Vista School

Mrs. Maynes rmaynes@vistautah.com http://my.uen.org/myuen/87173

Dance/Theatre 3rd Grade

A or B Day - every other day Course Description:
Dance/Theatre 3 is an exposure to all types of dance, with an emphasis on connecting to other subjects. It also introduces basic theatre skills, dramatic storytelling, playmaking, acting, and understanding art forms. This course will teach technique and terminology, creative movement, improvisation, and choreography, the elements of dance, how dance and theatre relate to historical and cultural origins, and that dance and theatre can be used as an instrument to learn other curriculums. Students will have 50-minute classes twice a week and 35-minute classes every other Friday. In this time, students will be preparing for combined Performing Arts concerts, held twice each year.

Curriculum:
The curriculum will be a combination of American Academy of Ballet, Utah State Third Grade Dance and Theatre Curriculum and cross-curricular lessons. A broad overview of the year-long curriculum can be found on my UEN site at http://my.uen.org/myuen/87173

Course Objective:
1) Participate safely and regularly in warm-up activities followed by strengthening, endurance, and flexibility exercises. 2) Identify and execute axial and locomotor steps. 3) Expand dance vocabulary with movement experiences in time. 4) Expand dance vocabulary with movement experiences in space. 5) Expand dance vocabulary with movement experiences using the basic qualities of energy and motion. 6) Explore the process of making a dance. 7) Create and discuss movement solutions derived from movement exploration. 8) Perform and understand dances and singing games from different time periods and cultures. 9) Recognize and use the language of dance in world culture. 10) Make connections between dance and other disciplines. 11) Be exposed to and develop skills in multiple dance styles. 12) Plan, with teacher, interrelated characters in a classroom dramatization. 13) Plan, with the teacher, dialogue and physical attributes for characters experiencing high tension. 14) Plan, with the teacher, alternative endings to a familiar story. 15) Develop body awareness and spatial perception through movement and pantomime. 16) Develop expressive use of the voice. 17) Develop body sensory awareness and sensory recall. 18) Develop cooperation and patience when working with others in classroom dramatizations.

19) Understand and practice appropriate audience behavior when attending live theatre. 20) Understand the use of visual, aural, oral, and kinetic elements in live theatre. 15) Gain experience in performing. 16) Discover the joy of performing and appreciate the capabilities and talents of the individual.

Class Expectations:
1) Treat others kindly in words and actions. 2) Come to class ready to participate. 3) Keep all food, gum, drinks, shoes, outside of the dance area.

Uniform Expectations:
Students are not required to change into dance attire for this class. However, uniform clothing should permit freedom of movement (e.g., not too tight, loose, or short.) Girls should wear shorts under skirts or dresses. All students need to be barefoot or wear ballet or jazz shoes. Girls should not wear tights on dance days.

Grading:
Daily Points: 3 points per day: 1 point - attendance Students receive one point each day they attend class. I often teach something new each class period and missing a day is nearly impossible to make-up, as class work often involves working as a group. 1 point - uniform Students are in uniform, but able to move freely and be barefoot or have dance shoes. 1 point - participation/effort In class participation is essential to the growth and development of learning. This includes, but is not limited to warm up, improvisation, creating solo and group choreography, learning choreography, class discussions, peer evaluations, and in class assignments and assessments. Not only do students need to be participating, but they need to be fully engaged in each class.

Choreography Assignments:
At least three times each year students will be asked to choreograph a short movement sequence and perform it for their class. Movement sequences will be based on (1) a work of literature, (2) a visual art piece, and (3) a science topic. Some sequences will be choreographed in a small group and some will be independent works. The assignments will vary in point values, but students will be given a rubric to know how to score the maximum points.

Writing Assignments:
Writing about what the students are doing in class helps to process the information and remember it. Students will be given a notebook on the first Friday of their class. The notebook will be kept in the studio and used for weekly writing assignments, reflections, and other written assignments throughout the year. Writing is graded as a regular day with 3 points possible.

Performances:

Dance and Theatre are performing arts, and therefore performances are of vital importance. Students will perform in a concert in the late fall and again in the spring. Please make every effort to ensure that your child attends these performances. If there are extenuating circumstances, please address them individually with your teacher.

Make-up Work:
No make-up work will be accepted after the end of each semester. If a student is absent they have the opportunity of making up all three missed points in the following manner. Attend a live dance concert, play or musical (school, university or professional). Send an email telling me what your student attended. Alternatively, your student can view a video of a dance production, play or musical and fill out a review sheet that is available on my UEN site at http://my.uen.org/myuen/87173. Points lost for inappropriate attire or lack of participation may not be made up.

Important Information:
The student, parent, and/or guardian should understand that because of the physical nature inherent in the participation of dance, there is a potential rick of physical injury. The goal is to eliminate as many risks as possible and provide the safest program for all concerned. In doing so, we ask for your full cooperation in following your instructors guidelines for safe activity. In order for the dance student to get the most out of their education there will be times for correction. This can be made verbally, but there will be instances where physical correction is the best method to correct technique. This would be used to correct posture, line of the legs, arms or feet, or position on the floor. Please let us know if you have any problems or discord with the teachers making these corrections in class. We want to know if you or your child is uncomfortable with touch and we will make sure to make an exception. Please Note: The students growth and understanding in dance could be compromised by not allowing the instructor to physically correct the child. Please sign and return this portion of the disclosure statement.

______________________________________________________________________ Parent Signature Print Parent Name Date

Medical History Do you have any health problems that may limit your activity? Please list below. ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

__________________I do NOT agree with the instructor using touch to correct my child. Parent Signature