Course Syllabus

Central Academy of Technology and Arts

Performing Arts Academy / Dance

2017- 2018

 Dance Educator: Allison Cyphers

allison.cyphers@ucps.k12.nc.us

Planning: Third Period ( 1st Semester) ; Second Period (2nd Semester)

Tutoring: 3:30 pm- 4:30 ; Tuesday and Thursday 

 

Policies and Guidelines

 

Dance III Honors will master the following:

Use choreographic principles, structures, and processes to create dances that communicate ideas, experiences, feelings, and images.

Understand how to use performance values (kinesthetic awareness, concentration, focus and etiquette) to enhance dance performance.

Understand how to use movement skills in dance.

Use a variety of thinking skills to analyze and evaluate dance.

Understand cultural, historical, and interdisciplinary connections with dance.

Absences:

The student is responsible for make-up any work missed due to absence. It is the student’s responsibility to get missed work, assignments, or announcements given out during their absence. It is not the teacher's’ responsibility to ask the student to hand in the work. Two days will be allowed ( for excused absences) to get work in. In addition , the student is to complete an article critique to make- up for the lost points in their absence.

 

Article Critique: Find an article that is a minimum of two pages in length about dance from a dance

magazine dated no later than 2007. Read the article, prepare a two-page critique following the guidelines for MLA style of writing, and deliver a short class presentation on the article. The critique must be typed using a 12 point font, one inch margins, and double spaced. The reference page should follow the guidelines for

MLA style of writing. Be sure to answer the following questions thoughtfully and completely. Turn in the critique along with a copy of the article.

1. The first paragraph should be an introduction.
2. The second paragraph should summarize the article with all events in chronological order.
3. The third paragraph should explain what you find interesting about the article using examples.
4. The fourth paragraph should give your opinion of the article:

• How well the article was written
• Did the author(s) discuss everything they promised in the article’s introduction?
• What are the article’s shortcomings?
• Did the author(s) provide enough background information?
• Were there adequate and appropriate examples and illustration?
• The fifth paragraph should be a conclusion.

Injuries and Illness:

If a student is not feeling well and cannot dance, a note from a doctor must be given to the teacher in order to be excused from class otherwise they will be sent to the nurse. is a student is injured and cannot dance for a certain period of time , a doctor’s note must be given to the teacher in order to be excused. Students must still get dressed for class and an alternate assignment will be given in place of physically taking class. For long term illness a doctor's note is required stating the day he or she will not be allowed to dance and when they are able to participate again. Menstruation , menstrual cramps, and being tired/ sore are not reasons to sit out of class.

 

Class Representative:

Each grade will choose 2 classmates to represent their class. Duties will include: taking pictures, keeping class informed, help organize class activities, helping with performances, running errands, etc..

 

Field Trips:

Throughout the school year dancers will be taking educational field trips to view performances, college visits and participate in workshops and residencies. While on field trips, unless otherwise instructed, students are prohibited to wear jeans, flip flops, or sneakers. All field trips are non- refundable, unless otherwise instructed.

 

Scheduled Dance Performances                                     

• November  17th & 18st                            Covered Canvas ( Fall semester concert)
• December  1th                                                    Winter Collaborative
• March  23rd and   24th                                         Student Choreography Concert
• May  18th & 19th                                           (Spring semester Concert)

 

The Central Academy Dance Program relies on parent participation for success. The following volunteer jobs are needed in order to help facilitate our program needs.

• Box Office- Selling tickets at performances
• Concessions- selling and organization of food and drinks
• House Managers - collecting tickets at the door.
• Video- we need help finding a reliable videographer and scheduling them for our performances.
• Chaperons ( must go through UCPS for verification )

If you are available, please let me know which of these you are willing and able to help with.



Studio Expectations

• Do not touch sound system or television without teachers permission
• The teachers office is off limits to students
• Shoes that are harmful to the dance floor cannot be worn in the dance studio
• Visitors/ Friends are not allowed in the classroom , without the prior consent from the teacher
• Students are not allowed in the studio when it is not your class time
• Passes cannot be written to excuse you from your academic classes ( unless otherwise instructed)
• Students are not allowed to use dance to finish incomplete assignments for other classes.
• No sitting during class time , unless instructed to do so
• Limit the amount of talking during instruction.
• Respect yourself and others.
• Respect the dance space, keep it clean.
• Personal hygiene is a must.
• For safety reasons, no jewelry or long nails.
• No cell phone use during class.
• Always have a water bottle.
• No food or drink in the storage area.
• Do not brush hair in the studio

                                           Classroom Grading Procedures

100-93   A

92- 85    B

84- 77    C

76- 69    D

 

Missing assignments will receive a grade of 1 in powerschool until made up. Assignments given a 0 in powerschool may not be made up.

 

Participation and Dress Code: 25%

This grade is based on the student’s participation as observed by the teacher in class. Every dancer is is expected to participate in every class. Students are expected to follow the dress code and are given a grade everyday. After August 30nd , if the student is not dressed properly he or she will receive a zero for that day. Abuse of the dress code will result in removal from a performance.

