DANC 205 - Dance Lab: Making Choreography

This course welcomes beginners and anyone curious about movement. Together, we explore how dance can tell stories, express emotions, respond to music and sound, and even communicate social or political ideas. Dance is approached as a natural human activity and a way of understanding ourselves and the world around us. Through low-pressure, accessible movement activities, students experiment with rhythm, texture, and improvisation in a supportive environment. The course also examines how movement reflects cultural values, shapes ideas about the body and identity, and connects communities. Blending creative exploration with discussion and research, students develop original projects while gaining confidence in using movement as a tool for expression and inquiry. Choreography created in the class will be featured in the Dance Department concert.

Unit(s): Variable: 0.5 - 1
Group Distribution Requirement(s): Distribution Group I
Instructional Method: Lecture-studio
Grading Mode: Letter grading (A-F)
Repeatable for Credit: May be taken 2 times for credit.
Notes:

All are welcome. We encourage students with dance, theater, music and other interdisciplinary perspectives to participate.
This course may be applied toward the dance studio requirements.
Students receive PE credit for successfully completing this course.

Group Distribution Learning Outcome(s):

Understand how arguments can be made, visions presented, or feelings or ideas conveyed through language or other modes of expression (symbols, movement, images, sounds, etc.).
Analyze and interpret texts, whether literary or philosophical, in English or a non-English language, or works of the visual or performing arts.
Evaluate arguments made in or about texts (whether literary or philosophical, in English or a non-English language, or works of the visual or performing arts).