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 (PE) (AI) (WEL)
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 (PE) (AI) (WEL)
DNC 1043 / 1 credit
A beginning level course that honors and explores the history and traditions of Tap, an American Vernacular art form. Exercises and progressions will culminate into longer phrases of choreography that will guide students to create their own rhythmic compositions and improvisations. In this course, students will gain the tools needed to confidently connect rhythms of the feet and body to the timing of music. Fulfills general education requirement for Exercise and Sport Science experience and is a graded course.
Fall/Spring
Applied Dance: Jazz I (PE) (AI) (WEL)
DNC 1044 / 1 credit
Beginning level course that honors and explores the history and expressions of Jazz dance. Exercises and progressions will culminate into longer phrases of choreography, and students will have opportunities to develop their own voice using jazz dance as a creative movement language. Fulfills general education requirement for Exercise and Sport Science experience and is a graded course.
Fall
Applied Dance: Modern I (PE) (AI) (WEL)
DNC 1047 / 1 credit
A beginning level course that integrates connections between fundamental movement principles and the historic, cultural, and physical language of Modernist Dance. Classes will incorporate both floor and standing exercises that culminate into longer phrases of choreography. In this course, students will have opportunities to apply improvisational and compositional elements to their study of Modern Dance as they develop their own movement expressions.
Fall
Dance Theory and Practices (AI)
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 (PE) (AI) (WEL)
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 (PE) (AI) (WEL)
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 (PE) (AI) (WEL)
DNC 2044 / 1 credit
This course is a continuation of Jazz dance exploring related concepts with more depth and acceleration. Exercises and progressions will culminate into longer phrases of choreography, and students will have opportunities to develop their own voice using jazz dance as a creative movement language. Fulfills general education requirement for Exercise and Sport Science experience and is a graded course.
Prerequisite: DNC 1044 or consent of instructor
Spring
Applied Dance: Modern II (PE) (AI) (WEL)
DNC 2047 / 1 credit
This course offers continued instruction movement inquiries that nurture connections between fundamental movement principles and the historic, cultural, and physical language of Modernist Dance. Classes will incorporate both floor and standing exercises that culminate into longer phrases of choreography. In this course, students will have opportunities to apply improvisational and compositional elements to their study of Modern Dance as they develop their own movement expressions.
Prerequisite: DNC 1047
Spring
Applied Dance Styles (PE)
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 (AI)
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 (AI) (WEL)
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 (PE) (AI) (WEL)
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 (PE)
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 (CL)
DNC 3050 / 4 credits
This course is designed to deepen knowledge of contemporary concert dance. The course will thematically examine contemporary choreographic explorations and consider diverse perspectives. Students will develop an understanding of the contextual threads that form contemporary concert dance through multiple research modalities.
Prerequisite: DNC 1120 or consent of instructor
Spring
Human Anatomy and Physiology (LAB SCI)
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 (FAR) (AI)
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.