Dance:CulturesandContexts

Dance7V
Winter,2015

Professor:JacquelineSheaMurphyjshea@ucr.edu
Officehours:Officehoursbyappointment,viaSkype(jsheamurphy)orCanvasConference.
Pleaseemailtomakeanappointment.Iwillgenerallyrespondtoemailwithin24hoursduring
theworkweek.

TeachingAssistants:
NatalieZervounzerv001@ucr.edu
DeniseMachindmach003@ucr.edu
AdannaJonesajone009@ucr.edu
ChrissyCanadyccana003@ucr.edu
Inadditiontoregularonlinediscussionsessions,TAswillalsoholdchatand/orvideoSkype
(orothersimilarvideobased)officehoursduringwhichyoucancontactthemwithquestions.
PleaseemailyourTAtomakeanappointment.
CourseDescription:
Thisclassintroducesstudentstothestudyofdanceasanacademicsubject.Youwillhoneyour
skillsinthinking,talking,andwritingabouthowmeaningismadeindance.Forexample,we
willlookatdanceasalocationofknowledgeandhistory,anactivitythatcreatesmeaningand
identity,amodeofperceptualinquiry,andanembodiedformofcommunication.Becausethe
subjectofdanceisvast,thisintroductoryclasswilllimititsstudy,followinganintroductory
module,tothreemaintopics:hula;theinterrelatedformsoftapandhiphopdance;and
contemporarydance.Thecoursewillprovidehistoricalandculturalcontextforthesedance
practices,provokeinformedandinsightfuldiscussionanddebates,aswellas,developyour
abilitytoarticulateyourunderstandingsofthem.Inexploringthesedancepractices,welllookat
thedancemovementitself,atthedanceshistory,andatthecontextsandsituationsinwhichthe
danceshappen,includingwhowatchesthem,whoparticipatesinthem,whopromotesandprofits
fromthem,andtheexpectations,understandings,anddesiresthatthesedancers,audiences,and
patronsbringtothedancestheyengagewith.Dance7Visanidealcourseforstudentsinterested
indiscoveringhowdanceisstudiedattheuniversitylevel.
LearningOutcomes:
Bycompletingtheactivitiesinthiscourseyouwillgainthefollowing:
KNOWLEDGE:Beabletoidentify,describe,andrecallcentralcharacteristicsofdance
formsincludingCahuillabirdsinging,hula,tap,hiphop,andcontemporarydance,with
attentiontoeachforms:movementcharacteristics;history;narrativeorintention;andthe
contextsandsituationsinwhichitoccurs.
SKILLS:
Havehonedyourwritingskills,viewingskills,discussionskills,creativeand
critical/analyticalthinkingskills,andviagroupworkcollaborativeonlineworking
skills.
Beabletothinkandwriteaboutthesedancepracticeshistoriesandcurrentglobal
circulations,andtoaddressissuesofrace,gender,sexuality,colonization,appropriation,
commodification,resilience,andempowermentthatrelatetothesehistories.

 VALUES:
Havedevelopednewandincreasinglynuancedunderstandingsofhowdanceasit
circulatesliveandonscreenparticipatesinculturalmeaningmaking.
Havedevelopedcontinuallyevolvingwaysofthinkingaboutthemanydancepractices
youllencounterthroughoutyourlife.
Courserequirements:
Participation:Youareexpectedtoengageactivelyandattentivelywithrequired
readings,postedvideos,andpostedlectures,andtoparticipateingroupWiki
assignmentsanddiscussionsections.

WeeklyGradedDiscussionQuestions:Youarerequiredtocompleteaweeklyset
ofquestions(true/false,multiplechoice,andshortanswer)thatwillcheckyour
understandingofthecoursematerial.Thisworkwillbeusefulinpreparingfor
discussionsections,modulemidtermsandthecoursesfinalexam.Thisassignment
isdueeveryThursdayby5p.m.

TAmoderatedonlinediscussionsection:Youarerequiredtoparticipateinweekly
50minuteonlinediscussionsectionsmoderatedbyaTA.Youshouldbepreparedto
discussthequestionsposedinthatweeksGradedDiscussionQuestions,andcanalso
usethetimetoaskquestionsofyourTAandyourfellowstudents.Theleveland
qualityofyourparticipationinthesediscussions,evaluatedbyyourTA,will
compriseacentralpartofyourclassparticipationgrade.

GroupWiki:Youwillbesortedintostudygroupsof4or5people,andwillbe
requiredtopostassignmentstoaWikipage,andtoworktogethertodevelop,editand
publishtwoGroupWikipagesduringthecourse.ThequalityofyourGroupWiki
willbegradedbyyourTA,butyouwillalsoberequiredtoeachsubmitanindividual
evaluationofthegroupswork.ThisassignmentisdueeveryMondayby9p.m.

