dance coursework. The two disciplines in this major may be philosophically linked or may represent separate areas of the student’s interest. The faculty encourages students to consider the philosophical links between the two disciplines. Examples of past special majors include: Dance and Anthropology, Dance and Psychology, and Dance and Art. All special majors will design their programs in consultation with a faculty adviser.
Whether they enroll for credit or audit, special majors are required to participate in technique and repertory classes for at least two semesters.
Additional Information Regarding the Dance Program
Dance Technique Courses
In a typical semester, more than 30 hours of dance technique classes are offered on graded levels presenting a variety of movement styles. Technique courses, numbered 040 through 048, 050 to 053, and 060 or 061, may be taken for academic credit or may be taken to fulfill physical education requirements. Advanced dancers are encouraged to consult with instructors regarding placement in level III technique classes. A total of not more than 8 full credits (16 0.5-credit courses) in performance dance technique classes and in music performance classes may be counted toward the degrees of bachelor of arts and bachelor of science. No retroactive credit is given for performance classes.
Dance Program Performance Opportunities
All interested students are encouraged to enroll in repertory classes (DANC 049, 071 or 078) and/or to audition for student and faculty works. These auditions occur several times each semester; dates are announced in classes and in postings outside the dance studios. Formal concerts take place toward the end of each semester; informal studio concerts are scheduled throughout the year.
The Dance Program regularly sponsors guest artist teaching and performance residencies. In addition, the program regularly hosts guest choreographers who work with student ensembles in technique and repertory classes.
Ghana Program
The Dance Program has an ongoing relationship with the International Centre for African Music and Dance and the School of Performing Arts at the University of Ghana in Legon, a suburb of the capital city, Accra. Students choosing to study in Ghana can anticipate opportunities that include a composite of classroom learning, tutorials, some organized travel, and independent study and travel. Beyond credits in dance, music, theater, African studies, and intensive Twi (an Akan language widely spoken in Ghana), a menu of courses at the University of Ghana is also available. Students participating are able to enroll for the equivalent of a full semester’s credit (4 to 5 credits). Community-based learning internships, in dance and other subjects, are also an option. Interested students should contact the director of dance as early as possible for advising purposes and for updated information.
Additional Opportunities
Additional dance study abroad initiatives of a more independent nature are under way in France, India, Japan and Northern Ireland. The program in Northern Ireland can incorporate a strong focus on the arts and social change. Tamagawa University in Machida, near Tokyo, offers course study in classical Japanese and folk dance, taiko drumming, contemporary dance and ballet, and Japanese language. Students are encouraged to discuss these programs with the director of dance.
Composition, History, and Theory Courses
Dance Technique and Repertory Courses
Note: Technique courses (040-048, 050-053, 060, and 061) and Repertory courses (049 [all sections], 071 and 078) may be taken for 0.5 academic credit or may be taken for physical education credit. All dance technique courses numbered 040 to 048 are open to all students without prerequisite. Courses numbered 050 to 058 and 060 to 061 have a prerequisite of either successful completion of the introductory course in that style or permission of the instructor.
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