DANCE:  Origins, Ethnology and Evolution

ISHU 3902-201

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Program

Fall Semester 2013

Day: Monday

Time:  7:00 – 9:45 p.m.

Instructor: Sharen Christie Mendoza McCall

Location: Tidewater - TBA

E-mail: scm9a@virginia.edu

Cell: 757-450-6835

Course Overview

We will explore the following questions:

• What is the definition of dance and why do people dance?

• Why is dance important to a culture?

• We will study how dance anthropologists and dance historians have pieced together information to learn about primitive dance and dance of ancient cultures through sources such as archeological artifacts, oral tradition, and literature.

The course will examine the anthropological origins of dance in world cultures by exploring the ceremonial, religious and ritual aspects, as well as the secular forms ofdance of primitive and ancient cultures. We will study the following types of sacred dances:

• Processional dances

• Ritual dances around a sacred object or altar

• Ecstatic dances

• Vintage, fertility and harvest festival dances

• Victory dances

• Marriage dances

• Mourning and burial dances

We will discuss how the “power” of dance is used within a culture. We will gain an understanding of how the following aspects of dance are used to define and identify a culture, as well as to preserve the historic traditions:

• Is there a specific theme or purpose for the dance?

• Is the dance ceremonial/religious or secular/social?

• What is the setting for the dance?

• Is the dance gender specific?

• What are the costume and stage/set elements?

• What type of music or instrumentation is used to accompany the dance (if

any at all)?

We will study the importance of dance as a form of religious expression and practice of several cultures such as the following:

• Judeo-Christian

• Hindu

We will gain an understanding of how the expression of dance is used to elevate social standing:

• Dances of the Royal Court

We will study the socio-cultural evolution of dance through cross-cultural influences on dance in world cultures to present day.

We will explore the cross-cultural evolution of dance of Africa and Europe and its influence on the Americas and Caribbean.

We will study the revolution against the traditions of classical ballet to the evolution of modern and contemporary dance.

We will define the integral components of the dance performance:

• The dancer

• The mind, body, spirit connection

• Dance technique and education

• The choreographer

• The costumer

• The lighting designer

• The music/accompaniment

• The performance

• Dance criticism

We will discuss the direction of dance moving into the 21st century:

• Limited funding for arts education and support of the arts

• Progression of technology and its influence on dance

•Where is dance most prevalent in present day society?

Course Requirements

Attendance:

Class attendance is mandatory as there is a great deal of information covered in each class. This is an interactive course and students will be encouraged to engage in classroom discussions. Attendance will be a percentage of the student’s overall semester grade. Absence will only be excused in the event of an emergency and the instructor must be notified via e-mail or cell phone prior to class.

Weekly Journal Entry:

Each student will be required to write a one-page weekly journal entry based upon a personal reflection of the class discussions and reading/video assignments.

Participation in class discussions:

Students will be required to have the reading assignments complete prior to class in order to help facilitate class or group discussions.

Cell phone use and text messaging will NOT be permitted during class times.

Mid-term Paper:

Each student will be required to write a 6-8 page, typed and double-spaced paper due at mid-term. A list of topics will be provided. The student may write on a topic of choice, but must submit the topic proposal for approval by the instructor. (Optional: A supplemental Power Point CD presentation may be submitted to accompany paper). Students will be graded on the critical and historic analysis of the topic, the possible comparison and contrasting of cultures. In addition, originality, creativity and clarity of thought will be expected at the upper level division. Students will be required to document and cite all sources used for the term paper including Internet, video and audio resources.

Mid-Term Exam and Final Exam:

There will be a mid-term exam and a final exam required for the course.

Final Oral Power Point Presentation:

Each student will be required to present a topic related to our course to be presented on the last day of class. A list of topics will be provided. If there is a topic that you would like to present that is not on the list, permission from the instructor will be required.

Grading

10% Attendance and Class Participation

10% Weekly Journals

20% Mid-term Exam

20% Mid-term Paper

20% Final Exam

20% Final Oral Presentation

Grading Scale:

Total Points 100

A: 90-100

B: 80- 89

C: 70-79

D: 60-69

F: Below 60

Required Texts

Dancing: The Pleasure, Power and Art of Movement

Author: Gerald Jonas ISBN: 978-0-8109-2791-9 **The companion PBS video series produced by Rhoda Grauer is available for streaming through the University of Virginia library**

The Dance Experience: Insights Into History, Culture and Creativity (Second Edition)

Author: Myron Howard Nadel and Marc Raymond Strauss ISBN: 0-87127-251-2