Modulemidterms:Thefirstthreecoursemodules(includinganintroductory
module)willconcludewithatimed,openbook,modulemidterm,takenonline
duringasettimeperiod.Theywillincludebothmultiplechoiceandshortanswer
questions.(Thelastmodulesmidtermwillbeincorporatedintothefinalexam.)
Modulemidtermsaredesignedtopromptandassessyourcarefulreading/viewing
andcomprehensionofthematerialspresentedduringthemodule,andyourabilityto
respondintelligentlytoissuesthemoduleraised.

Final:Thefinalexam,whichwillbecomprehensiveandwillincludebothshortessay
questionsandidentifications,istobetakenonlinethroughaproctoredonlinetest
facility,ProctorU.Youcanscheduletheexamfromanylocation,andduringany3
hourperiod,startingMarch16andendingMarch18.Additionalinformation
aboutProctorUisonthecoursesite.Paymentoffeeschargedbythefacilityisthe
studentsresponsibility.Costis$33.75.

DancepracticeePortfolio:Thisclassrequiresthatyoudanceforatleast30minutes
eachweek.YouwillcreateanePortfolioprovidingcommentaryaboutyourweekly
dancepracticeexperiences,andlinkingyourdancingtoclassmaterial.Onceinthe
term,youwillinsteadwriteanentryaboutadanceconcertyouattend.Yourweekly
postingtoyourePortfolioisdueeachMondaynightat9p.m.startingJan.12th.
Itwillbecheckedweeklyandgradedattheendoftheterm.CompletedDance
PracticeePortfolioisdueMonday,March9.

o For7ofthe9requiredentries,yourdancingcanbeprivatetotheradioinyour
bedroomwithnoonewatching,inyourlivingroomtoadancegamelikeJust
Dance4,etc.
o Atleastonce(moreisfine),youshouldparticipatepubliclyasadancer:you
couldgooutdancing(i.e,ataparty,nightclub,wedding,quinceaeraetc.)ortake
onedanceclassorlesson(i.e.aballroom,hiphop,bellydance,modernorZumba
classyoulocateatastudioorfitnessclubnearyou),orparticipateasadancerina
danceconcert,event,orcompetition.
o Oneweek(yourchoice),yourresponsemustbetoadanceperformanceyousee
live,asanaudiencemember.Pleaseplanearlytoattendadanceconcertor
eventduringthequarter;suggestionswillbepostedonthecoursesite,butitis
yourresponsibilitytolocateadanceconcertandarrangetoattendit.THIS
ENTRYWILLCOUNTDOUBLEinyourePortfoliograde.
o RefertotheFourGuidelinesforDanceAnalysistodescribethedancingyoudo
andthedancingyousee.

Extracreditresponse:Inadditiontotheresponsetoalivedanceeventthatisdueas
partofyourePortfolio,youmaysubmitoneadditionalresponse(alsobasedonthe
FourGuidelinesforDanceAnalysis,toadanceeventyouseelive)forextracredit.

RequiredTextsandFees:
JosephG.Schloss,Foundation:bboys,bgirls,andhiphopcultureinNewYork
(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,2010).Youmustpurchasethisbookonyour
ownitisavailableattheUCRbookstore,aswellasatamazon.comandmanyother
sites.Youcouldalsoorderitfromabookstorelocaltoyou.
Allotherreadingsarepostedontheclasssite.
Mostrequiredviewingispostedontheclasssite.Youwillneedtowatchtwofull
lengthfilms:SinginintheRain,andTheFreshestKids.Theseareavailableatthe
UCRMedialibrary,butyoumayinsteadwishtorentorstreamthemthrougha
servicelikeHulu,Netflix,oriTunes,orrentthemfromavideostorenearyou.You
shouldwatchtheseduringthefirsttwoweeksofclass.
Finalexamonlineproctoring:Costis$33.75.PLEASENOTETHIS
PROCTORINGCOST,ANDBEPREPAREDTOPAYITBEFORETHE
FINALEXAM.
RequiredTechnology:
Accesstoacomputerthatmeetstheseminimumrequirements:
anewercomputer(sometimeinthelast23yearsisbest).Pleasenote:aTablet(iPad,
etc.)mayNOTenableyoutoaccessallcoursematerial,ortotakeallexams.You
musthaveaccesstoacomputer.
WindowsXPSPEandnewerforaPCandMacOSX10.6orlaterforaMac.Linux
chromeOS.Note:TheChromebrowseriscurrentlynotworkingverywellwith
AdobeConnect,theprogramusedtohosttheweeklyTAleddiscussion.Pleaseuse
oneoftheothersforyourdiscussionsections.
awebcamera(builtinisbest,butexternalisokay)andamicrophone(aheadsetwith
amicrophoneispreferredoverthebuiltinmicrophone)

aheadset(theonesthatcomewithiPhones,etc.areokay,butaheadsetwitha
microphoneismuchbetter)note:ifyourcomputerdoesn'thaveacameraand
microphone,youcanpurchaseaninexpensivewebcamandaheadsetwitha
microphone.

highspeedinternetaccessthroughanEthernetcable(NOTjustWifi)fordiscussion
sections.Youwillhavetroublestayingconnectedand/orbeingabletoshareinyour
discussionsectionsifyouusewirelessforthediscussionsections.
thefollowingsoftwareinstalled:AdobeReaderandaFlashvideoplayer.
aSkypeaccount,incaseaconversationwiththeinstructororTAsisrequired,orto
attendvideoofficehours.

