Dance

The Dance Minor provides a broad but deep foundation in dance. It includes a critical study of the history and culture of dance, while also weaving in courses in choreography, performance and dance technique. Combine this minor with any major at Mars Hill University to enhance your career opportunities. It prepares students for careers directly related to dance, like theatre and music, while allowing opportunities to increase creative and interpersonal communication skills that are valuable in every professional field.

The minor is open to all undergraduates. No previous dance experience or audition is required. The minor is 24 units.

The Dance Minor requires 24 credit hours from the following courses:

TA 224 Hip-Hop 3
TA 225. Ballet 3
TA 226 Jazz 3
TA 227 Modern Dance 3
TA 228 Tap 3
TA326 Intermediate Jazz 3
TA 328 Intermediate Tap 3
TA 430 Methods of Choreography 3

Hip-Hop
A study of hip-hop dance styles, music and history. This course is a high-energy class that infuses the latest styles of street dancing, breaking, popping, and locking. Classes will encourage students to step outside of the box by bringing their own individual style and personality to the movements and will combinate learned choreography at the end of the semester with a graded performance. This course may be taken for credit more than once, for a maximum of 6 Units. Prerequisites: None. 3 Units (1 Lecture, 2 Lab).

Ballet
A study of ballet dance techniques. This course will focus on ballet terminology and technique through the execution of barre work, center, and across the floor exercises. Students will have a clear understanding of body alignment, movement quality, carriage of upper body, and flexibility at the end of the course with a required end of course graded performance. This course may be taken for credit more than once, for a maximum of 6 Units. Prerequisites: None. 3 Units (1 Lecture, 2 Lab).

Jazz
A study of jazz dance styles. This course will focus on learning proper dance technique such as isolations of the body, improving performance quality and developing complex rhythms and patterns. Students will be exposed to various styles of jazz such as Broadway, Street and Contemporary and will combinate learned choreography at the end of the semester with a graded performance. This course may be taken for credit more than once, for a maximum of 6 Units. Prerequisites: None. 3 Units (1 Lecture, 2 Lab).

Modern Dance
A study of modern dance styles. This course will incorporate many of the foundations of modern dance technique, including suspension and release, fall and recovery, the use of momentum and connecting breath with movement. Dancers will explore new ways of moving in combinations, floor work and partnering, and also in various methods of improvisation as Broadway, Street and Contemporary and will combinate learned choreography at the end of the semester with a graded performance. This course may be taken for credit more than once, for a maximum of 6 Units. Prerequisites: None. 3 Units (1 Lecture, 2 Lab).

Tap
A study of tap dance techniques. This course is designed to develop rhythm, style and sound. Students will learn a variety of tap styles from Broadway to Rhythm tap. The class emphasis is on developing proper tap technique and producing clear tap sounds and will combinate learned choreography at the end of the semester with a graded performance. This course may be taken for credit more than once, for a maximum of 6 Units. Prerequisites: None. 3 Units (1 Lecture, 2 Lab).

Intermediate Tap
A continued study of tap dance. Exercises focus on building flexibility of the knee and ankles, coordination, and speed of movement. The class emphasis is on developing tap technique. As an advanced course, students will be challenged each level of curriculum with increasingly more complex and intricate combinations and will combinate learned choreography at the end of the semester with a graded performance. Prerequisites: TA 228 or permission from the instructor. 3 Units (1 Lecture, 2 Lab).

Intermediate Jazz
A continued study of jazz dance. This Course will focus on advanced learning dance technique such as isolations of the body, improving performance quality and developing complex rhythms and patterns. Curriculum is based on ballet technique layered with traditional jazz movement. As students’ progress through each level curriculum it will become increasingly more complex and intricate and will combinate learned choreography at the end of the semester with a graded performance. Prerequisites: TA 226 or permission from the instructor: 3 Units (1 Lecture, 2 Lab).

Methods of Choreography
The basic elements of movement, time, space, weight, flow, and their choreographic applications explored through structured improvisation, short movement studies, viewing of dances, and selected readings. Experimentation with devices for movement manipulation and choreographic forms through longer movement studies. Prerequisite: TA 326, 328. 3 Units (1 Lecture 2 Lab).