Dance Course Descriptions
Scroll down to read descriptions of the dance courses offered at Carthage, or click on these links for additional resources:
Applied Dance: Ballet I
DNC 1041 / 1 credit
Beginning ballet instruction in fundamental movement including ballet positions and barre and center exercises. Open to all students. Fulfills general education requirement for Exercise and Sport Science experience and is a graded course.
Fall
Applied Dance: Tap I
DNC 1043 / 1 credit
Beginning tap dance skill in steps at the barre and on the floor. Open to all students. Fulfills general education requirement for Exercise and Sport Science experience and is a graded course.
Fall/Spring
Applied Dance: Jazz I
DNC 1044 / 1 credit
Beginning level instruction in the fundamentals of jazz dance, including jazz positions, barre and center exercises, progressions, and longer movement combinations. Open to all students. Fulfills general education requirement for Exercise and Sport Science experience and is a graded course.
Fall
Applied Dance: Modern
DNC 1047 / 1 credit
This course offers a form of contemporary theatrical and concert dance employing a special technique for developing the use of the entire body in movements expressive of abstract ideas. Each class begins with a structured warm-up designed to prepare the entire body for full-out moving. Center combinations, turning, partnering, small jumps, and leaps, as well as traveling across the floor, develop a strong foundation for future study. Fufills general education requirement for EXS experience and is a graded course.
Fall
Pilates
DNC 1050 / 1 credit
In this course, students will be given instruction in fundamental Pilates mat exercises focusing on coordination, posture, body awareness, and strength. The specific approach designed for this course will emphasize neutral spine and proper pelvic alignment to improve core stability and overall health. Open to all students.This course fulfills the EXS experience requirement.
Spring
Dance Theory and Practices
DNC 1120 / 2 credits
Dance Theory and Practices surveys concert dance in America and establishes dance as a form of expression and creativity. Through readings, discussions, and practice, students will experience a variety of dance forms and learn about the contexts from which they emerged. Each class will begin with time to tune in and warm up and will follow with stylistic lessons and/or explorations within improvisational structures.
Fall
Applied Dance: Ballet II
DNC 2041 / 1 credit
Continued ballet instruction in floor combinations and beginning allegro and adagio. Fulfills general education requirement for Exercise and Sport Science experience and is a graded course. Prerequisites: DNC 1041 and consent of the instructor.
Spring
Applied Dance: Tap II
DNC 2043 / 1 credit
Tap II is a continuation of tap technique instruction for students who have a foundation in tap technique. Students will further develop technical skills through classwork that includes progressions, stylized routines, and combinations that build on tap skills level I as well as reflect various stylistic and historical influences. This class fulfills the general education requirement for Exercise and Sport Science experience and is a graded course.
Prerequisite: DNC 1043 or consent of Instructor
Spring
Applied Dance: Jazz II
DNC 2044 / 1 credit
Continued jazz dance instruction in a variety of steps and combinations including floor combinations and stylized dances. Fulfills general education requirement for Exercise and Sport Science experience and is a graded course.
Prerequisite: DNC 1044 or consent of instructor
Applied Dance: Modern II
DNC 2047 / 1 credit
This course offers continued instruction in modern technique. Classes will incorporate both floor and standing exercises, progressions that travel through space, and longer movement combinations.
Prerequisite: DNC 1047
Applied Dance Styles
DNC 2051 / 1 credit
An applied dance course with variable content that provides students the opportunity to experience and apply unique dance inquiries.
Prerequisite: Any level I applied dance course or instructor permission
Dance Theory and Composition I
DNC 2060 / 2 credits
Dance Theory and Composition navigates the creative process of dance making through reflection, exploration, and composition. Students will explore a variety of approaches in dance composition and will consider and discuss the concepts, choices, and craft of other dance makers. This course will culminate in an informal presentation of dance works.
Prerequisite: DNC 1120 or consent of the instructor
Spring
Dance Choreography and Repertory
DNC 2070 / 2 credits
Dance Choreography and Repertory is a performance and choreography course that continues skills developed in applied dance technique, improvisation, and theory and composition courses. The course provides students opportunities to further understand modes of choreographic and performance inquiry and will culminate in a final performance presentation.
Prerequisite: DNC 1120 or consent of instructor
Spring
Advanced Ballet
DNC 3041 / 1 credit
A continuation and extension of the techniques learned in Ballet I and II, including application of more difficult elements of the ballet style. Each class will include barre, port de bras, center barre, adagio, petit allegro, grand allegro, and entournant. Discussions will include theory and history of ballet as it applies to the styles being studied. This course fulfills the general education requirement for Exercise and Sport Science experience and is a graded course. This course can be repeated for credit.
Prerequisites: DNC 2041 and consent of instructor
Fall
Advanced Jazz
DNC 3044 / 1 credit
This course will build upon the technical foundation of Jazz I and Jazz II. Students will further develop jazz dance skills through class work that includes warm-up exercises, progressions, and combinations that progress beyond intermediate level skills and reflect specific stylistic and historical influences. This course fulfills the general education requirement for Exercise and Sport Science experience and is a graded course. This course can be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: DNC 2044
Spring
Dance History
DNC 3050 / 4 credits
This course is designed to provide a contextual understanding of American concert dance from the early 1900s until today. The course will look at significant artists and works that have influenced and shaped dance in America, including those within the styles of ballet, modern, jazz, and music theatre. Through reading, discussion, written work, and independent research, students will develop an understanding of the historical threads that have converged into the multiplicity of American concert dance today.
Prerequisite: DNC 1120 or consent of instructor
Spring
Anatomy and Physiology
BIO 1040 / 4 credits
A study of structure and function of organs and systems of the human body. This course is designed for students interested in Exercise and Sport Science or Dance, or those looking to fulfill the general education lab science requirement. This course does not count toward the biology major. Lecture and laboratory.
Fall/Spring
Exploring Music
MUS 1150 / 4 credits
This course intends to enable students to learn the basic language needed to talk and write about music; to be able to recognize and differentiate the standard styles, structures, and mediums of music; and to appreciate different styles of music in their cultural contexts.