Dance Department
Courses
All dance courses are open to majors and non-majors. The department offers students at all levels of experience opportunities to choreograph, perform, participate in residencies with visiting artists and interact closely with faculty members.
The following courses are offered for academic credit. Please note that Dance 322, 330, 335, 340 and 351 fulfill Group A requirements. Students can receive both academic and PE credit for Dance 111, 112, 211, 212, 221, 252, 311 & 312. In order to do so, register for these courses under both the Dance and PE department listings.
Dance 111 - Basic Technique I
One-half course for one semester. Designed for students with no previous dance training, this course provides a foundation for the further study of a variety of dance forms. Principles of alignment, body mechanics, and locomotion will be explored through the practice of movement vocabularies drawn primarily from American modern dance. The course includes an introduction to improvisation and movement composition and a discussion of critical perspectives from which to view contemporary dance performance. Studio.
Dance 112 - Basic Technique II
One-half or full course for one semester. This course builds on concepts and practices introduced in Dance 111. Drawing primarily from the techniques of American modern dance, students will study the essentials of both classic modern and contemporary movement vocabularies and explore elements of choreography. Elementary instruction in rhythm is also provided. With the instructor’s permission, students may enroll in the course for one unit, and will carry out an extended examination of contemporary dance performance. Studio.
Dance 211 - Intermediate Contemporary Dance I
Full course for one semester. Technical study is drawn from techniques of Limon and Cunningham as well as contemporary technical practice. Students pursue an in-depth investigation of the choreographic elements of dance through improvisation and composition, creating movement vocabulary and building dance phrases. Dances choreographed in class are presented in the end-of-semester concert. Studio.
Dance 212 - Intermediate Contemporary Dance II
Full course for one semester. Classic modern and contemporary dance forms will be the bases from which students develop strength, flexibility, and versatility in movement. Composition will focus on orchestration of traditional structures as a vehicle for solo and group dance works. Students participate in discussion and critique of class work and perform in the end-of-semester concert. Studio.
Dance 221 - Contemporary Performance Ensemble
One-half course for one semester. This course focuses on performance through the development, rehearsal, and production of a contemporary dance work. Students will address the technical, stylistic, and interpretive challenges of the choreographic material presented as well as developing and manipulating choreographic material of their own. Work in and out of class leading to performance will be supported through written responses, small group sessions, and critiques. Prerequisite: instructor’s permission or audition. Dance 211 and 212 (or Dance 210) strongly recommended. Offered on a credit/no credit basis only. May be repeated for credit, with departmental approval. Studio.
Dance 252 - Improvisation
One-half or full course for one semester. Since the early 1960s, improvisation has played an increasingly sophisticated role in contemporary dance. This course will investigate contemporary improvisational practices that are at once creative, performative, and philosophic. The first half of the course will focus on contact improvisation, a partnering form that explores the exchange of physical support, the practice of which has challenged notions of gender roles, ability and disability, and community structure. The second half of the course will focus on choreographic improvisation, an ensemble form in which movement scores are developed and refined over time, and which has influenced changing views of the function of performance and the relationship of makers, performers, and viewers of dance. One year of dance technique or one year of intermediate-level creative work in visual art, music, theatre or creative writing recommended. Studio.
Dance 311 - Advanced Technique and Composition
Full course for one semester. This class will emphasize rigorous technical training and advanced work in choreography. Technical material will be drawn from classic modern as well as contemporary movement vocabularies and will include detailed work in alignment and introductory partnering. Choreography assignments will focus on using a variety of source materials and conceptual bases from which to generate both detailed movement phrases and formal structures. With permission of the instructor, the course may be repeated as an advanced practicum. Prerequisite: Dance 211 and 212 or equivalent experience. Studio.
Dance 312 - Advanced Technique and Composition
Full course for one semester. This course provides advanced technical training in classic modern and contemporary movement vocabularies. Focused assignments in choreography will center on nonmusical sources for movement invention and various approaches to orchestration of movement material. With permission of the instructor, the course may be repeated as an advanced practicum. Prerequisite: Dance 211 and 212 or equivalent experience. Studio.
Dance 322 - 20th-Century American Dance
Full course for one semester. Beginning with the Diaghilev ballet and early pioneers of modern dance, this course traces the development of both modern dance and ballet in the United States. Covers the work of major 20th-century choreographers, including Balanchine, Graham, Humphrey, Weidman, Nikolais, Cunningham, and the postmodernists. Lecture-conference. Not offered 2009-10.
Dance 330 - Dance Theory and Criticism
Full course for one semester. A survey of the choreographic theories and criticism of major choreographers of the 20th century. Particular attention is given to Fokine, Balanchine, Graham, Humphrey, Cunningham, Nikolais, and the postmodern movement. Conference. Not offered 2009-10.
Dance 335 - Special Projects in Choreography: Analogous Forms
One-half or full course for one semester. This class will explore concepts, creative processes and formal concerns derived from literature, music, theater and the visual arts as ways to expand and inform the dance-making process and as bases for interdisciplinary work. Prerequisite: Dance 211 and 212, or one year of dance technique and one year of intermediate-level creative process work in movement, music, theater, writing or the visual arts. Conference/studio.
Dance 340 - Dance and Technology
One half or full course for one semester. This class will explore image-making using computer animation, video, and digital photography. There will be an emphasis on creating dance videos, with a look at important historical and living artists in the field. Students will create performance works exploring the combination of technologically created images and live performance. Prerequisite: Dance 211 and 212 (or Dance 210), one year of dance technique, or one year of intermediate-level creative work in dance, music, theatre, creative writing, or the visual arts. Studio. Not offered 2009-10.
Dance 351 - Dance Traditions of SE Asian Civilization
This course provides an in-depth study of cultural concepts for understanding the historical and artistic significance of choreographic works from Southeast Asia in the context of religion, social, and political development. We will explore classical dance forms including Peking Opera of China; court dances of Cambodia; ceremonial and ritual dances of Burma, and Indonesia; and performing arts of Vietnam; as well as contemporary Asian dance works. Students will learn small, simple excerpts of traditional dances as a base from which to explore creative processes through cultural and anthropological perspectives of Southeast Asian performing arts. Lecture/conference. Not offered 2009-10.
Dance 481 - Independent Study
One-half or full course for one semester. Prerequisite: approval of instructor and division.
The following courses are offered for PE credit only. Register for these courses under the PE department listings.
Beginning/Intermediate Ballet
Intermediate/Advanced Ballet
Ballroom Dance
Folk-dance
Hip-hop
Lindy-hop
Pilates
Tango
Yoga
Reed students my take courses at neighboring Lewis and Clarke College for credit and without charge. Please visit Reed's registrar's office for more information. Courses include:
TH 106 Fundamentals Of Movement
TH 107 Ballet I
TH 108 Contemporary Dance Forms I
TH 207 Ballet II
TH 208 Contemporary Dance Forms II
TH 214 Dance In Context: History And Criticism
TH 252 Rehearsal And Performance: Dance
TH 308 Dance Composition And Improvisation
TH 350 Dance And Performance
Reed students may spend a semester or year studying dance at Sarah Lawrence College in New York. Please visit Paul DeYoung in the international programs office for more information.