CourseandTechnicalSupport
IfyouneedhelpwithCourseContent(e.g.additionalquestionsaboutyour
assignments,duedates,oranyothercoursecontent)pleasecontactyourTAor
ProfessorSheaMurphy.
IfyouneedhelpwiththeCourseWebsite(e.g.,troubleloggingintoclasses,
troubleviewingcoursecontentortools),thenclickon"Help"intheupperright
handcorner(nextto"Logout")andselect"ReportaProblem"fromthemenu.
EnterashorttitleintheSubjectfieldandthendescribeyourprobleminasmuch
detailaspossible.Inthedropdownmenu,selectthesituationthatcorrespondsto
howthisproblemisaffectingyou.Thenclickon"SubmitTicket"tosendittoUC
OnlinesTechnicalTeamforresolution.
IfyouarehavingtemporaryComputerProblems,youmaycontacttheUCR
helpdesk(http://cnc.ucr.edu/scs/scshelpdesk.html)whosenumberis(951)827
6495.
Coursepolicies:
Allassignmentswillbeassignedandturnedinonlinethroughthecoursesite.
Announcementsanddiscussionposts,madebytheteachersorotherstudents,are
requiredreadinginthecourse.
StudentsareexpectedtobefamiliarwithUCRspolicyonAcademicIntegrity.See
http://conduct.ucr.edu/learnpolicies/academicintegrity.html
Detectedcasesofacademicdishonestyarepursuedaggressively.Copyingtextorideasfrom
anysource(currentstudents,paststudents,articles,books,web,etc.)withoutpropercitationis
notallowed.
Grading:
4unitcoursewith3hoursoflectureand1hourofdiscussion,asfollows:
WeeklyDancePracticeePortfolio
10%
(note:1%foreachentryexceptperformanceresponseentryworth2%)
ModuleMidterms
ModuleMidterm#1
ModuleMidterm#2

18%
5%
5%
4

ModuleMidterm#3

8%

GroupWikis
IntroWiki
FinalCourseWiki

10%
2%
8%

Discussion/Participation
WeeklyGradedDiscussionQuestions
Discussionsectionparticipation

32%
16%
16%

FinalExam

30%

ExtraCreditresponsepaper(1allowed)

2%

Dance:CulturesandContexts
CourseSchedule
Module1(Weeks1,2and3)Introduction
WEEK1

Thursday,Jan.8

WatchLessons1&2:Introduction
DanceonScreen
IntroWikiWork#1:Warmupexercise:postyourProfileBio
andPicturetocoursesite(gotothetoprightofnavigationbarand
clickonyourname).Due9p.m.
CompletetheSelfCheck:AreYouReady?questionnaire.
Week1GradedDiscussionQuestions:Due5p.m.
Weekendhomework:WatcheitherSinginintheRainorThe
FreshestKids(preparationforlaterinthecourse).

Friday,Jan.9

Attendyouronlinediscussionsection

WEEK2:

WatchLessons3&4:MeaninginMovement1
MeaninginMovement2

Monday,Jan.12

ePortfolioDancePracticeEntry#1(Due9pm)
WikiWork#2:SignuponCanvasforyourWikiGroupby9pm.

Thursday,Jan.15

Week2GradedDiscussionQuestions:Due5p.m.

Friday,Jan.16

Attendyouronlinediscussionsection

WEEK3:

WatchLesson5:CahuillaBirdSinging

Monday,Jan.19

MartinLutherKingholiday

Tuesday,Jan.20

ePortfolioDancePracticeEntry#2(Due9pm)
IntroWikiwork#3:Groupwarmupexercise:findyour
groupsCanvasWikisite.CreateapageonyourWikisiteonto
whichonegroupmemberwillcopytheGettingtoKnowYou
questions;thenanswerthem!Createagroupnameforyour
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Group.Designyourpagevisually.SetupaGoogleHangOutor
Skypesession,andmeeteachotheronline.Optional:inviteyour
TAtoagroupmeetingordiscussion.(Due9pm)
ThursdayJan.22
Friday,Jan.23

Week3GradedDiscussionQuestions:Due5p.m.
Attendyouronlinediscussionsection

FriJan.23(2pm)
SunJan.25(10pm)

