Undergraduate Program

Rooted in dance, martial arts and studies of body development and awareness. A duet form where partners use weight, momentum, and inertia to move each other freely through space. Solo and duet skills, rolling, falling, balance, counter-balance, jumping, weight sharing, spirals explored. Skill work combined with more open dancing in a supportive and focused environment. No previous dance training required.

Location

(MW 2:00PM - 3:15PM)

Location

(T 11:05AM - 12:20PM)

Improvisation, the act of creating in the moment, will be explored with a variety of changing goals. Improvisational movement will be approached as self-expression, as flow, for musicality, as social interaction, for self-understanding, for relaxation, in response to music, as communication, and as comedy. Different exercises will provide different types of improvisational foci, helping to expand and discover new and potentially satisfying movement experiences that each have their own feel. There will be both individual and interactive exercises. At times, students can bring their instruments to class to support particular movement exercises. This is a movement exploration class focusing on movement freedom and providing a different experience than a performance or technique class.

Location

(TR 11:35AM - 12:50PM)

Location

(F 9:00AM - 11:45AM)

An introductory course of three different contemporary dance techniques. This course will be divided into three sections across the semester. Starting the course with the fundamentals of Cunningham technique to find stability, balance and coordination. We find a strong grounding through upright dance focusing on the 5 positions of the spine through various standing and travelling sequences. Second, we move on to release based techniques with a focus on using the stability we have found with Cunningham and applying in a more relaxed and somatic approach. Working on both floor work and standing work we have our emphasis on finding ease of movement through the use of breath and other sensations such as swinging. Lastly we move away from codified dancing to work on improvisation, where we can draw from everything we have learned in a more creative way of working that is more about interpreting tasks than recreating taught phrases granting you more autonomy over your dancing.

Location

(TR 2:00PM - 3:15PM)

Yoga is defined as union, the uniting together of ourselves in all aspects- body, mind, heart, spirit. This class introduces the student to a hatha yoga method which integrates a dynamic and engaging approach to living through practicing on and off the mat. The goal of this class is to learn how to create a deeper, more enlivened relationship to ones self through honoring ones abilities and limitations, while growing ones skills and sensitivity in the supportive environment of the class community. Students will engage with principles of attitude, alignment and action in a full range of hatha yoga poses, breathing techniques, readings on yoga philosophy, reflection, journaling and discussion. Through this ongoing process, students of yoga are encouraged to cultivate a more expansive and clear perception of self and others. Attendance in selected workshops and performances are required.

Location

(TR 9:40AM - 10:55AM)

Body conditioning aimed to develop and strengthen specific musculature as it pertains to physical demands of dancers, athletes, martial artists, as well as those who wish to explore a mindful, physical and anatomically sound practice. Will introduce fundamental strength training based in Pilates, hands-on bodywork and basic movement sequences designed to help prevent injury as well as build core strength, endurance, coordination and overall physical mobility and stability.

Location

(TR 11:05AM - 12:20PM)

Beginning Jazz Dance is an exploration of historic roots, techniques, and styles including vernacular jazz dance movements and their relationship to jazz music, pop culture, and musical theatre.

Location

(MW 9:00AM - 10:15AM)

This course explores dance improvisation as a practice and technique for self-expression, performance and composition. By opening our senses and learning tools for generating movement in real-time, students will unite their bodies and minds to engage in spontaneous investigation and creation. Specific theories and techniques based in the work of Anne Bogart, William Forsythe and Laban Movement Analysis will be explored in addition to wider concepts such as scores, collective composition and site-specific work. The main goals of this class are to provide students with the freedom to explore their own movement-based research interests and to develop their individual artistic voices within a structured environment. Students will also strengthen their presence, intuition, self-awareness and decision-making skills

Location

(MW 2:00PM - 3:15PM)

From subtle intrinsic movement to whole body integration, students will have the opportunity to experience the essence of several somatic modalities and discover what it means to be fully alive and  resourced in movement and stillness. Mindful Awareness provides the foundation for listening inwardly to one’s immediate embodied experience. From this felt sense and the inherent wisdom of the body, students will be encouraged to explore various somatic approaches presented by the co-teachers. This work is powerful for dancers and for those on every academic track who are inquisitive in becoming more compassionate, open, present, resilient and centered. Experiential practice, readings, discussion, and reflective writing will comprise the course. Additional reading, writing and projects required at the graduate level.Open to Juniors and Seniors.

