DANC 172: Composition in Group Forms

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2021
Credits: 2
Total Contact Hours: 72
Lecture Hours : 18
Lab Hours: 54
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 36
Prerequisite: DANC 160 or DANC 161 or DANC 162 or Audition.
District General Education: E1. Dance Activity
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Catalog Course Description

A practical course guiding the student in choreographic structure, designed specifically for group forms. All movement exploration will be on the basis of ballet, jazz or modern dance technique. 18 lecture hours, 54 lab hours.

Course Objectives

  • demonstrate the ability to design short dances using each of the choreographic forms introduced in class
  • demonstrate an understanding in the exploration of space and movement invention with each of the group from structures as introduced in class
  • design and teach choreography through knowledge and experience gained in class
  • present dances in class for an informal performance, to be analyzed by instructor

Major Course Content

  1. Introduction to Dance Style
  2. Modern, Jazz and Ballet Dance techniques
  3. Review of  dance choreographic history in all styles
  4. Motivations for Choreography
  5. Time, space and energy
  6. Manipulation and development of gesture
  7. Movement invention
  8. Composition Project Organization
  9. Establish styles and time structure for semester
  10. Selection of student choreographic rotation
  11. Schedule studio rehearsal times
  12. Compositional Forms
  13. Canon or fugue
  14. Lateral unison
  15. Antiphonal
  16. Ground bass
  17. Ternary/A.B.A.
  18. Chance
  19. Project Performances
  20. Instructor critique
  21. Videotaping of each dance for student record and evaluation

Lab Content

Lab Projects

  1. Choreographic Movement project (Two Weeks)
  2. Manipulation of first project on small group using two choreographic forms (Two Weeks)
  3. Research music, style and history of specific dance genre, then choreograph small piece using 3 to 8 dancers, one to two minutes in length, manipulation of at least three forms (five weeks)
  4. Patterning Project (three weeks)
  5. Final Project (four weeks)

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Internet Sources, Library Periodicals

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

Research on Dance Projects Notations for choreographic movements, forms and patterns.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Develop a two minute section of choreography using three or more dancers.
Use dance lab notations to "score" a section of music.
View various dance concerts or videos/dvds.
Create a dance sequence based upon a particular character.

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Lab, Online Education Lecture, Online Education Lab