Category: Dance

Task: Answer does not require a paragraph, as long as question is fully answered it is ok to move on.
LABEL ALL ASSINGMENTS!
BEYOND DESCRIPTION ASSIGNMENT
Read “Writing beneath the Surface” by Deborah Jowitt. The file is attached.
Write/specify Assignment title 
# and write answers only
Please answer questions below 
What are three things you learned from this article? Why did these ideas resonate with you?
Though we focus on dance writing for this course, how can you apply the skills Jowitt discusses in her chapter to help your writing for your major/career.
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NON- DANCE DESCRIPTION ASSIGNMENT
Read “Modern and Contemporary Dance” from Learning About Dance. The file is attached below.
Tasks:
Choose one activity that includes movements from your non-dance life (e.g. washing your face, getting ready to drive, playing a sport, making a sandwich)
Describe the movements as accurately as possible. One method is the three-component description (body part-verb-adverb). Avoid using general words such as “movement,” “move,” “action,” or “gesture.” 
Edit and revise into a short narrative.
Example of three-component descriptions and the revised description: 
fingertips grasped the pencil gently
wrist glided smoothly and flicked rapidly
thumb pressed strongly
“My fingertips gently grasped the pencil intentionally and familiarly. Gliding smoothly and flicking rapidly from the wrist, I created traces of markings on the page. I was unaware that my thumb pressed too strongly causing the angular shape of the pencil to leave an indentation on my ring finger.”
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MARCH OF THE SEASONS Assignment

Watch an excerpt from March of the Seasons by Pina Bausch (0:14-1:46 only). The video is embedded below. Watch it as many times as you need to. 
Label the parts of your assignment for easy readability.
Describe the movements as accurately as possible. One method is the three-component description (body part-verb-adverb). Avoid using general words such as “movement,” “move,” “action,” or “gesture.”
Revise and edit the description into a short narrative
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Five Premises for a Culturally Sensitive Approach to Dance assignment
Read 
Five Premises for a Culturally Sensitive Approach to Dance attached below
Write/specify Assignment title 
# and write answers only
What are three things you learned from this article? Why did these ideas resonate with you?
Describe an event (either from the news or your personal history) in which people did not engage with one another in a culturally sensitive way. Explain how the event would have ended better if those involved engaged with each other in a culturally sensitive way. 

Choose one of the questions to answer. 
Answer all the parts of the question using information from your notes (from readings, micro lectures, and videos) and relevant personal experience in a 500-word essay
How has your understanding of dance as a form of communication evolved throughout this course? Provide specific examples of dances or styles that helped shape this perspective.
In what ways did exploring culturally specific dance forms impact your appreciation for the diversity and richness of dance as an art form? Describe a particular cultural dance form that resonated with you and why.
How has this class contributed to your development of cultural empathy, particularly with the exploration of culturally specific dance forms? Provide specific examples of moments or experiences that stand out to you as a significant step in understanding and appreciating the cultural context behind various dance forms.

Task: Answer does not require a paragraph, as long as question is fully answered it is ok to move on.
Select one of the videos to view. (The Kitri Variation from Don Quixote or the Act I Variation from Giselle) You will need to watch it multiple times. 
Write/specify Assignment title 
# and write answers only
Please answer questions below 
Which variation did you choose?
What specific movements or choreographic elements stood out to you in the variation? Describe the gestures, spatial pathways, and dynamics used by the dancer.
What do you think was the central message or theme conveyed through the variation? How did the movements contribute to expressing this message?
How does the content of the variation relate to the key points discussed in the corresponding reading, PlayPosit, and micro lecture? Are there specific concepts or ideas from the course materials that you noticed reflected in the variation?
What emotions or feelings did the variation evoke in you? How did the choreography or performance style contribute to these emotional responses?
Giselle – Act I Variation (Yasmine Naghdi, The Royal Ballet) (youtube.com)

DOM QUIXOTE – Kitri Variation (Royal Ballet – Marianela Núñez)

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Modern and Contemporary Dance 
Assignment
Read “Modern and Contemporary Dance” from Learning About Dance. The file is attached below.
Write/specify Assignment title 
# and write answers only
Please answer questions below 
1.     
What are the major similarities between modern
dance and post-modern dance? What are the differences? What are the
characteristics of contemporary dance?
2.     
Who do you think were or are some of the most
influential artists of the modern dance world? Why? What about post-modern and
contemporary artists?
3.     
What are the similarities and differences
between traditional modern dance and post-modern dance, and contemporary dance?
How do you define “contemporary”dance?
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“Dancemaker” (1998) assignment

Watch Dancemaker. The video link is above
Write/specify Assignment title 
# and write answers only
Please answer questions below 
Answer all parts of the questions using information from the video (with timestamps) and, if appropriate, relevant personal experience.
What are three things you learned from the film that resonated with you? What did they make you think or realize?
Taylor said, “I get my energy from being afraid, … afraid to fail.” Do you think that he intended this to be a full explanation for the source of his artistic inspiration? Why would someone have difficulty explaining the source of his artistic inspiration?
Taylor is referred to as a father figure to his dance company but he has also been called an autocrat. How would you describe the relationship between the choreographer and the dancers? In your answer, accept or reject two metaphors used in the film: (1) the company is a family and the director is the father or (2) the director is an autocrat and the company must simply do what he tells it to. Use examples from the film to support your position.