Location

(MW 10:25AM - 11:40AM)

An art form of self-defense with aerobic and dance elements that brings together a harmony of forces. Through history, movement and culture, students gain self-confidence, power, flexibility, endurance, and tools towards self-discovery. Open to all, Capoeira balances the body, mind, and soul and enables one to break through limits, revitalizing oneself for everyday life.

Location

(MW 6:30PM - 7:45PM)

Dynamic dance traditions of Guinea, West Africa. Accompanied by live music, students learn footwork and movements for several rhythms and acquire familiarity with the physical stance common to many styles of West African dance. Learn to execute movements together with the rhythmic foundation provided by our drummers and become familiar with the origins and cultural significance of each dance, and the songs that accompany them.

Location

(MW 2:00PM - 3:15PM)

A continuation of Dance 181.

Location

(MW 2:00PM - 3:15PM)

Originated in the boroughs of New York City, hip hop has grown to become a global phenomenon, influencing the lives of countless individuals with the core ideals of peace, unity, love and having fun. The class will provide a look into the historical origins and social importance of hip hop culture. The main focus will be on the original dance of hip hop culture - breaking, (also known as bboying). The class format is geared towards physical movement along with lectures, videos and opportunities to attend events in the community.

Location

(M 7:00PM - 9:30PM)

This course will focus on the structure and function of the skeletal and muscular systems primarily in order to explore efficiency of movement, alignment, and body connectivity. Additionally, the class will explore topics that promote well-being such as: nutrition, hydration, rest, joint health, injury prevention, basic injury treatments, and fitness and strength practices that support the demands of dance. The class will include reading, discussion, research, creative approaches, writing, and kinesthetic practice. The course requires 4 anatomy workshops that will be scheduled with the class outside of regular class time.

Location

(MW 2:00PM - 3:15PM)

This course offers an introduction to Peacebuilding and Conflict Studies, while asking how dance and movement practices experienced both as participants and spectators can actively participate in creating a better world for individuals and communities. With perspectives drawn from diverse fields including psychology, anthropology, sociology, physiology, education and dance, students learn how conflict depletes individuals ability to interact with others and how dance practices can help replenish these capacities. Students also develop their leadership and facilitation skills through designing and implementing relevant movement activities for their peers.

Location

(TR 12:30PM - 1:45PM)

A continuation of DANC 104 that is taught concurrently with the introductory course. Students in DANC 203 will gain a deeper experiential and intellectual knowledge of contact by exploring issues further. Work includes both more advanced practice with other DAN 203 students, and the experience of helping teach the DANC 104 students the basic principles of contact.

Location

(MW 2:00PM - 3:15PM)

A study of Taijiquan, (also known as Tai Chi Chuan or Tai Chi?), a traditional Chinese martial art, and its intimate relationship to the cosmological, physiological, and philosophical conceptions found in the culture and thought from which it emerged. The course investigates both the traditional Chinese philosophy and movement aspects of Tai Chi in order to better understand the integration of human body, mind, and spirit. The Simplified 24-Step Taijiquan (Ershisi Shi Taijiquan) is learned, along with the foundation skills of the Eight Methods or Energies (Ba Fa), Reeling Silk (Chan Si Gong), Pushing Hands (Tui Shou), and Standing Pole meditation (Zhan Zhuang). Tai Chi is not only a valuable cross training exercise for the dancer, but also provides training for relaxed strength, whole body coordination, balance, centered alignment, timing, weight shifting and moving with fluid grace.

