Ballet for Musical Theatre

Course Description

Continued development of technical skills in ballet, including directions of the body, alignment, function and access of turnout, and use of the French ballet lexicon, with emphasis on safe and efficient body use. This course is designed specifically for musical theatre majors. Prerequisite: Dance major or Drama Musical Theatre Concentration major or permission of instructor; Note: May be repeated three times for credit.

Syllabus

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

  • Display an expanded understanding of the use of space, line, placement, and musicality in dance
  • Demonstrate a knowledge of ballet terminology and technique.
  • Analyze how ballet has shaped musical theatre choreography and evaluate how its aesthetic and expressive qualities have evolved across historical periods.
  • Develop a kinesthetic and intellectual understanding of the ballet dance discipline.
  • Create and perform an original small-group choreographic phrase that incorporates ballet vocabulary and techniques in service of musical theatre storytelling.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure Percentage/Points
Attendance and Participation 40%
Movement Assessments 25%
Journal Entries 20%
Final 15%

Grading Scale:

Percentage Letter Grade
93-100A
90-92A-
87-89B+
83-86B
80-82B-
77-79C+
73-76C
70-72C-
67-69D+
63-66D
60-62D-
0-59F

Attendance/Participation:

You are permitted one sit out day for the semester where you may choose to sit and take notes on class to be turned in to the instructor. After the first sit out day, the student will be required to show a doctor’s note.

If the student has not provided a doctor’s note beyond the first sit out day, there will be a deduction of one point from the student’s participation grade per sit out.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

Proper Dance Attire is REQUIRED. This includes: Ballet shoes are required, with a split sole for best foot articulation. Please wear stretchy, form fitting dance or athletic clothing that allows the instructor to see all lines of the body.

Scholarly Perspectives

This course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.