ECD Course Proposal
From Cdssyouth
- Course Title
- English and Scottish Country Dance
- Course Department and Number
- PE 180
- Term
- Fall 2008
- Instructor of Record
- Brooke Friendly
- Credit Hours
- 1
- Location and Time Schedule
PE 132 Wednesdays, 5:30-7:00pm
Class Size Limit: 40
Contents |
General Description:
From lyrical to boisterous, silly to sublime, written dance descriptions for English country dance were first published in 1651. Discover this early repertoire and the dances of Jane Austen's time as well as newly composed dances. Experience the strength and elegance of Scottish strathspeys and the high energy and sense of flight of the jigs and reels. Learn about the music, social aspects, history and contemporary expression of these dance forms
Course Objectives:
Students will learn footwork, styling, figures, progressions, and specific dances in both English Country Dance (ECD) and Scottish Country Dance (SCD) repertoire. Students will gain a sense of the music, social aspects, history and contemporary expression of these dance forms.
Curriculum Summary:
Course content is handled in an accumulative and progressive manner. Acquisition of skills is built on preceding understanding while technique is repeated and reinforced with learning new dances. New dances will be taught each class incorporating the figures learned up to that point. Review will include figures, progressions and some dances from the previous week(s).
Week 1: Teach warm up sequence; teach basic footwork and movement style for English Country Dance (ECD); teach some simple, non-progressive ECD and basic figures (up a double, siding, arming, circles, different types of turns)
Week 2: Warm up; review ECD footwork, movement and simple dances; teach basic footwork and movement style for Scottish Country Dance (SCD) jigs and reels; teach some simple SCD; teach some simple progressive ECD – duple minor progression; teach additional figures for E/SCD (back to back, figure eight, English poussette)
Week 3: Warm up; review ECD and SCD basic footwork, movement and simple dances; teach additional figures (rights and lefts)
Week 4: Warm up; footwork practice; review; teach additional figure (heys for 3)
Week 5: Warm up; footwork practice; review; teach additional figure (heys for 4)
Week 6: Warm up; footwork practice; review; teach basic footwork and movement style for SCD strathspeys
Week 7: Warm up; footwork practice; review; teach ECD triple minor progression
Week 8: Warm up; footwork practice; review; teach more complex ECD and SCD dances
Week 9: Warm up; footwork practice; review; select presentation dances
Week 10: Final class presentations followed by a dance party of familiar and easy new dances. Through small group presentations of dances for 4-6 dancers, students will demonstrate competency in material learned during the course including basic English, and Scottish styling, footwork and figures. The dance party will allow students to demonstrate experience in the social nature of this dance form.
Students will be required to attend at least one social dance in the community (Ashland Country Dancers weekly dance, Ashland Folk Music Club monthly contra dance or an approved event outside the area). Additional assignments include a short presentation to the class on a related topic of student choice and a weekly journal keeping track of dances and figures learned as well as any relevant reflections.
Evaluation Techniques:
Evaluation will take place during observation throughout the course and at the final presentations. Evaluation will be based on the following:
- Commitment to the class; exemplified by concentration and focus
- Attendance: each absence will result in the lowering of the student’s grade by a third
- Movement skills (footwork, use of hands and arms, body awareness)
- Rhythmic skills (ability to maintain rhythm/timing)
- Social dance skills
- Demonstration of skill during final presentation
- Completion of any assignments and additional course requirements
Grading Method: A-F; P/NP option
