African1syllabus (4)

DANCE 2220 AFRICAN DANCE I TH013 MON/WED 3:30-4:45pm FALL SEMESTER INSRUCTOR: ROXY FAIR/YAYA KAMBAYE TH015 X83452 OFFICE HOURS: MON/WED BY APPOINTMENT EMAIL: [email protected] ; [email protected] COURSE OBJECTIVES Students will learn the fundamentals of African dance. African dance is polyrhythmic, and very aerobic. Focus will be placed on stamina, stretching, muscle tone, and basic technique, which will include working with live music. The dance form requires use of the head, neck and back as essential elements of execution. Students will continue to learn pertinent terminology and various positions of the body and limbs to facilitate proper execution. Dance is an ACTIVE discipline that requires full participation and attendance in class. There is no book required for the class. REQUIREMENTS • Attendance is mandatory and essential to your grade. We will be dancing in each class unless otherwise stated by the instructor. Class material will be cumulative. You need to be actively present in class to learn the material. You will be allowed 5 absences for the semester after which your grade will begin to be affected. If you are going to miss class, inform the instructor and let her/him know why you cannot attend class. You will be responsible for the material that you have missed in class. At least 90% of class work will show up in the midterm and/or final exam. All grades will be based on attendance, participation, execution of material, assignments, and musicality. • Performance of midterm and final material is mandatory. The midterm and the final will be dance and could also include written work as assigned by the instructor. There will be no class Monday, September 4 th . The midterm exam date is Monday, October 16, 2023. Thanksgiving break is November 22-26, 2023. The final exam date is Monday, December 4th, 2023. All students are required to take the final exam. • There will be one written assignment as follows: Research ONE of the following African empires; Ghanian, Songhay, or Mali. Write a three paged single-spaced paper about the origin, history, contributions, and demise of the empire. Include a cover page and a bibliography page (Total of five pages). The font should be no larger than 12. • Faculty in the Diederich College of Communication recognize the value of strong writing and presentation skills among students as they make their mark in the world, especially as they pursue upper division courses, apply for internships, and seek jobs in communication after graduation. To that end, faculty expect students to apply the writing and presentation skills they have learned in COMM 1100 (or its equivalent) to all classes in communication.