Beginning Modern Dance
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Created by Movement Specialist Nicole Byrne


Learn to move your body
Challenge the mind-body connection...
Zealous dancing can unite a community and enrich the mind, body, and spirit of each person involved.

DESCRIPTION: Customized for the beginner and non-dancer alike, this course incorporates postmodern dance ideals and establishes efficient movement patterns allowing you to dance with your whole being. The class will explore time, shape, energy, space, and quality of movement.

TIME COMMITMENT: 1 hour a week

CONTRACT HOURS: $35 per month or $10 drop-in

INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD: Demonstration/Improvisation/TV Media/Live Performance

MAJOR LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The student will:

1. Exhibit comprehension of time, shape, energy, space and quality as they relate to movement phrases.

2. Build body awareness, self-expression, self-confidence, and performance quality.

3. Increase flexibility, creativity, musicality, and expressive capacities.

4. Infuse given movement phrases with your personal approach utilizing improvisation.

5. Create solo and/or group compositions.

OUTLINE OF COURSE CONTENT:
A. Dance Warm-up
B. Center work
C. Traveling through space
D. Choreographed phrases
E. Improvisational exercises
F. Community building exercises
G. Performance preparation (optional)

COURSE OUTLINE:
o An introduction to Dance and Movement
o Efficient use of the body
o Shape, space, time, energy/effort
o Improvisation experimentation
o Group collaboration vs. individual efforts

Class Information

What type of class do you want to offer?
Beginning Modern Dance

Class Description: Dance Warm-up, learn beginning footwork techniques, center- balance work in the center of the room, across the floor movement- creating traveling possibilities and bigger movement, encourage students to add their own expression to the given movement. Stretch/Cool-down.

Age group(s) designed for:
Teens, adults, families

How many hours will the class require to complete?
1 hour a week

What are your goals for the participants?
The goal is to build physical, mental and emotional health. To increase body awareness, coordination, stimulate senses, spark creativity, build community and self-confidence. Develop improvisational tools of manipulation, trust and sensory awakening. Exhibit comprehension of time, shape, energy, space and quality as they relate to movement phrases. Demonstrate general physical skills such as: muscular strength and control, endurance, balance, timing, sense of body in space, proper physical carriage, and musicality.

What specific skills will participants learn?
Body awareness, physical expression, improvisation, musicality, and physicality. Learning the basics of dance and movement is a life-skill that will give participants an appreciation for the visual arts.

What kind of facility do you need?
A clean studio with sprung floors. Mirrors are not necessary but a sufficient sound system for the playing of CDs is required.

How many participants could you instruct and still maintain a quality program with an enjoyable atmosphere?
20 students is the maximum for this course. Any more people and the movement is restricted, prohibiting the total-body experience.

Describe your background and expertise level relating to this class proposal:
I am a passionate dancer and teacher hoping to share the joy of movement with others. My education in dance and the moving body includes modern, ballet, hip hop, jazz, body conditioning, kinesiology, injury prevention, and special needs.