CONTEMPORARY DANCE PRACTICES 3 - 2021/2

Module Overview

This module enables the student to deepen and refine their knowledge, understanding and technical skills gained in the level 5 Contemporary Dance Practices module.
This module will culminate in the presentation of an independent performance project which will demonstrate an embodied understanding of somatic principles at an advanced level.
The student learning will be enhanced by the integration of theory into practice, peer and self-reflection, and the opportunities to work with internal and/or visiting practitioners.

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

BIRCH Rachel (GSA)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Contemporary Dance Practices 1 & 2

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Practical, skills based and tutor lead group sessions in movement techniques including contemporary, release, African, Asian and classical disciplines.

• Independent study

• Tutorials

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate the following through their continuous assessment and practical presentation/performance, in addition to their engagement with the formative assessment, module content and associated activities across the year:

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Practical Continuous assessment in contemporary, release, somatic, and/or classical dance techniques; the detailed shape of this assessment is addressed over the course of the module, in relation to each cohort, led by the module convener.

• Practical Presentation/performance in contemporary, release, somatic, and/or classical dance techniques Formative assessment Formative assessment will take place through practical classes throughout the module and through tutorials. The practical assessment may/may not be live streamed and/or performed for a live audience.

Feedback

Informal formative verbal feedback from tutors will be provided via, but is not restricted to, in class activities, the virtual learning environment, email exchange, personal tutorials.

Summative formal written feedback will follow completion of the summative assessment.

Module aims

• Further develop and refine the student¿s physical understanding of dance and movement principles such as: Alignment, placement, posture, expression, breath and weight, spatial awareness, musicality, detailed awareness and sensitivity to movement material and apply these to an independently led performance context
• Further develop and refine the students' comprehensive conceptual and embodied understandings of Contemporary dance approaches and movement styles such as: release based technique, ballet, and other progressive dance fusion forms, such as African & Bharatanatyam Contemporary Dance practices and approaches from a wide-range of somatic practices
• Further develop a comprehensive understanding of strategies for synthesizing and fusing dance styles from a range of contemporary dance genres and apply this within a choreographic and performance context within an independently led project
• Ensure a robust and comprehensive understanding of safe practice in dance
• Develop effective strategies to engage with feedback, self-reflexive learning and appropriately apply these toward successful realisation of own independent project

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Contemporary dance practical classes and somatic sessions.

• Independent study and group rehearsal sessions.

• Engagement with peer feedback through University VLE, via online platforms, and/or class discussion forums.

• Viewing professional work to inform own artistic and creative development.

• Tutorials.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: DAN3035

Other information

Under the three term structure that commences from academic year 2019/0 – this module’s delivery is year-long due to the teaching occurring in Teaching Blocks 1, 2 and 3.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.