Location

(TR 3:25PM - 4:40PM)

“Qi” means energy or lifeforce, and “gong” means skillful work done over time. Qigong is a holistic mindful movement discipline that combines body, breath, movement and mind to cultivate and refine our lifeforce for greater harmony and health. This course offers an Applied Medical Qigong approach to mental and physical self-regulation. You will learn simple, accessible practices to attain the integration of body, mind and spirit. Its meditative quality makes it a fine complement to formal seated meditation practice. It also provides the dancer and athlete with concrete, practical skills for regulating and expressing the energy flow for better breathing, body awareness, focus, concentration, mental presence and imaginal capacity This is a skills-based course, so regular class attendance and practice of Qigong outside of class is a basic requirement for successful completion. In addition to the practices learned, we will cover basic energetic anatomy as presented within Traditional Chinese Medicine. We will also explore traditional Chinese cultural concepts such as Yin-Yang theory and the Five Phase theory and their relevance in modern Western culture.

Location

(TR 2:00PM - 3:15PM)

Throughout much of Southern Africa, the word ngoma? means drum. It also refers to specific musical styles that combine drumming, dance, and song. Finally, there is often a ritual dimension to ngoma, which is used in ceremonies focused around individual and social healing. In this class, students will bring ngoma alive by learning to perform various Zimbabwean ngoma genres, with the option of specializing in either drumming or dance. Through video clips, audio recordings, photos, and articles, we will also learn to understand ngoma within a larger cultural framework.

Location

(F 10:00AM - 12:00PM)

Cultivate awareness of the present moment, which is the only moment available to learn and live. This experiential course invites pausing and reflecting on the habits of mind. Students will be guided in mindfulness and insight techniques, relaxation, and other mindfulness practices. Incorporating mindfulness into daily life, class discussion, reading, and writing assignments will support understanding and personal growth. To facilitate establishing a personal practice, attendance will be required at meditation labs on Fridays online via Zoom.

Location

(MW 8:40AM - 10:10AM)

Cultivate awareness of the present moment, which is the only moment available to learn and live. This experiential course invites pausing and reflecting on the habits of mind. Students will be guided in mindfulness and insight techniques, relaxation, and other mindfulness practices. Incorporating mindfulness into daily life, class discussion, reading, and writing assignments will support understanding and personal growth. To facilitate establishing a personal practice, attendance will be required at meditation labs on Fridays online via Zoom.

Location

(F 9:30AM - 10:20AM)

In this course, students with prior yoga and/or dance experience will learn how to refine their skills through a continued exploration of asanas, pranayama, philosophy, and meditation. We will explore a more rigorous vinyasa flow practice, resulting in students developing more clarity regarding alignment, breath support, core aliveness, and, ultimately, body/self-awareness. While this is an individualized practice, the importance of community will be emphasized throughout as students share aspects of their practice with each other. Readings, discussion, and reflective writing are inherent to deepening ones practice.

Location

(MW 10:25AM - 11:40AM)

This course will provide students with an experience of the creative process involving choreographic and improvisational play in professional-style dance rehearsals that are then carried through live performance. Working with the instructor and/or various collaborators, students will diversify their experiences as dancer collaborators and deepen their creative journey as artists. Post performance, the class will provide instruction in contemporary dance technique with an emphasis on performance skills.

Location

(MW 3:25PM - 4:40PM)

Expand upon your tap dance foundation. Discover techniques essential for the study of Rhythm Tap Dance including subtle weight shifts, articulate footwork, and dynamics. Explore the physical interpretation of rhythm through the art of tap dance and the practice of improvisation.