Modulemidterm1

Module2(Weeks4and5):Hula
WEEK4:
Monday,Jan.26

WatchLessons6&7:Hulaintro;Hulahistory1
ePortfolioDancePracticeEntry#3(Due9pm)
IntroWikiwork#4:UsingthecommunicationmethodyourGroup
agreedupon,intervieweachotheraboutthethreemostinterestingthings
youvelearnedinthisclasssofar.Theneachwritetwoparagraphsabout
oneothergroupmember.Inthefirstparagraph,introducethisperson
(drawingontheirgettingtoknowyouanswersandtheCourseprofile
theyposted).Inthesecond,describethethreethingsthispersonlearned
inclass(drawingontheinterviewsyourgroupdid).Eachgroupmember
shouldposttheir2paragraphstothegroupWiki,andincludeaphotoor
otherillustrationdepictingthegroupmembertheyarewritingabout.
Makesurethateachpersoninyourgroupisrepresented.(Due9pm)

Thursday,Jan.29

Week4GradedDiscussionQuestions:Due5p.m.

Friday,Jan.30

Attendyouronlinediscussionsection

WEEK5:

WatchLessons8&9:Hulahistory2,HulaToday

Monday,Feb.2

Tuesday,Feb.3

ePortfolioDancePracticeEntry#4(Due9pm)
IntroWikiwork#5:PublishyourIntroWiki:Chooserolesfor
finalizingyourwiki;correctallerrors,finetunethelookofyour
wiki(designthesitetointroduceyourgroupmakeitlooknice!)
andpublish.FINALINTROWIKI(Due9pm)
GroupEvaluation#1(Due9pm)
7

Thursday,Feb.5

Week5GradedDiscussionQuestions:Due5p.m.

Friday,Feb.6

Attendyouronlinediscussionsection

FriFeb.6(2pm)
SunFeb.8(10pm)

ModuleMidterm2

Module3(Weeks6,7and8)TapandHipHop
WEEK6

WatchLessons10&11:
Intro to Tap,
Tap Dance in Historical Context: Minstrelsy to Broadway.

Monday,Feb.9

ePortfolioDancePracticeEntry#5(Due9pm)
FinalCourseWikiWork#1:seeassignmentonCanvas(Due9
pm)

Thursday,Feb.12

Week6GradedDiscussionQuestions:Due5p.m.

Friday, Feb. 13

Attendyouronlinediscussionsection

WEEK7
Monday,Feb.16
pm)

Watch Lessons 12 & 13: The Hollywood Musical and the Racial
Politics of Theft; HipHop:IntrotoBboyingandBBoyAesthetics
ePortfolioDancePracticeEntry#6(Due9pm)
FinalCourseWikiWork#2:SeeassignmentonCanvas(Due9

Thursday,Feb.19

Week6GradedDiscussionQuestions:Due5p.m.

Friday,Feb.20

Attendyouronlinediscussionsection

WEEK8

WatchLessons14&15:BboyTensions:Recognition,Gender,
GlobalCirculations
Hiphop:Waacking
Recommended:Choreohiphop,withguestspeakersDarnell
CarrollandMarioPonce.

Monday,Feb.23

ePortfolioDancePracticeEntry#7(Due9pm)
FinalWikiWork#3:SeeassignmentonCanvas(Due9pm)

ThursdayFeb.26

Week8GradedDiscussionQuestions:Due5p.m.

Friday,Feb.27

Attendyouronlinediscussionsection

FridayFeb.27(2pm)
SundayMarch1(10pm)

ModuleMidterm3

Module4(Weeks9and10)ContemporaryDance,WrapUp
WEEK9:

WatchLessons16&17:Moderndanceearlyhistoryand
Modern/postmoderndance
ContemporaryDance

Monday,March2

ePortfolioDancePracticeEntry#8(Due9pm)
FinalWikiWork#4:PublishyourFinalWiki(Due9pm)

Tuesday,March3:

WikiGroupEvaluation#2(Due9pm)

Thursday,March5

Week9GradedDiscussionQuestions:Due5p.m.

Friday,March6

Attendyouronlinediscussionsection

WEEK10:
Rogers

WatchLesson18:ContemporarydanceguestspeakerWendy
ReviewCourseWikis(CourseWikismadeopentoclasson
Thursday,March5).

Monday,March9

ePortfolioDancePracticeEntry#9(Final)(Due9pm)

Thursday,March12

Week10GradedDiscussionQuestions:Due5p.m.

Friday,March13

Attendyouronlinediscussionsection

FINALEXAMONLINEPROCTOREDEXAM:Youwillchoosea3hourtimeperiodin
whichtotakeexam,startingMonday,March16,9a.m.,andendingThursday,March19,
midnight.
Thecostforthisserviceis$33.95

10