Applied Methods: Creative & Social Dance

Creative Dance

1. Historical and Theoretical Factors in Creative Dance
• Origin and historical development of creative dance
• Concept and scope of the creative dance          
2. Fundamental Factors for Effective Performance
• Affective, cognitive, and psychomotor elements in creative and social dance settings
• Fundamental Movement Patterns using the Laban’s Movement Analysis framework
3. Fundamental Concepts of Creative Dance
• Physical attention and relaxation
• Use the body expressively
• Move safely in both personal and general space
• Move in a variety of levels, pathways, and directions, using a variety of body shapes
• Move in time to a variety of rhythms, metres, and tempos
• Balance in movements
• Dance techniques associated with particular genres
• Principles of movement (alignment, balance, flexibility, strength, rhythm, tempo, breathing, etc.)
• Basic proficiency in building genre choreography
• Fitness, health, and safety consideration to movement
4. Fundamental Movement Concepts of Laban’s Movement Analysis
• Weight
• Time
• Flow
• Body awareness
• Personal space
• General space          
5. Creative process and choreography
• Understanding of the creative process and its relation to dance creation and ultimate expression
• Transition from individual creative dance to group, and choreography of presentations

Social Dance

1. Historical and Theoretical Factors in Social Dance
• Origin and historical development of social dance
• Understand and organize variety of movement vocabulary that will contribute to effective performance in social dance          
2. Fundamental Factors for Effective Performance
• Affective, cognitive, and psychomotor elements in creative and social dance settings
• Fundamental Movement Patterns using the Laban’s Movement Analysis framework                    
3. Creative process and choreography
• Physical attention and relaxation
• Use the body expressively
• Move safely in both personal and general space
• Move in a variety of levels, pathways, and directions, using a variety of body shapes
• Move in time to a variety of rhythms, metres, and tempos
• Balance in movements
• Dance techniques associated with particular genres
• Principles of movement (alignment, balance, flexibility, strength, rhythm, tempo, breathing, etc.)
• Fitness, health, and safety consideration to movement
• Ability to construct a dance performance with a group that communicates an intent, specific subject or theme
• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively in a large group, and the ability to self-reflect and evaluate the process
4. Techniques and Movement Patterns in Social Dance
• Posture, centering, and frame alignment
• Music structure and ear-foot coordination
• Partner dynamics and etiquette
• Basis steps, transitions, and variations
• Foxtrot
• Swing
• Waltz
• Polka
• Cha-cha   
5. Observation and Analysis Methods and Procedures
• Scope: components of observation and analysis
• Approaches: types and methods of observation and analysis
• Qualitative and quantitative analysis
• Error detection, prioritizing, and correction
• Analyzing individual performance
6. Instructional Strategies and Professional Development
• Alternative teaching and coaching approaches
• Class management strategies
• Progressions and sequencing
• Principles of effective instruction
• Assessment and observational skills