Location

(MW 10:25AM - 11:40AM)

This course includes an introduction to fundamental production skills grounded in the theory of current practices and exposure to experience by witnessing, taking part in, and reflecting on the process. Learning targets include the understanding and utilization of: 1) best practices of safety in the theater, rehearsal room, and found spaces, 2) producing and production organization/structure for dance, including management and administrative basic, 3) building community and feedback mechanisms, 4) Understanding of basic design elements from a dancer’s perspective. These design elements include an overview of Lighting, Sound, Scenery/Props, Costumes, and Video. Students will develop communication and community engagement skills, as well as an understanding of and practice in implementation of the above. This course is open to all students; no experience necessary.

Location

(F 12:30PM - 3:25PM)

In this course, students practice contemporary dance forms and examine concepts influenced by Laban/Bartenieff theories. Classes explore patterns of total body organization and connectivity, efficiency of movement, weight sensing, and somatic practices. Students develop self-awareness and technical skills while addressing artistry and self-expression. The course looks at Contemporary Dances rich history and its influence on 21st century forms. In addition to movement practice, students participate in discussions, workshops and performances. Students can register for either section A or B during initial enrollment. A first-day placement class will determine appropriate section for each dancer

Location

(MW 11:50AM - 1:35PM)

In this course, students practice contemporary dance forms and examine concepts influenced by Laban/Bartenieff theories. Classes explore patterns of total body organization and connectivity, efficiency of movement, weight sensing, and somatic practices. Students develop self-awareness and technical skills while addressing artistry and self-expression. The course looks at Contemporary Dances rich history and its influence on 21st century forms. In addition to movement practice, students participate in discussions, workshops and performances. Students can register for either section A or B during initial enrollment. A first-day placement class will determine appropriate section for each dancer.

Location

(MW 11:50AM - 1:35PM)

Dance appreciation and technical practice. Practice classical ballet technique and theory with a contemporary perspective and investigate context, history, applications and societal impact of Ballet. Phrasing, musicality and efficiency of movement will be emphasized. The course requires 3 workshops that will be scheduled with the class outside of regular class time.

Location

(TR 12:30PM - 1:45PM)

Experience dancing African styles from traditional cultures of Guinea, West Africa, as well as studying cultural history and context from which and in which they are practiced and performed. Technical emphasis will focus on musicality and complex choreographicarrangement. Students will practice dances and drum songs. Required outside work includes performance attendance, video viewing, text and article analysis, research and written work.

Location

(MW 3:25PM - 4:40PM)

Experience dancing African styles from traditional cultures of Guinea, West Africa, as well as studying cultural history and context from which and in which they are practiced and performed. Technical emphasis will focus on musicality and complex choreographicarrangement. Students will practice dances and drum songs. Required outside work includes performance attendance, video viewing, text and article analysis, research and written work.

Location

(F 3:30PM - 4:45PM)

This course provides a forum for dance majors and minors, especially those with a concentration in Dance Studies, to develop their skills for conducting interdisciplinary, practice-based research. Through videos, readings and live events, we investigate the creative processes of professional dance artists making interdisciplinary work and explore in the studio how we might incorporate their processes into our own. We also consider how anthropologists, historians, scientists, educators and other scholars have approached studying dance from their interdisciplinary perspectives. Students enhance their practice-based research skills by developing and facilitating movement workshops, and choreographing a final project that translates research into a topic of their choice into a dance.

Pre-requisites: Only available to majors and minors in the Program of Dance and Movement. Recommended to take Junior year.

Location

(F 12:00PM - 2:00PM)

Practice and performance of classical and contemporary ballet with a contemporary approach in order to serve the dancer of any style of movement. Within the ballet form, classes will explore efficiency of movement, breath, anatomical mechanics, strength, alignment and through-line, weight, rhythmic accuracy, clarity of space, shape and effort, and somatic practices to develop and improve technical skills..

