Academic Catalog

DANC 3A: BEGINNING JAZZ DANCE

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2023
Units: 1
Hours: 3 laboratory per week (36 total per quarter)
Advisory: This course is included in the Dance Technique family of activity courses.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Area VII: Lifelong Learning
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Create beginning jazz dance sequences and demonstrating correct body placement and positions while developing flexibility, coordination and core strength.

Description

Introduction to the fundamental technique of jazz dance. Emphasis is placed on class participation so that students may develop their knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of jazz dancing, including warm-up, stretch, isolations, and choreography.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Perform the fundamental exercises of elementary jazz technique, including floor stretch and centrework combinations
  2. Define the traditional vocabulary of positions and steps in the elementary jazz class syllabus
  3. Identify and explain the progression and purpose of the specific order of individual classroom exercises
  4. Analyze the historical development of jazz dancing
  5. Increase body awareness and confidence
  6. Apply the spatial concepts of proper alignment, placement, and isolation, in all activities
  7. Recognize and appreciate jazz as an intellectual, physical, and artistic expression
  8. Appreciate various forms of music as an integral part of jazz class with an understanding of rhythm, space, and time
  9. Appreciate jazz dance in context of world, dance, and culture

Course Content

  1. Floorwork
    1. Plie
    2. Breathing
    3. Contractions
    4. Isolations
    5. Tendu
    6. Frappe
    7. Developpe
    8. Grande battement
  2. Centrework
    1. Turnout and parallel
    2. Parallel plies with contraction
    3. Parallel plies with releve
    4. Turned out grand plies
    5. Body arcs
    6. Jumps
  3. Historical analysis of jazz dance: culture and gender
    1. Sources and influences of historical periods in development of jazz dance styles in relation to world dance and culture
    2. Transition from highly specialized training to a universal form of exercise
    3. Impact and effect of black dance on jazz techniques
    4. Gender roles and impact on jazz dance form
  4. Body awareness
    1. Endurance
    2. Coordination
    3. Control
    4. Speed
    5. Timing
  5. Spatial concepts
    1. Proper alignment
    2. Placement
    3. Isolation
  6. Artistic references
    1. Reference to contemporary dance companies and performances
    2. Sources and styles of musical accompaniment for jazz dance

Lab Content

  1. Demonstration and practice of beginning jazz isolations
  2. Demonstration and practice of beginning jazz center floor and across the floor exercises
  3. Demonstration and practice of proper body awareness and alignment

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Dance studio; jazz sneaker, exercise, or character shoes.
2. When taught as an online distance learning or hybrid section, students and faculty need ongoing and continuous internet and email access.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Periodic instructor evaluation of performance skills
Demonstration and explanation of selected combinations
Written critiques on a live dance performance
Written test(s) on vocabulary and history of basic jazz technique and historical jazz dance figures
Attendance at live dance concerts with discussion and critiques

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lecture presentation and classroom discussions using the language of jazz vocabulary
Collaborative learning assignments
Laboratory and demonstration

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Nora, Ambrosia. Learning About Dance, 8th ed.. 2018.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Written critique of a live dance performance
  2. Optional writing exercises based on recommended reading

Discipline(s)

Dance