CHAIR: JAMES R. MILLER

Course Descriptions

Major
Minor

PROGRAM COORDINATOR: DANA E. NICOLAY
FACULTY: Gratz, Trump

Dance Major. All dance majors are required to register for DNC 110 or DNC 430 each semester. Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance must be registered in at least one dance technique course each semester (for a minimum total of 22 SCH in technique) and must complete at least one semester each of DNC 430 Repertory, DNC 433 Advanced Ballet Technique, and DNC 434 Advanced Modern Dance Technique. Candidates for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree must be registered in both ballet and modern dance technique each semester (for a minimum total of 36 SCH in technique) and must complete at least two semesters each of DNC 430 Repertory, DNC 433 Advanced Ballet Technique, and DNC 434 Advanced Modern Dance Technique. DNC 333, 334, 430, 433, and 434 are open only by audition or permission of the instructor.

Dance Minor. A minor in Dance will usually consist of the following courses: DNC 131, 231, 270, 332, and 6 hours from the following: DNC 176, 271, 338, 376, 430, 467, 468, 470, 476. Dance minors must enroll in one technique class each semester. A minimum of 6 hours of technique must be completed which will count toward the minimum of 24 total hours in Dance.

DANCE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
DNC 110 DANCE WORKSHOP. This is a practical workshop in support of Dance Program concerts and activities. Duties include costume construction, backstage and front of house support, and audio/video recording and dubbing. Special seminars in areas such as diet and health, auditioning and career opportunities and options are also included. Credit 1.
DNC 115 POPULAR DANCE FORMS. Opportunities are given for learning and performing choreography for musical shows, currently popular ballroom dance forms, traditional social dance forms, beginning and intermediate tap dance routines with emphasis on their roles in dance concerts and dramatic productions. Credit 1.
DNC 124 FOLK DANCE FORMS. [DANC 1222] Dances indigenous to Europe, Mexico and the United States are studied in relation to their cultural derivations. Special consideration is given to dance as a cultural and recreational activity. Credit 2.
DNC 126 THEATRE DANCE FORMS. Beginning and intermediate techniques are studied in ballet, jazz, modern dance, body conditioning, and stage movement for actors. Credit 2.
DNC 131 DANCE AS ART. This course is a video survey of the vast range of theatrical dance that has taken place in the twentieth century. Forms and styles covered include ballet, modern/post-modern, jazz, musical theater, tap, contemporary dance, and dance for music video. Credit 3.
DNC 176 RHYTHMIC STRUCTURE OF MOVEMENT. A study is made of musical forms, rhythm and meter in relation to the needs of a dancer-choreographer. Credit 3.
DNC 233 BEGINNING BALLET TECHNIQUE. This is a ballet technique class designed for incoming dance majors. It presumes no former ballet training but requires well developed movement skills. Majors only, non-majors with permission of instructor. Credit 3.
DNC 234 BEGINNING MODERN DANCE TECHNIQUE. This is a modern dance technique class designed for incoming dance majors. It presumes no former modern dance training but requires well developed movement skills. Majors only, non-majors with permission of instructor. Credit 3.
DNC 270 INTRODUCTION TO DANCE NOTATION. Through the rhythmical, spatial and dynamic analysis of movement the student learns to notate dance materials in the international system of Labanotation. Emphasis is placed on reading comprehension and kinesthetic assimilation of Labanotation concepts. Credit 3.
DNC 271 INTERMEDIATE DANCE NOTATION. This course enlarges and refines basic concepts of Labanotation. The student receives substantial opportunity to notate dance sequences typically encountered and to recover master repertory from Labanotation. Prerequisite: DNC 270. Credit 3.
*DNC 276 CHOREOGRAPHY I. The student learns to analyze the various components of design and to create basic dance studies which demonstrate understanding of dance as a craft and as an art. Prerequisites: DNC 176. A minimum of intermediate standing in classical ballet or modern dance and/or permission of the instructor. Credit 3.
DNC 310 DANCE WORKSHOP. Upper level students will participate in supervisory and support aspects of the presentation of dance concerts. Credit 1.
