Dance Minor
Minor Overview
21 credits
Why dance?
The Dance minor complements the current theatre major and provides opportunities for students in other majors. The Dance minor offers courses in dance techniques, dance history, dance composition, nutrition, dance pedagogy, and anatomy and kinesiology.
Irish Dance Track
Saint Mary’s Irish Dance Track is the only university-associated program in the country which prepares experienced Irish dancers for the certification needed to teach Irish dance. The track provides the information and experience necessary for dancers to prepare to take the T.C.R.G. (teacher certification) exam for Irish Dance. The exam consists of both written and performance sections based on thirty ceili dances; nine set dances; and steps at various levels of difficulty of the jig, reel, hornpipe, slip jig, single jig, and treble jig. In addition, candidates must be able to recognize over thirty set dance tunes, naming them, citing the time signature, and giving the number of bars of music in the step and in the set of each piece. Candidates must also demonstrate their ability to teach a group of dancers anything which the examining board asks them to teach, from basic solo steps to intricate set dances, from figure dances to any of the thirty ceili dances found in Ar Rinci Foirne: Thirty Popular Ceili Dances.
Students who do not choose to pursue the T.C.R.G. receive a comprehensive, broad-based perspective of Irish dance. All the pieces they learned in their past dance training come together with new information to form a complete Irish dance experience.
The Irish dance component may be chosen as the electives in a dance minor or as courses taken separately from the minor.
Both go great with:
- Biology Pre-Physical Therapy
- Music
- Music Performance
- Theatre Arts
Dance Mosaic – Spring 2011
Course descriptions for this major
(From the 2011-13 Catalog)
A. All of the following courses:
DA370 - Dance Composition (2 credits)
This course explores basic choreographic methods with an emphasis placed on improvisation as a vehicle to creating movement phrases. Students also learn through readings, lectures, class discussions, and in-class projects.
Prerequisites: level II or higher dance technique class and/or consent of instructor.
DA380 - Dance History (3 credits)
This course provides an in-depth survey of the history of concert dance forms, including ballet, modern dance, jazz dance and tap dance. Discussion, assignments and text provide background concerning the influences of social and world dance on these ever-changing dance forms. A research paper is a requirement for this course.
Prerequisite: E120.
B. Two credits from:
DA230 - Modern II (0 or 2 credits)
This course continues to build students’ modern dance technique. Students are introduced to the principles of improvisation, blend of techniques including fall and recovery, and contraction and release.
Prerequisites: DA130 and consent of instructor.
DA330 - Modern III (2 credits)
This course provides an intermediate level of modern dance technique and vocabulary furthering the exploration of improvisation.
Prerequisites: DA230 and consent of instructor.
DA430 - Modern IV (2 credits)
This course provides an advanced level of modern dance technique with a strong concentration on improvisation, choreograph and artistry.
Prerequisites: DA330 and consent of instructor.
C. Two credits from:
DA240 - Ballet II (0 or 2 credits)
The course builds the beginning ballet vocabulary, furthering the acquisition of placement and technique, ballet terminology, and ballet as an art form.
Prerequisites: DA140 and consent of instructor.
DA340 - Ballet III (2 credits)
An intermediate level of classical ballet, concentrating on extended vocabulary and the advancement of technique.
Prerequisites: DA240 and consent of instructor.
DA440 - Ballet IV (2 credits)
A fast intermediate level of classical ballet, providing the continuation of placement and technique.
Prerequisites: DA330 and consent of instructor.
DA450 - Ballet V (2 credits)
An advanced level of classical ballet, providing the continuation of placement and technique while focusing on artistry. This course includes the opportunity to study pointe technique.
Prerequisites: DA440 and consent of instructor.
D. Four credits of tap or jazz dance:
DA110 - Tap I (0 or 2 credits)
This course introduces a dance style not only seen but heard as the rhythmic structure unfolds. It is designed to explore the rudiments of tap dance techniques as an entertaining form of dance.
No dance experience necessary.
DA120 - Jazz I (0 or 2 credits)
This introduction to the stylization of Jazz dance emphasizes the basic technical work of isolations and an overview of the development of jazz dance from its origin.
No dance experience necessary.
DA210 - Tap II (0 or 2 credits)
This course continues to build student’s knowledge of tap terminology and offers an intermediate level of tap technique.
Prerequisites: DA110 and consent of instructor
DA220 - Jazz II (0 or 2 credits)
This course continues to work toward building the vocabulary of jazz technique, isolations, and extended rhythmical phrasing.
Prerequisites: DA120 and consent of instructor.
DA310 - Tap III (2 credits)
This course offers an intermediate level of tap dance technique. Students are introduced to syncopation and performance styles, and continue to build a strong tap dance vocabulary.
Prerequisites: DA210 and consent of instructor.
DA320 - Jazz III (2 credits)
This course offers an intermediate level of jazz dance technique. Students are introduced to rhythmical phrasing and continue to build a strong jazz dance vocabulary.
Prerequisites: DA220 and consent of instructor.
DA410 - Tap IV (2 credits)
This course provides an advanced level of rhythm tap with a strong concentration on technique, syncopation and performance styles, including the exploration of improvisation and choreography.
Prerequisites: DA310 and consent of instructor.
E. Five elective dance credits
For more information contact:
Judy Myers, M.F.A.
Chair, Theatre & Dance Department
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
700 Terrace Heights #1458
Winona, MN 55987-1399
(800) 635-5987, Ext. 6686
jmyers@smumn.edu
