Dance

In this course, students develop performance skills as set dancers. They learn to execute a set dance performance at the relevant level of competence and in an appropriate style; demonstrate specific set dancing styles; perform sympathetically within the context of a group; and critically understand the act of performance.

The course involves the study of selected traditional dances from the Western and Central regions of Ghana. Students are expected to acquire knowledge on the context of performance of various the dances, song texts that accompany the dances. The course places emphasis on movement technique - body awareness, placement and flexibility, use of energy, focus and the source of particular movements associated with each dance form.

This course introduces classical Southeast Asian dance and drama with a particular emphasis on masked dance traditions. Drawing on an analysis of scholarly texts, videos and hands-on sessions the course takes an exciting theatrical journey through Southeast Asia. The course teaches an appreciation of classical dance traditions in the region from a variety of angles, such as dramaturgical principles, music, aesthetics, ritual significance, nationalism, tourism and change. The course also teaches how to perform and create compositions in a Southeast Asian dance form. 

This course examines dance practice and theory, providing practical experience of different dances of Aotearoa, the Pacific region and beyond. Embodied learning in dance is integrated with critical examination of how dance is influenced by social and cultural issues, and an introduction to choreographic processes.

A beginning dance class, this course teaches the basics of jazz dance and various ways to express music with one's body. This class requires a lot of movements based on the classical ballet technique. 

This course defines and interrogates African Dance histories and their transitions in the 21st century. The problematic term ‘African Dance’ is engaged both theoretically and practically to explore questions of appropriation and appreciation of African indigenous dances. The course offers an understanding of African Contemporary Dance in South Africa and the sociocultural factors that have shaped it. It considers the local and global influences of Modernity on Traditional dances in South Africa.