Course Syllabus

Contact Information

Instructor Name Austin artel

School of Dance

Office Hours: By appointment

Phone: 405-313-9330

Email: ahartel@ou.edu

Live Session:

Zoom link: 🚩

Meeting ID:🚩

Password: 🚩

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Course Details

For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.

Course Prerequisites 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Dance Improvisation is an introduction to dance improvisation. This course is designed to aid the student in developing skills as an improviser; providing the essential tools of movement improvisation students must comprehend, apply and manipulate in order to craft creative impulses, using the expressive language of movement as the medium. During this course, we will address and experience how movement is formed, developed and structured. We will explore our ability to convey concepts and meaning inform and inspire others through various methods of non-verbal communication.

 

COURSE CONTENT

This beginning level improvisational dance course is practice (participation) oriented. Exploration and experimentation are the primary modes of learning, and class exercises will progress from the simple to the more complex during the semester.  The class will meet for 50 minutes twice a week.

Improvisational exercises and dances in which students will explore and expand their range of movement, body awareness and creative expression. Students will work individually, in pairs, and trios, and as part of the larger group. Group discussion will often follow improvisational exercises.  

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY

The primary methods of learning for will be improvisation, individual and group movement assignments. Students will also participate in class discussions and learn through observation of their fellow students.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1.   To develop one’s personal creativity and expression through movement.

2.   To explore creative interaction through improvisational exercises, dances, and partner 

      work.

3.   To develop awareness of one’s body, movement style and dance vocabulary.

4.   To expand one’s range of movement options.

5.  To explore the relationship between dance and music.

6.   To develop the habit of journaling.

7.   To create and perform movement studies.

8.   To develop and refine the skills of talking about dance.

Attendance

1) Dance is a technical skill that cannot be learned outside of our regular class meetings or solely from a text.  Class attendance is most important in mastering the basics of any dance technique.  Only Three absences (excused or unexcused) are allowed.  Any absences exceeding this may result in a deduction of 1/2 a letter grade per absenece. Excessive absences and lateness to class will affect the final grade.

• BE ON TIME! Two tardies will be counted as one unexcused absence. 

 

3)       If you are injured, and have a doctor’s note, you may observe class and will be 

considered present.  If you are too sick to take class you can observe class and be considered present.

 

Attire

• Solid color leotards and tights or Solid color T-shirts and tights, men are required to wear dance belts.  Bare feet are a must.  All students must have formfitting clothing for class.  No baggy sweat pants of shirts unless approved by the Instructor.

 

• Hair must be secured away from the face.
• No jewelry or watches are allowed.
• Food is not allowed in the studios. Only water bottles are acceptable. NO GUM 

CHEWING.

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University Academic Policies and Student Support

Course Catalog 

Search the OU Course Catalogue.

Student Handbook

Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.

Online Library

Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.

Academic Misconduct

In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook. 

It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.

This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.

Plagiarism 

Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism. 

For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.

Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities

The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.

Students with disabilities must be registered with the Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations in this course.

If you have a disability and you would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation, please see the Graduate Student Handbook or get in touch with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center.

Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues

Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability.  Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.

Title IX Resources  

For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office at 405-325-2215 (8-5, M-F) or OU Advocates at 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident. 

Religious Holidays

It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays without penalty. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week prior to the actual date of the religious holiday.

Copyright Policy

It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and in any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or his/her authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user’s access to some or all of the university’s computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.

Registration and Withdrawal

If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of the Registrar.

Student Grievances

In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.