IAC Convocation August 31st 2006

Movement/Dance

FAVORITE PRACTICES:

#1.  Biography: Student turns in a brief bio on themselves, what they are
studying, dance background or lack there of, a little about themselves, and
what they expect to get out of the class.

This practice helps me to know their names and get a feel for their
personalities.

#2.  Attendance:  constitutes nearly 1/2 their grade in most of my technique
classes.  Dance is learned through repetition and this acquisition of skill
creates confidence and trust.

#3. Dance concert and Museum attendance:  This provides an opportunity for
critical thinking, articulation and support arguments drawing from prior
knowledge.  Aesthetic perceptions of art are challenged in the museum and
relationships to dance and art are required.

#4.  Written midterm- assessing the verbal directions and terminology
related to dance.

#5.  Movement final- demonstrating gross motor skill achievement  of
standard dance movement vocabulary, strength, balance, flexibility, and
rhythmic and artistic perception.

Other practices typically related to an advanced class:

Regional studies: students pick a region in the world and research dance and
dance related employment as if they are really going to move there. This
paper includes maps of region, money and transportation systems, cost of
living, living quarters and expense and of course dance companies and
related work.

Anatomical studies:  Students pick an area of their body and research injury
prevention, anatomy and function, related anatomy, treatment both western an
holistic.

Hope this helps to address our assessment tools in dance.
I will leave student examples of regional and anatomical studies