Dance Program: Course Descriptions

51 Dance Movement and Creative Process
Put JAZZ in your body. Vigorous non-level movement, group processes, and creative problem solving culminating in ensemble jamming using jazz-like processes. World Dance videos provide a context for non-stylized materials. No prerequisite.
1 Credit.

53 Beginning Modern Dance
For students who have little to no formal dance training. Vocabulary, discipline, and appreciation of modern dance as an art form. Development of flexibility, strength, balance, and coordination through warm-ups and and combinations. Collaborative creative work. No prerequisite.
.5 course credit.

54 Beginning Ballet with Creative Work
Introduction to basic ballet vocabulary through the practice of traditional barre and center work. Contextualization of ballet with brief assignments involving history or aesthetics. Creative applications of ballet techniques in introductory compositional problems.
.5 course credit. 

55 Intermediate Modern Dance
Modern dance technique adapted for those with basic training in a movement discipline such as ballet, jazz or another cultural form. Explores performance qualities such as rhythm, musicality, partnering, and group dynamics. Creative opportunities and appreciation of performance. Two repeats by permission.
.5 course credit.

56 Intermediate Ballet with Creative Work
For students with prior ballet training, continuing with traditional barre and center work on an intermediate level. Contextualization of ballet with brief assignments involving history or aesthetics. Creative applications of ballet techniques in varied compositional problems.
.5 course credit.

57 Advanced Dance Technique
For students with substantial dance training in modern and/or ballet. Modern-oriented technique, combinations, and creative studies. Aesthetic context addressed in additional assignments. May be repeated.
.5 course credit.

58 Tufts Dance Ensemble
For students with significant dance technique experience. Creative collaboration with a Boston-based professional choreographer on a work to be performed in the Arena Theater. Warm-ups included. Aesthetic context of the work developed through several short assignments. May be repeated for credit.
.5 course credit.

61 West African Ewe Dances
Traditional dances of the Ewe people of West Africa (Ghana). The movement style ranges from dances with vigorous torso movements to those with graceful arching gestures of the arms. Songs and drumming included. The class will culminate in a performance with the Tufts African Music Ensemble (Kiniwe).
.5 course credit.

62 West African Dagomba Dances
Traditional dances of the Dagomba people of West Africa (Ghana). Styles range from Dances with graceful twirling to those with vigorous hip shimmying. Costumes from Africa provided. Songs and drumming included. Ending performance with the African Music Ensemble under the performing name "Kiniwe." Spring.
.5 course credit.

63 Introduction to Kathak Dance
Introduction to this classical dance-theatre of North India. Basic movements, footwork patterns, spins, rhythms, and abhinaya (story-telling). Cultural context and historical background interwoven. For complete novices and those with some experience.
.5 course credit.

91, 92 Varied Studio Forms
Check with department for descriptions. Prerequisite; consent.
.5 course credit.

117 Studies in Dance Composition
Completion of varied composition assignments representing twentieth-century methods. Includes aesthetic context, weekly lab work, and analysis. Culminates in performance. Prerequisite: Dance 51 or consent. One-half or one course credit. (Every other year).
.5-1 course credit.

184 Viewing African-American Dance
(Cross-listed as American Studies 184)
Introduction to African-American concert dance, history, creative process, and critical response. Choreographers and companies include Dunham, Ailey, Jones, Dance Theater of Harlem; the influence on them from African, Caribbean, and European cultures. Influence of biological determinism, race, and racism on the critical response to African-American dance. Critical thinking methods from science and art as tools for student responses to choreography.
1.0 course credit.

191/192 Advanced Dance Studies (Fall or Spring)
Guided independent work on papers, theses, and senior composition projects, or advanced special special topics courses. Half or full credit pending scope of each project or course. Please contact department for specific details. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.