| CODE | DCS2010 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Dance in the Community | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | Not Applicable | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Dance Studies | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit balances theoretical study of key concepts relating to Community dance with a focus on dance activities for community groups. Students are required to study the provisions available in such contexts and to formulate aims, content, methods of delivery and activity outcomes for specified client groups. Exploration and examination of community theories will give insights appropriate to the dance process in community contexts, e.g. therapeutic or recreative dance for partially blind children, or for the elderly. We develop workshop skills and practice in relation to particular community groups, e.g. jazz contemporary dance for youth club members or creative play dance activities for mother and toddler groups. Emphasis is placed on the development of understanding of how to select appropriate content, methods of delivery and dance outcomes related to the particular requirements of the context. Study-unit Aims: - Application of the known principles and practices involved in the choreographic process to various clients and contexts. - Study of the emotional engagement, creative, artistic and socially interactive processes involved in large and small group activities to inform the students’ understanding and evaluation of their clients’ experiences. - Students will learn to apply choreographic processes to make dance pieces for a range of ‘clients ’ in differing contexts – e.g. primary or secondary school pupils, museum or art gallery audiences, the elderly, prisoners. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Show that they understand the nature of community dance – its theory and practice. - Discuss the place and existing practices of dance in contemporary community contexts. - Demonstrate understanding of content and processes appropriate to dance activities in relation to particular community contexts. - Employ their choreographic and workshop skills in relation to client group contexts. - Explore and examine how dance can be used as a tool, e.g. therapeutic, social or recreational. - Lead workshops in a community context and understand good communication skills. - Demonstrate understanding of the role of a dance animator/community dance worker. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Consider theories of community and developing an awareness of the audience or client group for performance and an ability to respond and adapt to it through flexible means. - Use performance techniques associated with particular cultural forms and/or practitioners. - Understand group dynamics and have an ability to implement it in practical contexts. - Handle creative, personal and interpersonal issues. - Negotiate and pursue goals with others. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Amans, Diane. (ed.) 2008. An Introduction to Community Dance Practice (Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan). - Amans, Diane. 2012. Age and Dancing: Older People and Community Dance Practice (Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan). - Brinson, Peter. 1991. Dance as Education: Towards a National Dance Culture, (Falmer Press). - Coult, Tony and Baz Kershaw. 1983. Engineers of the Imagination: The Welfare State Handbook (Methuen). - Fisher, Judi and Beth Shelton. 2002. Face to Face: Making Dance and Theatre in the Community, (North Melbourne: Spinifex Press). - Hannah, Judith Lynne. 2014. Dancing to Learn: The Brain’s Cognition, Emotion and Movement, (London: Falmer Press). - Kelly, Owen. 1988. Community, Art and the State: Storming the Citadels, (Commedia). - Lowden, Mary. 1989. Dancing to Learn: Dance as a Strategy in the Primary School Curriculum. - Payne, Helen. 1992. Dance Movement Therapy: Theory and Practice, (London: Routledge). - Shapiro, Sherry B. (ed.) 2008. Dance in a World of Change: Reflections on Globalisation and Cultural Difference (Human Kinetics). - Sharp, Caroline and Karen Dust. 1997. Artists in Schools: A Handbook for Teachers and Artists (National Foundation for Educational Research). - Thomas, Helen. 1997. Dance in the City, (London: Dance Books). - Thomson, C. 1988. ‘Community Dance: what community…what dance’ in daCi 4th International Conference Proceedings, (London: daCi UK). |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Study-unit: DCS1007 | |||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Blended Learning | |||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Sara Accettura Deborah Williams |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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