DNC 332 SOCIAL AND FOLK DANCE FORMS. Social and folk dance forms of ethnic and social significance are studied and performed in relation to their cultural derivations and historical perspectives and their use in period theatrical/concert production. Special emphasis is placed upon the importance of ethnic art forms to contemporary society. Credit 3.
DNC 333 INTERMEDIATE BALLET TECHNIQUE. This is an intermediate level ballet technique class which presumes substantial exposure to ballet dance training. Open by audition only. Prerequisite: DNC 233 or permission of the instructor. Credit 3.
DNC 334 INTERMEDIATE MODERN DANCE TECHNIQUE. This is an intermediate level modern dance technique class which presumes substantial exposure to modern dance training. Open by audition only. Prerequisite: DNC 234 or permission of the instructor. Credit 3.
*DNC 338 WORLD DANCE: EXPLORING CULTURES THROUGH THE DANCE EXPERIENCE. In this course, students re immersed in the dances of one world region for half a semester, and of another world region for the other half semester. Although comparisons between two cultures will become evident, the primary objective of the course is to expose the student to two different dance styles and to use dance analysis to identify and study cultural characteristics. Guest artists lead classes and demonstrations which include live music, costumes, and terminology. Each time the course is offered, a different set of cultures is examined. Prerequisites: Junior level standing or permission of the instructor. Credit 3.
*DNC 376 CHOREOGRAPHY II. The student develops extended dance works which demonstrate advanced understanding of dance as a craft and as an art. Prerequisite: DNC 176, 276 and/or permission of the instructor. Credit 3.
DNC 430 REPERTORY. The student is involved in rehearsals in which dance works by faculty and guest artists, as well as the great masters of choreography, are staged or reconstructed in preparation for major dance program performances Credit 3.
DNC 433 ADVANCED BALLET TECHNIQUE. This is a preprofessional level of ballet technique in which dancers will develop a high degree of technical ability and expressive range of balletic dancing. Open by audition only. Prerequisite: DNC 333 or permission of the instructor. Credit 3.
DNC 434 ADVANCED MODERN DANCE TECHNIQUE. This is a preprofessional level of modern dance technique in which dancers will develop a high degree of technical ability and expressive range in the modern dance idiom. Open by audition only. Prerequisite: DNC 334 or permission of the instructor. Credit 3.
DNC 467 HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF DANCE: PRIMITIVE ERA TO 1700. This course includes investigation into the dance forms of primitive man as well as those of early Egyptian, Greek and Roman cultures; also dance of the Middle Ages, pre-classic dance forms and early ballets. Credit 3.
DNC 468 HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF DANCE: 1700 TO THE PRESENT. A chronological survey is made of the history of dance from the 1700’s to the modern period. Special emphasis is placed on the philosophic relationship of dance to the various cultural epochs. Credit 3.
*DNC 470 PRINCIPLES OF DANCE TECHNIQUE. This course provides the student with an overview of the movement system emphasizing the subjective control experience in dance. Methods of tuning the system including body therapies, conditioning regimes, body awareness techniques, and dance training will be reviewed and compared. Prerequisites: PHY 135/115, BIO 245. Credit 3.
*DNC 476 CHOREOGRAPHY III. The student develops extended solo, duet, and ensemble works for performance in formal and informal concerts presented by the Dance Program. Prerequisite: DNC 176, 276, 376 and/or permission of the instructor. Credit. 3.
DNC 492 SEMINAR IN DANCE. Opportunities are offered for thorough study of a variety of topics which students may choose in dance. Such topics as Historical Period Dance, Ethnocultural Studies, Choreographic Projects, et cetera, are illustrative. Credit 3.
DNC 493 INDEPENDENT STUDY. Opportunities are offered for individual study of an approved problem in dance. Credit 3.

*Subject to action by the Board of Regents, The Texas State University System, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

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