For your final project choose a dance genre/or person (associated with a particular style of dance) of interest to further investigate. Use three to five sources, outside of the textbook, and cite them with MLA format.
Here are some starting points for your outline and final paper:
• Why is this art form important?
• What are some of the historical facts about this dance?
• How and by whom was this art form performed?
• What was going on historically during the era this dance was being done/ Is this particular art form still being done today? If so what are the changes in the current form.
Your final paper should be in essay format with a minimum of 1200 words.
Below are some topic ideas for your paper, it is perfectly fine to choose someone/thing not on this list as long as long as the topic is relevant to dance history and research.
1 Mary Wigman
2 Marie Taglioni
3 Anna Pavlova
4 The Romantic Period
5 Art Nouveau
6 Alvin Ailey
7 Commedia Dell’arte
8 George Balanchine
9 Merce Cunningham
10 Rudolf Van Laban
11 Katherine Dunham
12 Marius Petipa
13 August Bournonville
14 José Límon
15 African Dances
16 Polynesian Dancs
17 East Indian Dance
18 Japanese Dance
19 Martha Graham
20 Trisha Brown
21 Maurice Béjart
22 Master Juba
23 Jerome Robbins
24 Twyla Tharp
25 Bob Fosse

Instructor instructions:
Students choose a global dance form (dance, performance, theatre, ritual, popular dance, dance in media, etc.) outside the US.
Write a 2-page (Times New Roman, double-spaced, 12 pt) analysis on the origin of the dance, its cultural significance, and what you learned from this research. Add at least two citations at the end. The citation needs to be in MLA format. 
Dance selected:
The ritual ceremony of the Voladores (‘flying men’)
Citations
https://lolomercadito.com/blogs/news/voladores-de-papantla-an-awe-inspiring-tradition
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.erudit.org/en/journals/ethno/2014-v36-n1-2-ethno02680/1037617ar.pdf

For this assignment: describe the most exciting or surprising thing you learned from what you found. Why was this exciting or surprising? How did what you found relate to you personally and culturally?
Things to consider:
In the last module 2: Africa and the Diaspora, you learned about the Griot – African storytellers as people who pass down historical and cultural knowledge to generations. How do you see the African diaspora in South and Latin American dances?
How do you see people preserving the stories of their culture or history within the movement of dance in Latin America?
How is this similar or different from African cultures?
How is the culture preserved or expressed in your own culture today (whether your own culture is American or otherwise)?
Are you comfortable with searching for resources online and reading articles to search for important points?
Is there anything else you wish you have more practice doing?
Is there a particular topic or dance form that really interests you for the final project?
This journal entry must be two full pages in length, double spaced, 1-inch margins in 12-point font of Times new Roman. Points will be taken off for inadequate work under this requirement.
Note about personal journals: personal journals may be written in slightly less formal language. You may use the first person and second person pronouns (I, me, you, your) and use informal language. This reflective portion is to get your ideas out in writing from the experience of activities you had to do in this module.

Compose a response that addresses the following prompts: 
Zar and sema are dance practices with different approaches to the concept of spiritual embodiment. Describe and analyze this component in each of the traditions. 
Identify and analyze an example of spiritual embodiment in your cultural communities. 
Compare and contrast these cultural practices
Recommended outline of paper:
First Paragraph: Opening that introduces the concept of spiritual embodiment and the three cultural dance practices you are going to describe and analyze in the paper.  
Second, Third, and Fourth Paragraphs: Vividly describe and analyze the concept of spiritual embodiment within zar, sema, and your cultural communities, drawing on information from the text, lectures, and videos. You are welcome to compare and contrast as you go, organizing paragraphs around an idea. You are also welcome to describe each of the practices one at a time in separate paragraphs and then finish with a comparison and contrast paragraph. 
Fifth Paragraph: Conclusion that summarizes your main ideas succinctly  

The origins of dance are ancient and difficult to pinpoint to a specific time or place because dance is a universal human activity found in all cultures throughout history. Here are some details about the origins and evolution of dance:
1. **Prehistoric Times**: Dance likely originated in prehistoric times, serving as a form of communication, ritual, and expression. Cave paintings in India, dated around 9,000 years old, depict dancing figures.
2. **Ancient Civilizations**: – **Egypt**: Dance was integral to religious rituals and ceremonies. Ancient Egyptian tomb paintings from as early as 3300 BCE show dancers.
– **Greece**: In ancient Greece, dance was part of religious ceremonies, theatrical performances, and social activities. It was often associated with the god Dionysus.
– **India**: Indian dance traditions, such as Bharatanatyam, have roots that go back thousands of years, often tied to Hindu rituals and mythology.
3. **Cultural Significance**: – Dance has been used in ceremonies and rituals across various cultures, including Native American tribes, African tribes, and Asian cultures. These dances often have specific meanings and are performed to honor deities, celebrate harvests, or mark significant life events.
4. **Medieval and Renaissance Europe**: Dance evolved into more structured forms in Europe, including court dances like the minuet and the pavane. These dances were often accompanied by specific music and were an important part of social and courtly life

