Course Syllabus

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Ballet I, DANCE-421

Fall 2022

Schedule Number  21341 or 21342

 

COURSE INFORMATION

Tuesday & Thursday

Class Times: 9:00-10:50am or 11:00-12:50

Class Location: ENS 380

Mode of Delivery: Active Engagement In Person

Instructor: Kathryn Irey

Phone: 619 309-7843

Email: kirey@sdsu.edu

Office location: Zoom, by appointment

Office hours: before class & by appointment

 

 

If you have questions during class that are directly relevant to the whole class, please feel free to ask them between exercises. If you prefer, you could also ask questions one-on-one after class or by appointment. You are also welcome to e-mail questions. I will either answer them via email or set up a time for us to chat via Zoom or FaceTime.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Ballet I is designed for dance majors and minors who come from diverse dance backgrounds. The course develops progressively through basic movement concepts and how they are applied in ballet technique. Ballet vocabulary will be explored experientially with an eye to how it connects to other dance disciplines.

While some dance majors may already have extensive previous training in ballet, reexamining foundational principles from the perspective of an adult dance artist (as versus a child/teen dance student) is a one major subtext of this course. This course will emphasize replacing rote repetition of formulaic exercises with strategic, consciously chosen movements that use the DNA of ballet technique to solve movement problems that arise in any style or genre of dance

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • Students will experience, define, and apply basic ballet movement vocabulary as well as its theoretical and technical underpinnings.
  • Each student will evolve and refine his/her technical competence in basic ballet movement.
  • Students will navigate ballet’s spatial frameworks, both internal and external.
  • Students will explore the common ground between ballet and other dance forms
  • Students will design personalized practices that combine movements/ exercises to serve the idiosyncratic needs of their own body’s strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. These will evolve into a personal “warm up” protocol.

 

COURSE-SPECIFIC STUDIO CONDUCT STANDARDS

Attendance

Since this is an actively experiential course, attending class consistently and being on time is essential. Two absences are the maximum allowed (the number of scheduled meetings per week.) Each absence beyond two will affect the participation portion of your final grade.

When dealing with an injury:

  1. inform your teacher
  2. create clear strategies that allow modified participation without aggravating the injury
  3. in the case of serious injury sit down and document detailed observations of the class.

Class participation

Class participation includes active participation in all class activities and discussions, asking questions, answering questions posed by instructor and other students, productive participation in collaborative projects, initiating discussion/ reflection, and presenting/ performing projects. The Participation Rubric for Dance adopted by this department will be used as a reference for grading.

Academic Honesty

Traditional concepts of academic dishonesty seldom apply to technical study of a performance art like dance. Dance, at its highest level, is the embodiment of honesty. Use your studies to evolve your artistry and move closer to your truth.

Zoom Policy

In the event that we engage online on Zoom please exercise honesty and personal integrity when choosing to turn off your video. Your active engagement, at best, is a two-way street involving both seeing and being seen. Only technological issues should stand in the way of full engagement, including video, during class.

Supplemental Instruction

Any student who wants additional access to ballet classes to reinforce lower level technical challenges or reinforce the work in Ballet I can attend classes at Stage 7 at a discount or on scholarship in exchange for studio support.

Mindset

A course designed for dance majors and minors, D221 requires a consistent, disciplined mindset in every class. Students’ mindset is shaped by focus, artistic intent, curiosity, willingness to take risks, assumption of personal responsibility for learning, and professional courage. Students are responsible for personal preparation BEFORE class and required to concretize key learnings by consistent journaling and reflection.

Attire

Dance attire should be worn in layers (as needed for warmth) to support optimal freedom of movement and optimal health. Socks will be preferred during Barre work, and ballet shoes preferred during Centre. Hair should be coiffed so that it cannot make contact with eyes when turning.

 

COURSE MATERIALS

Access to Internet & Zoom

 Required

Computer, Laptop or Tablet for streaming

 Required

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS & WRITTEN WORK

Journal

Students will maintain daily journal documentation of class work to capture all major content, epiphanies, problems, connections across this course, and form connections to other courses. This journal will provide supporting details for essay responses to questions in our mid-term exam.

Video Analysis Paper 

Each week the class will watch selected YouTube video(s) and make journal notes about technical, choreographic, aesthetic dimensions of each video. Then each student will write and submit a single paragraph summary of observations. Due Date TBA**

** This paper's due date will be posted to Canvas Assignments. Late papers will not be accepted.

Mid-Term Exam

Mid-term exam will be held on December 12th. It will be a written exam, with questions that challenge each student to discuss ideas and experiences from the first half of the semester AND combine them to demonstrate growth of your understanding(s). “Open book” use of your journal encouraged.

Final Exam

Final exam will be held December 9th. It will be active/ performative. The details of the exam will be designed collaboratively between me and the students.

