Skip to Main Content

Content

Course Tabs

Overview

Course Prescription

Introducing the study of diverse dance vocabulary including ballet, contemporary dance and the field of somatics. Students will examine specific technical requirements of identified dance vocabulary.

Course Overview

This course aims to establish a sound understanding and fundamental awareness of dance technique. This paper explores ideas and movement vocabulary drawn from contemporary dance and somatic practices (such as M&B, Pilates and Alexander technique). You will also have the opportunity to explore how the technical skills and physical awareness learnt in this class can be applied to choreographic practices and movement research, and also how it could inform other dance styles.
The intention of this paper is to prepare you for Dance Vocabulary papers II and III, and will focus on developing alignment, strength, control, flexibility, dynamics, coordination, and balance in movement, while also investigating how to work your body in a safe and efficient way. Parallel to the practical aspect of the class there will be opportunities for discussions, reflections and observations of pertinent issues connected to dance history, technique, choreography and aesthetics while also relating these themes to broader areas of society and culture.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 6 hours of practical dance workshops integrating theoretical learning, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 2 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including all movement workshops to complete components of the course.
Lectures will not be available as recordings. Other learning activities including workshops will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the physical assessments.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Teaching and Learning Methods

  • Practical dance class
  • Practical tasks and creative activities
  • Video analysis
  • Group discussions
  • Written assignments
  • Readings from the literature
  • Self directed learning
  • Observation
  • Peer feedback

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Health and Safety

HEALTH AND SAFETY STATEMENT

  • Given new the Health and Safety regulations within NZ and the University, Dance Studies staff and students are required to proactively manage risk. Staff and students are expected to communicate clearly to each other any physical, mental or social concerns that require management.
  • Below are several points to consider as you engage in all your Dance Studies classes and rehearsals:
  • In managing risk and physical injury Dance Studies staff will firmly review student attendance. Dance Studies staff will not place a student in a situation that will knowingly cause harm. As such, staff will not let a student undertake assessment tasks if the staff member believes that the student is not prepared for the assessment. If a student attends all classes then they will be prepared for the assessment.
  • Warming up properly is essential; you cannot do a practical class if you are not warm as you are running the risk of injuring yourself. It is your responsibility to warm up sufficiently, as we expect to be able to start the class immediately and not take up valuable class time getting everyone ‘warm’. Similarly, you are expected to undertake your own cool down, and daily self-care and management.
  • Please inform us of any injury or health related circumstances that are relevant to your full participation in the course. If you develop a new injury, or if an old injury surfaces during the course, let us know about it BEFORE class, or as soon as it happens in class – if you are unsure about your injury or pain ASK us about it, and ALWAYS seek medical advice from medical professionals.
  • In case of injury please see Kim to fill out an Accident/Incident Report form
  • First aid kits are available in the KMC studio and in the Dance Studies office. Please inform the administrator when these need replenishing
  • Please be alert of personal security when rehearsing – rehearse with a friend if possible.
  • Please take care of mental, physical and social wellbeing. If you need support or/and advice or need to raise a concern please speak with your lecturer or Head of Department or University Counsellor ph. 09 923 7681.
  • Content Warning: During this course some content of music may offend. Please discuss any issues with the teacher.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Other Information

Late assignment policy: Hand in work by 4pm on the due date to your lecturer, or place in the Dance Studies Assignment Box at the Dance Studies Office, Level one, building 113.

If you have a good reason for needing an extension, please discuss with your lecturer in advance of the deadline.

If an assignment is handed in late and no extension has been granted, the following penalties will apply:

  • Within two days of the due date, your mark will be reduced by one grade (for example, A to A-).
  • Between 2 and 7 days late your mark will be reduced by two grades (for example, A to B+).
  • No piece of work will be accepted after 7 days and the assignment will receive 0%.

Return and collection of coursework: Coursework will normally be returned, or made available for collection, within 3 weeks past the due date. If material is not collected by week 2 of following semester it will be disposed of.

Attendance and participation: Engagement with course activities and readings supports academic success. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that students make every effort to attend class and complete all the necessary in-class requirements. Note: There is a critical engagement mark within this course. Please see assessment outline for details.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Additional Information on Assessment

Students require a grade of 50% to pass this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type123456

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

Enjoy the practice led work

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.