Location

(TR 12:30PM - 1:45PM)

Location

(TR 12:30PM - 1:45PM)

Experiment with various methods of dance-making and focus on examining craft in the service of choreographic expression. You will be encouraged to curiously and playfully embody manipulations of movement material to better understand different points of view and to explore the elements of time, space, shape and effort to see how they affect quality and content. Drawing from dance, visual art, music, current events, writings and other sources, we will explore diverse approaches to creativity, experimentation and choreography.

Location

(TR 11:05AM - 12:20PM)

Dancer as Collaborator is a one-credit movement course engaging students as dancers for choreographic work generated from the DANC 278 Choreography class and/or the Program of Dance and Movements Fall Concert. DANC 279 students act as collaborators in that they embody and perform the choreographers concepts and vision and participate in creative process. Rehearsals will average twice weekly for the bulk of the semester. Pieces created in this course will be included in the Fall concert, the End of the Term Showings, and/or other Program approved performance opportunities throughout the semester. Enrollment is by permission of instructor. Please email requests to m.p.smith@rochester.edu.

Location

( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)

This course serves as an introduction to the basic principles of Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) and Bartenieff Fundamentals (BF) as systems for analyzing the complexity of human movement based on the theories of Rudolf Laban and Irmgard Bartenieff. Course includes an exploration of relevant historical and contextual information, the theoretical frameworks of Body, Shape, Space, and Effort, and patterns of total body connectivity. Course content will be examined through movement experiences, performance, observation, improvisation, film/video viewing, readings, group discussions, and written assignments. Descriptive analysis, contextual interpretation and creative collaborations are integral to the course. Additionally, the multidisciplinary applications of LMA and BF will be addressed.

Location

(TR 2:00PM - 3:15PM)

Improve Strength, Flexibility and Self-awareness of the body. This class will explore Traditional forms of Middle Eastern Dance such as Egyptian Raks Sharqi, Turkish, Tunisian and Moroccan. History, Costuming, and Culture from these countries will be experienced. Class will include meditative movement, dance technique, improvisation and rhythm identification through music and drumming. Discourse and research topics will explore issues of gender, body image, historical perspectives and Orientalism.Clusters: Movement and Culture, Dance and Performan

Location

(TR 4:50PM - 6:05PM)

DANC 296 explores designing creative, comprehensive, and engaging lessons for dance studios and K-12 classrooms. Pedagogical areas of study include: Lesson and curriculum planning, teaching methods, assessment, inclusive classrooms, alignment with state and national teaching standards, and formulating a teaching philosophy. Students will have the opportunity to work directly in a studio setting and with K-12 students, developing, teaching, and evaluating lessons of their own design. Includes pedagogical theories such as Muska Mosstons Spectrum of Teaching Styles, Blooms Taxonomy, Arthur L. Costa and Ben Kallicks Habits of Mind, and Howard Gardners Multiple Intelligences. This course explores designing creative, comprehensive, and engaging lessons for dance studios and geared for both the student interested in arts in education and in teaching creative dance. Open to all levels.

Location

(TR 9:40AM - 10:55AM)

Students will write, choreograph, perform, implement and/or carry out research, performances and/or projects. All students, regardless of their trajectory (choreography, performance or interdisciplinary research) will write a senior thesis, develop & realize their projects under advisement, consider & discuss various career opportunities & develop curriculum vitae. Practice in grant-writing, budgeting, marketing & general arts management skills will be addressed when appropriate. Creative process, creative & critical thinking are a focus and are carried through to a culminating event, paper, or project. Internships, other coursework as part of the major, co-curricular dance activity, service learning and/or other related activity is meant to support this capstone research both in advance of and in simultaneity with this seminar.

Location

(TR 3:25PM - 4:40PM)

Registration for Independent Study courses needs to be completed through the Independent Study Form​

Location

( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)

This course will provide students with an experience of the creative process involving choreographic and improvisational play in professional-style dance rehearsals that are then carried through live performance. Working with the instructor and/or various collaborators, students will diversify their experiences as dancer collaborators and deepen their creative journey as artists.

Location

(MW 3:25PM - 4:40PM)