 

GRADING POLICIES

Assessment of your work in this course depends most on the consistency of your attendance and actual class work. You will be assessed on consistent GROWTH across time, the quality of insight in your questions, your willingness to try new ways of approaching old ideas, genuine curiosity to find more than one answer to the same question, and courage to risk failure in pursuit of your own development as a dance artist

 

The final grade for Ballet will be computed by weighted assessment of the following course components:

Written assignment 10%

Class participation 40%

Skills development 30%

Mid Term Exam 15%

Final Exam 15%

A

B

C

D

Excellence in 90% or more of course components

Excellence in 83% or more of course components

Excellence in 75% or more of course components

Excellence in 65% or more of course components

 

University Grading Policies (link)

Definitions of Grades for Undergraduate Students (SDSU Catalog)
Grades and grade points per unit used in reporting are as follows:

A (outstanding achievement; available only for the highest accomplishment), 4 points;

B (praiseworthy performance; definitely above average), 3 points;

C (average; awarded for satisfactory performance; the most common undergraduate grade), 2 points;

D (minimally passing; less than the typical undergraduate achievement), 1 point;

F (failing), 0 points;

Credit / No Credit Grade (CR/NC)

Undergraduate students are awarded a grade of "Credit" (CR) for work equivalent to all grades which earn 2.0 or more grade points (A through C). A grade of "No Credit" (NC) is awarded for work equivalent to all grades which earn less than 2.0 grade points (C- through F).

Dance Division Student Handbook, "Thrive Guide"

 

SCHEDULE

  • First Day of Class August 24th
  • Mid Term Exam October 12th
  • Video Viewing Paper TBA
  • Final Exam and Last Day of Class December 9th

All dates subject to revision with updated deadlines posted to Canvas.

 

REVISIONS

This syllabus may be revised at any time during the semester. The latest version is always posted to Canvas

Last Updated: 8/17/22

 

UNIVERSITY POLICIES

Accommodations:  If you are a student with a disability and are in need of accommodations for this class, please contact Student Ability Success Center at (619) 594-6473 as soon as possible.  Please know accommodations are not retroactive, and I cannot provide accommodations based upon disability until I have received an accommodation letter from Student Ability Success Center.

Student Privacy and Intellectual Property: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) mandates the protection of student information, including contact information, grades, and graded assignments. I will use Canvas] to communicate with you, and I will not post grades or leave graded assignments in public places. Students will be notified at the time of an assignment if copies of student work will be retained beyond the end of the semester or used as examples for future students or the wider public. Students maintain intellectual property rights to work products they create as part of this course unless they are formally notified otherwise.

Religious observances: According to the University Policy File, students should notify the instructors of affected courses of planned absences for religious observances by the end of the second week of classes.

Academic Honesty: 

The University adheres to a strict policy prohibiting cheating and plagiarism. However:

Traditional concepts of academic dishonesty seldom apply to technical study of a performance art form like dance. Dance, at its highest level, is the embodiment of honesty. Please use your dance studies to evolve your artistry and move closer to your own truth. For a dance artist “cheating” results from loss of personal focus.
-Kathryn Irey

Resources for students:  A complete list of all academic support services--including the Writing Center and Math Learning Center--is available on the Student Affairs’ Academic Success website. Counseling and Psychological Services (619-594-5220) offers confidential counseling services by licensed therapists; you can Live Chat with a counselor at this link between 4:00pm and 10:00pm, or call San Diego Access and Crisis 24-hour Hotline at (888) 724- 7240.

Classroom Conduct Standards:  SDSU students are expected to abide by the terms of the Student Conduct Code in classrooms and other instructional settings.  Prohibited conduct includes:

  • Willful, material and substantial disruption or obstruction of a University-related activity, or any on-campus activity.
  • Participating in an activity that substantially and materially disrupts the normal operations of the University, or infringes on the rights of members of the University community.
  • Unauthorized recording, dissemination, or publication (including on websites or social media) of lectures or other course materials.
  • Conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person within or related to the University community, including
    • physical abuse, threats, intimidation, or harassment.
    • sexual misconduct.

Violation of these standards will result in referral to appropriate campus authorities.

Medical-related absences: Students are instructed to contact their professor/instructor/coach in the event they need to miss class, etc. due to an illness, injury or emergency.  All decisions about the impact of an absence, as well as any arrangements for making up work, rest with the instructors.  Student Health Services (SHS) does not provide medical excuses for short-term absences due to illness or injury. When a medical-related absence persists beyond five days, SHS will work with students to provide appropriate documentation. When a student is hospitalized or has a serious, ongoing illness or injury, SHS will, at the student's request and with the student’s consent, communicate with the student’s instructors via the Vice President for Student Affairs and may communicate with the student’s Assistant Dean and/or the Student Ability Success Center. 

SDSU Economic Crisis Response Team: If you or a friend are experiencing food or housing insecurity, or any unforeseen financial crisis, visit sdsu.edu/ecrt, email ecrt@sdsu.edu, or walk-in to Well-being & Health Promotion on the 3rd floor of Calpulli Center.

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due