SPOR08007 2022 Dance

Identify and synthesise theoretical frames to support them to practice dance skills and compose choreography. 

Embody and perform presented dance practices in development of physical and dance skills, kinetic expression and creativity. 

Explore dance investigation and self-discovery process applying to improvisation structures and dance composition.

Collaboratively revise and create materials of dance practices to design, compose, develop and record variation of compositional methods and devices to interpret choreography in performance. 

Reflectively evaluate overall learning and compare one specific subject of the theoretical framework with personal development/future practice. 

Students will actively practise team-based learning to identify theoretical frames to support them to synthesise and deepen their physical experience. The class will be designed to engage student into individual experiential and independent learning to deepen understanding and progress on direct experience both physically and orally. Interactive and creative methods will execute individual and collaborative learning. Students will apply critical and reflective learning skills in journal writing to understand their learning process and practice.

Students will be assessed on following criteria:

• class participation, active engagement and individual progress;
• individual/collaborative integration and exploration of dance practices, compositional methods and creativity;
• research presentations;
• engagement in creative process and the evaluation of dance performance;
• reflective discussion and journal practice will be assessed during the class by continuous assessment and the final workbook and written assignment will be submitted and assessed in the end of semester.

Student must pass theory and practical classes. 

If high number of student's absence in practical classes lecturer/exam board may recommend the module repeat. 

If student miss more than 4 lectures, he/she must submit additional assignment covering absented theory. 

Students will be given the opportunity to perform their group project - choreography on one occasion only. If student will not attend the assessment presentation from real problem, he/she will be assessed on solo/duet project involving choreographic components.

Failed Reflective Essay must be repeated if the overall module's mark failed. 

The syllabus employs integration of mix dance practices, techniques, dance improvisation and dance composition to embodied movement education and build awareness in structures of dance. It provides the support of engagement in creative dance process and making the choreography to take this knowledge to future studies and/or educational practice.

Theoretical framework and discussions will be part of the dance module to increase active involvement in understanding and practising of dance. Students will document and reflect on their physical and intellectual learning and development within their Journals (Workbook). The extracts from Journals will be analysed during selected classes to benefit students’ learning. This reflective practice will lead to final critical evaluation on complex learning and personal growth in relation to future practice in the form of Reflective Essay. The Workbook and Reflective Essay will be submitted in the end of the semester.  

This module works with three main areas:

Area 1: Theory (LO1, 2, 3, 4, 5) 

The lecture class will present theoretical frameworks, which will allow students to gain overview of contemporary dance and understand the dance form upon which this modern dance was built. The concept of the class will help student to understand their experience in practical class. It will also concern the importance of dance practice in education as a part of the physical education and human cultivation.

Theoretical frameworks;

1. Meaning of Dance and Introduction to Dance in Education

1.1 Features of dance

1.2 Genres of dance

1.3 Benefits of dance

1.4 Position of dance in physical education

2. Introduction to History of Contemporary Dance

2.1 Modern dance history

2.2 Postmodern Dance history

2.3 Contemporary Dance today

3. Dance Practices

3.1 Modern Dance techniques

3.2 Dance and Contact Improvisation 

3.3 Creative Movement

3.4 Somatic Practice

4. Creating and Composing Dance

4.1 Making dances

4.2 Compositional Devices

4.3 Reflecting and writing dances

Area 2: Dance Practices (LO 1, 2, 3, 5)

The focus will be on individual development of fitness, movement and dance skills and engagement in dance practices and improvisation. The learners will experience, analyse and evaluate fundamentals of dance and mix of techniques/principles such as: Contemporary Dance/Duncan/Laban/Release/Contact Improvisation/Somatic Practice etc. The movers will learn and expand dance sequences based on explored practices. Each student will experiment with movement ideas emerged from varieties of dance exercises and improvisation techniques as a vehicle for self-expression, creativity and mental acuity. 

Area 3: Dance Composition - Choreography (LO 1, 4, 5)

The focus will be on collaborative development of using achieved dance skills to create a Dance Composition. Students will be organised into groups and they will be encouraged to compose and perform their own dance piece. Learning and utilising choreographic devices will allow students to develop their dance towards the performance.The composition will include varieties of components which choreographic process employ. A collection of choreographic journals (process documentation) will result in writing compositional structure of the Choreography.