THTR 1131

BEGINNING BALLET

COURSE SYLLABUS
SPRING 2017
CLASS HOURS:
CLASSROOM:
INSTRUCTOR:
E-MAIL ADDRESS:
OFFICE:
OFFICE HOURS:

8:00-9:20, MONDAY and WEDNESDAY

Music and Dramatic Arts Building, Room 123 A
SUSAN PERLIS
sperli1@lsu.edu
Music and Dramatic Arts Building, Room 317
Friday 10:00-12:30, or by appointment

DESCRIPTION
This is a traditional introductory level ballet technique course. The concepts
that govern ballet, as well as the history and basic anatomy of ballet, will be
integrated into the instruction. This course is appropriate for beginning
dancers as well as more experienced dancers who wish to maintain fitness,
broaden understanding, and hone technique.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
- To introduce students to the fundamentals of ballet and its performance.
- To increase fitness, flexibility, and agility.
- To engender an appreciation of the aesthetic and historical aspects of
ballet.
COURSE TOPICS
Topics to be covered are listed on Moodle as Beginning Ballet Vocabulary.
TEXT
Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet, by Gail Grant
EXPECTATIONS
This is a lab course. Homework is primarily restricted to the study of
ballet concepts and vocabulary introduced in class. Each class will
consist of barre and centre work. Daily participation is the most
important component of this course, and dancers should plan to attend
every class.
LSUs general policy states that for each credit hour, you (the student) should
plan to spend at least two hours working on course related activities outside
of class. Since this course is for one credit hour/3 hour LAB, all of your work
should be completed in class. For more information
see: http://catalog.lsu.edu/content.php?catoid=12&navoid=822.

COURSE CALENDAR
Week 1:
Week 2:
Week 3:
Week 4:
Review
(Vocabulary Exam 1)
Week 5:
Week 6:
(Technical Assessment)
Week 7:
Week 8:
Week 9:
Review (Vocabulary Exam 2)
Week 10:
Week 11:
(Technical Assessment)
Week 12:
Master Class
Week 13:
Master Class
Week 14:
Review
(Final Vocabulary Exam)
GRADES
Participation
Technical Improvement
Dance Concert Attendance
Vocabulary Exams

50%
15%
10%
25%

Grades will be assigned as follows:

A+ = 97 100 %
A = 96 93 %
A - = 90 92 %
B+ = 87 89 %
B = 83 86 %
B - = 80 82 %
C+ = 77 79 %
C = 73 76 %
C - = 70 72 %
D+ = 67 69 %
D = 63 66 %
D - = 60 62 %
F = 59 % and below

ATTENDANCE

Students are required to attend class. Late arrivals, early departures, nonparticipation will count as a tardy. Two tardy marks will equal one unexcused
absence for the semester. Unexcused absences cannot be made up in any
way.
Excused absences are given only under extenuating circumstances including
serious illness with a doctors note (not from student health center), serious
family emergency (immediate family), legal obligation, military obligation,
and any university approved group absences. These absences must be
requested in advance whenever possible, require documentation, and must
be made up in a way determined by the course instructor.
PARTICIPATION
If you are injured and cannot dance on a given day you may receive one-half
participation credit by watching class and submitting notes at the end of the
period. Any injury which extends more than three days may require dropping
the course. All injuries should be discussed with the instructor prior to class.
ATTIRE
Proper attire must be worn to receive full participation credit. Women should
wear a black leotard, pink tights, and pink ballet slippers with elastics to all
classes. Men should wear black tights (with dance belt), white t-shirt, and
black or white ballet shoes. No street clothes or non-dance attire will be
allowed. No jewelry in class. Hair must be secured off the face and neck.
Failure to dress out appropriately will result in a five point reduction of
participation credit.
CLASS ETIQUETTE
No chewing gum, food, or drinks -other than bottled water- are allowed in the
studio. All cell phones and noise-making devices must be turned off during
class.
TECHNIQUE IMPROVEMENT
Students improvement will be evaluated twice during the semester. This will
be accomplished
through observance of a standard technique class.
DANCE CONCERT ATTENDANCE
Students must attend the LSU Dance Concert on April 29 in the Shaver
Theatre. Bring the ticket stub and program to class in order to receive credit
for attendance.
VOCABULARY EXAMS
Written quizzes will cover ballet vocabulary, identification, and translations.
The final exam will be a written test covering material from the entire
semester. The exam will be given on the last day of regular class.

LSU STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

The LSU student code of conduct explains student rights, excused absences,
and what is expected of student behavior. Students are expected to
understand this code as described here:
http://students.lsu.edu/saa/students/code. Any violations of the LSU student
code will be duly reported to the Dean of Students.
DISABILITIES
Louisiana State University is committed to providing reasonable
accommodations for all persons with disabilities. The syllabus is available in
alternate formats upon request.
If you have a disability that may have some impact on your work in this class
and for which you may require accommodations, please see a staff member
in Disability Services so that such accommodations can be considered.
Students that receive accommodation letters, please meet with me to discuss
the provisions of those as soon as possible.