nstructions
Research Project: Exploring the Life and Contributions of Rudolf Von Laban 
Introduction:  
Begin by introducing Rudolf Von Laban, providing a brief overview of his life, his contributions to the field of dance, and his significance in the history of dance. 
Biography: 
Provide a detailed biography of Rudolf Von Laban, including information about his early life, education, career in dance, and any significant events or influences that shaped his work. Include information about his major works, publications, and collaborations with other artists. 
Theory and Methodology: 
Explain Laban’s key theories and methodologies related to dance, movement, and choreography. Discuss concepts such as Labanotation, Laban Movement Analysis (LMA), and Effort/Shape theory, and how they have influenced the understanding and teaching of dance. Provide examples of choreographers, dancers, or dance companies who have been influenced by Laban’s work. 
Conclusion: 
Summarize the key findings of your research and reflect on the ongoing relevance of Laban’s ideas in contemporary dance. 
References/Bibliography: 
Include a list of sources used for your research.  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18dRlUrNcwBAZqoG6UEVJoLregozChH1A/view?usp=drivesdk      This article needs to watch video materials to complete. The following information is an introduction to the video .Thank you                  
Write a 2-4 page paper.
Choose 3 dance pieces.
Include a review and description of what you see.
Use writing guideline from the “Dance Concert Report Guidelines” in Writing Guidelines folder in Files
In upper left corner write your name, instructor’s name, class with section number, and date:
Name:
Instructors: Sri Susilowati
Dance 2, Section ####
Date: __/__/___
Use correct tense when writing about something you have already seen.
Use spell check and proof read your work.
Times New Roman 12 font, double space, 1” margin, aligned left.
In upper left corner write your name, instructor’s name, class with section number, and date:
Name:
Instructors: Sri Susilowati
Dance 2, Section ####
Date: __/__/___
• All papers must be minimum 2 pages, maximum 4 pages.
• Use spell check and proof read your work.
• Use correct tense when writing about something you have already seen.
• Indent each paragraph.
• Times New Roman 12 font, double space, 1” margin, aligned left.
• This must be turned in by the deadline on the course syllabus; no late papers will be accepted.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Below are the details and examples. Please make sure you use your own wording not just copying and pasting the
example.
Intro/Opening Paragraph:
Performance Information: title of work, company, choreographer, and dancers (when appropriate), the date you
saw the performance and the name of the theater (if applicable) plus a brief overview.
Ø Briefly describe who, what, where, and when.
Example for video or virtual performance:
I watched Global Motion performance that was streamed online on November 30, 2020. There were six dance
works presented, each about different feelings and unrelated to each other. These six pieces were Philippines
dance “Remember” choreographed by Toni Pasion, Tahitian dance “E Revi” choreographed by Keali’i
Ceballos, … and so on”
Paragraph 2-4:
Discuss 3 pieces in depth. Briefly state why you liked it or disliked it. Make sure to give specific examples to
validate your opinion of why you felt that way.
Ø Context: provides history when needed, to help the reader understand the value of the work.
Ø Descriptive language: describe what you saw- themes, content.
Ø Personal Perspective: how you as the reviewer responded to the video, and supporting examples to WHY you
had the reaction.
Ø Apply any applicable information and/or theories from this course: you may recognize a style or genre of
movement that we studied and choose to reference it when appropriate. For example: the theories on gender,
sexuality, other social issues.
Paragraph 5:
Conclusion: briefly state what you learned from this experience in the humanities. Was this what you had
expected and why? Was this a show you would recommend to others and why?
_____________________________________________________________________________
Notes on using Chat GPT:
• Please use Chat GPT with discretion and only use it to help with grammatical errors, typos and punctuation.
• Don’t use Chat GPT to write your paper. ChatGPT technically doesn’t come up with an original idea but
rather puts together a collection of information from the internet, including websites, books, news articles,
and more. Therefore, if you use ChatGPT to write your paper, Turnitin will see that as plagiarism.
• Turnitin is installed for plagiarism review.
• Paper with a plagiarism score of 10% or more will not be accepted. Note on Work Cited:
If you cite information from any sources, please put the citation in your paper and then write source of your
citation at the bottom of your paper. This includes citing information from the show’s program book, such as:
the name of dancers, choreographers, musicians, etc. For example:
Work Cited:
Jane C. Desmond. “Embodying Difference: Issues in Dance and Cultural Studies.” Cultural Critique
Journal, No. 26 (Winter, 1993-1994). University of Minnesota Press. 1993.
Global Motion. Program Book, Fall 2019.
www.smc.edu/academics/academic-departments/dance/performances.php