 

Dress Code:

Monday : Ladies- Black leotard , pink or black tights, ballet shoes

               Gentlemen - White or black fitted top, black tights , ballet shoes

 

Tuesday: Ladies- Black leotard, black footless tights

                Gentlemen - White or black fitted top, black jazz or fitted sweat pants

Wednesday: Same as Tuesday

Thursday: Ladies- Colored leotard, black tights

                 Gentlemen: Colored fitted top, black jazz pants or sweats

Friday : Loose fitting dance clothes permitted ( No belly, breast, or buttocks showing)

 

Getting dress includes the following:

• Hair must be up and away from the face
• Correct dance shoes for all classes
• NO JEWELRY
• Gentlemen must wear dance belts
• No extra clothing. Fitted warm-up attire will be allowed to start class
• Dance clothes must be well kept and in clean condition. Holes in leotards and tights are unacceptable.
• Personal Hygiene is to be considered at all times. Wash dance attire daily. Do not leave dirty dance wear in lockers. Deodorant must be used.

 

Master Classes, Workshops and Residences:

When artists are visiting students must respect the artist and the art form. Ladies are to dress in black leotard and tights and gentleman in black top and bottoms, unless otherwise instructed

 

Test Grade: 25%

Assignments, handouts, and quizzes will be given in class. Adequate time will be given to prepare and study for and exam. Tests will include dance vocabulary , dance history, writing assignments and in class performance. Criteria will be given in advance.

 

Portfolio, Journal, Homework, Assignments: 25%

The dance portfolio will consist of the entire 4 years of the dancer’s experience. The portfolio will include , but not limited to journal writing, performance critiques, homework assignments, dance projects. Please hand in all assignments on time. Portfolios are to be left in the studio. *Refer to the student- handbook for plagiarism rules

 

Performance Grade: 25%

Each student is graded on performances and mandatory rehearsals for each show. Performance includes: Performance of the dancer onstage , backstage, and in rehearsal space. If a student displays poor conduct during rehearsals and or performance their grade will suffer and risk being pulled from the performance and future performances. Students are expected to respect their peers and the work of others. students are expected to respect the theater. No food or drinks in the theater. If there is a conflict with the performance and/or rehearsal dates the teacher should be informed immediately by written note from the student and parent.

Learning Platform at Central Academy Canvas: The majority of assignments will be submitted on our new "learning platform," Canvas. Assignments can be submitted a variety of ways including, uploading files, typing into text boxes, and sharing Google documents/presentations. Students not having used Canvas before should alert the teacher and they will be shown how to submit assignments on Canvas. Individual assignments will indicate which method of submission on Canvas is expected. If students need a refresher or have questions, they can access the Canvas Student Guide for specific instructions. It is the student's responsibility to ensure assignments are submitted on time and to contact the instructor if there is a problem. The Canvas Learning Platform logs every student log-in on Canvas which provides teachers with a list of when students log-in to Canvas using their user id. Canvas is used to grade assignments as well, however, the grades in Canvas, while accurate to that assignment, are NOT the teacher’s gradebook. The teacher’s gradebook includes categories of assignments that may be weighted differently and may include grades for assignments that did not use the Canvas Learning Platform. Therefore, students and parents should always check their child’s true average on the Parent Portal on Powerschool.

Additional Rescourses:  

EmpowerED Family Portal : https://www.ucps.k12.nc.us/domain/2917

                                        Performance Rules and Guidelines

• ALL REHEARSALS ARE MANDATORY IN ORDER TO PERFORM
• TECH WEEK: rehearsals are Monday through Thursday and will start 3:35 and run no later than 9:00
• dancers must wear all black during run through rehearsals and costumes during tech rehearsals. Grade will be affected if not in proper attire.
• All dancers must sign in to receive proper credit for each rehearsal.
• All dancers must arrive on time.
• If a dancer is late to rehearsal without advising the teacher or calling the school , points will be deducted from grade and risk being pulled from the show.
• When a dancer is not on stage he/she is expected to remain in the theater or in the dressing room
• If the student is unable to attend 2 of the 4 rehearsal days they cannot participate in the show, but must attend 2 rehearsals and work backstage for a grade. If this is not possible they will receive an alternate assignment.

 

IF YOU ARE RUNNING LATE TO A REHEARSAL OR PERFORMANCE DUE TO AN EMERGENCY YOU MUST GET WORD TO THE TEACHER.

 

Backstage:

• No backstage visitors before or after the show.
• All students are responsible for keeping backstage , hallways, bathrooms and dressing rooms clean. Students will be assigned an area to clean after each performance.

Costumes:

All costumes borrowed from the Dance Academy must be returned to the dance studio after the Saturday performance. Costume must be hung on dancers hanger to receive credit .

• if a costume is lost or ruined , the dancer will be responsible for the replacements of a new one.
• Check out will happen before tech week and check in will happen the following day of class after the performance

Performance Appearance :

• No jewelry , no dark nail polish on fingers or toes.
• Please cut long fingernails.
• No visible tattoos or body piercings.
• Hair should be slicked back in a secure bun unless otherwise specified by the teacher.
• Costumes should be secure
• No undergarments should be visible

 

Required items

 

Females:

Black Camisole leotard

Colored leotard

Black footless tights

Flesh color convertible tights

Flesh color one piece undergarment

Pink ballet shoes 

Males:

Black and white fitted tank top

Black and white fitted t-shirt

Colored fitted top

Black tights

Black jazz pants

Black ballet shoes

Black split sole jazz shoes

Black sweat pants

Black shorts

DANCE BELT

 

Other supplies:

Bobby pins

hair net

Hair spray/gel

safety pins

needle and thread

bandaids

clear nail polish

deodorant

baby wipes

ice pack

Portfolio

USB

Journal

 

Other miscellaneous donations the dance department is in need of:

• Fabric softener
• Baby wipes
• Febreeze
• Burnable cd’s and dvd’s
• Paper towels
• Fan
• Costumes
• Water