Course Syllabus

DANC 1740 Latin Ballroom Dance I

Course Description

Latin Ballroom Dance I is a course for students with limited or no Latin Ballroom Dance experience. Students will learn the beginning (Bronze) level patterns of International Style Rumba, Samba, Cha Cha, and Paso Doble or Jive (depending on the semester). Stage exhibition, competitive, social, and career aspects of dance are introduced in this technique course. Students will improve posture and overall aesthetics, including lines, body shapes and contra-body movement position. Muscle tone, isolation, stretching and strengthening are core concepts at a beginning stage of dance. Repeatable for credit.

Justification

Latin Ballroom Dance I provides students an opportunity to commence their studies in International Latin Dance, which includes Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, and Paso Doble or Jive (Depending on the Semester). This course teaches correct rhythm, poise, dance positions and forms at the beginning level, preparing students for competitions, exhibition, and performance, in order to hone their talent. They need technical work that will challenge them physically, stretch them artistically, and expand their skill set to prepare them for Latin style avenues of ballroom dance.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will be able to display the proper International Latin Ballroom technique at the Bronze level.
2. Students will demonstrate knowledge of musicality, increased flexibility, strength, mental and physical dexterity, coordination, endurance, performance skills, appropriate leading/following partner work, and communicate a deep understanding of dance.
3. Students will increase knowledge of movement and movement's relationship to meaning.
4. Increase physical fitness: strength, flexibility, endurance, and coordination.
5. Students will begin to express themselves through the freedom and language of Latin style dance.

Course Content

Each Ballroom Technique I class will consist of warm-up and practice time, review of the steps or figures previously learned, introduction of new material, practice, and application of the new material, and individual practice and cool-down time.
Students will be introduced to the following dances in the International Latic style: Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, and either Paso Doble or Jive.
Anatomy, physiology, vertical and horizontal motion and their influence on the overall aesthetics are discussed. Rhythm and musicality are also examined, as well as lead and follow techniques.
This further increases students' knowledge of movement and movement's relationship to meaning. Though its origins are generally European and American (North and South depending on the style) Ballroom as a performing art including competitions, performance, social dance and creativity are taught and used worldwide today. It accepts all people regardless of race, culture, or population, preference orientation or other. And because it is so universally accepted today, this course too will not discriminate based on race, culture, population, orientation, or any other grounds. It is designed to develop the individual (physically, mentally, and artistically) and to cultivate a safe environment of learning and fun.