DANC 282 - Dancing To Connect: Dance for Social Impact

Semester Offered: Fall
0.5 unit(s)

Over the course of the semester, participants learn the pedagogical techniques of Battery Dance’s acclaimed “Dancing to Connect” (DtC) methodology and then, with professional teaching artists, lead dance workshops with local high school students. The curriculum takes students through a lexicon of movement exercises and prompts, building in complexity with each session.Themes such as inclusion/exclusion, peace-building, anti-xenophobia, anti-bullying and issues pertaining to social justice form the essence and underpinning of each workshop and become a central focus for discussion and exploration in movement. Students learn the stepping-stones for creating trust and engendering creativity, self-esteem and teamwork skills through dance-making among public high school students. The course equips teacher-trainees with a marketable skill that can supplement their careers as performers and choreographers. Instruction in the methodology takes place in two parts. In Part I, students learn the sequential activities that stimulate critical thinking and creative movement, by creating an original dance work that reflects individual stories. In Part II, students gain first-hand experience implementing the methodology with Poughkeepsie public high school students, teaching them how to create and perform their own dance stories. The culmination of this course is a final performance that showcases the works created.
Vassar students do not need prior dance training but should be comfortable with movement.
Miriam Mahdaviani.

One 3-hour period and additional lab time required.

Course Format: INT