Syllabus

By popular demand, here is the syllabus!

DANCE 108, M/W/F 10:30-12:15, MNY 266
Winter 2008
Instructor: Louis Gervais, Graduate Student, UW Dance Program
Office: Meany Hall 59J
Email: lgervais@u.washington.edu

Office Hours: Mondays 12:30 - 1:30 pm and by appointment (The best way to set up an outside meeting is through email or approach me in person after class to set up a time.)
Course Description:

Welcome to Dance 108, Ballet Technique. This course offers guidance and instruction in the theory and practice of ballet technique at the beginning level.

Course Objectives:
Students of this ballet course will be encouraged to personally engage their technical dance training. It takes many years to develop the strength and flexibility that support the body in its aesthetic linear expression.
It is my hope that the tools you will acquire over the next ten weeks will enable you to not only get better at ballet, but also teach you how to continue on your journey as a dancer and artist.

Learning Goals
To understand your personal responsibility in your technical training.
· Expand your knowledge of ballet movement and terminology.
· Develop ballet technique that serves the individual artist.
Acquire a basic understanding of correct muscular-skeletal alignment· Develop an awareness of musicality while dancing.
· Use the ballet technique as a mode of individual and group artistic expression and communication.
· Learn and practice the culture of studio etiquette.
Suggested Reading
"Dictionary and Manual of Classical Ballet," by Gail Grant
"Inside Ballet Technique," by Valerie Grieg
"Ballet Basics," by Sandra Noll Hammond (or any dictionary/glossary of ballet)
Online Ballet Dictionary
American Ballet Theater’s ballet dictionary (also has Quick Time video for many of the terms) http://www.abt.org/education/dictionary/index.html

Ballet on Video and DVD (all at UW Odegaard Undergraduate Library)
List compiled by Betsy Cooper, Associate Professor, Director, UW Dance Program, Summer 2007 http://staff.washington.edu/mca/Ballet%20videos%20and%20DVDs.html

Requirements and Grading
Studio Participation (75%)
Participation grades reflect the following:
· Attending class on a consistent basis
· Arriving on time or early, giving yourself time to focus and prepare to fully participate in the class.*
· Demonstrating individual progress toward achieving the kinesthetic, aesthetic and intellectual goals of the course.
· Demonstrating a working knowledge of the classical ballet terminology at the beginning level.
· Attendance at Dance Majors Dance Concert in Meany Studio Theater
March 6 - 8, 2008 at 7:30pm
March 9, 2008 at 2 pm.
Tickets: Adults $18, UW Faculty/Staff & UWAA $16, Students/Seniors $10
Available for purchase at UW Arts Ticket Office (40th and University Way) or on-line
http://www.meany.org/tickets/index.aspx
*NOTE: Do not come to class if you are very ill. If you are not ill, but cannot dance for some other reason, you must observe class and make a journal entry. If you are contagious, then you should stay home, rest and get well.

Online Journal Responses (25%)
A blog has been set up for this course. Over the course of the semester, this blog will be the place where we as a class will share our thoughts and reactions to the course. Assignments will be posted here and your responses will be submitted electronically as comments.
The URL is http://www.uwdance108.blogspot.com/. Click on Subscribe to: Posts (Atom) and you will be alerted when new assignments have been posted. Some assignments will be experiential in nature and may require additional time outside of class.
Attire/Personal Belongings:
· Please dress neatly and simply – no baggy clothes or excessive jewelry. Long hair should be pulled back and securely fastened so that you can do consecutive turns and pirouettes. No hats.
· Use dressing rooms on Lower Level to change into dance clothes.
· Be responsible for your personal belongings. You are required to bring a padlock and use the lockers provided in the hallway. (Dressing Room lockers on Lower Level are for Dance Majors and Minors only) Hallway lockers are for use during class time only.

Missed classes: There are no make up classes or incompletes given for dance technique courses. If you are well, I will expect you to be in class and participating to your fullest. If you become injured or suffer a prolonged illness during the quarter then you will need to schedule an appointment with me (or send an email) to discuss your situation.

Academic Accommodations:
To request academic accommodations due to disability, please contact disabled Student Services, 448 Schmitz, (206) 543-8924 (V/TTY). If you have a letter from Disabled Student Services indicating that you have a disability that requires academic accommodation, please present the letter to me so that we can discuss the accommodations you might need in this class.
University of Washington Policy on Sexual Harassment:
Sex discrimination in the form of sexual harassment, defined as the use of one's authority or power, either explicitly or implicitly, to coerce another into unwanted sexual relations or to punish another for his or her refusal, or as the creation by a member of the University community of an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or educational environment through verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, shall be a violation of the University's human rights policy. (University Handbook, Vol. IV, p.44).
While most harassment involves men harassing women, either men or women can be harassed by members of the same or opposite sex. The University of Washington policy prohibits all forms of sexual harassment. The University will carry out a thorough investigation, protecting the rights of both the person complaining and the alleged harasser.
The University has been very successful in resolving sexual harassment complaints. If you believe you are being harassed, seek help the earlier the better. The University has designated special people to help you. Call the University Ombudsman and Ombudsman for Sexual Harassment at 543-0283 or 543-6028, or the University Complaint Investigation and Resolution Office at 616-2028.