Harriet Tubman & Faubion Middle School

Dance Program
2020-21 Distance Learning
http://tubmanfaubiondance.weebly.com/

DANCE TEACHERS
Ms. Oluyinka Parsons-Akinjiola, African Diaspora & Contemporary
oparsonsakinjio@pps.net
Mr. Derrell Walker/ Sekou, West African Dance
dwalker@pps.net
Welcome students to dance in the PPS 2020-21 school year,

Your dance instructors are Mr. Sekou and Ms. Oluyinka. You will be learning Traditional West African
Dance, Dances of the African Diaspora and Contemporary Dance with us. We are excited to see you
grow as artists, and especially as dancers. Your time with us will be filled with learning new
choreography, strengthening techniques, and gaining cultural and historical knowledge. Our main
platform will be Zoom, ​all of your login information is available on Canvas. Use the zoom tab, click
“join” for the meeting that says “today.”

**Class will be LIVE on Zoom Monday through Thursday**

Each period will have dance twice a week with Mr. Sekou and Ms. Oluyinka. There is no replacement
for live class, so all meetings will be synchronous.

1
Online Class Expectations and Etiquette
1. Default to have your camera ON and mic OFF
a. If you are not able to have your camera ON, contact instructors before
class begins. An alternative video or writing assignment will be given to
receive credit. If you do not have your camera ON and forget to contact
your instructor before class, you will NOT receive credit for class.
2. Show up ready to dance
3. Wear appropriate clothing for dance
4. Designate a regular space for class, which is private if possible
a. Have your camera/computer set up
b. Your are lit from the front
c. Make sure you can hear the music (plug in speakers to maximize audio)
d. You have enough battery, if not a reliable charging source (example power cord)
e. Be on a reliable wifi - during your instructional hours its advised that other members
of the house are not using too much of the wifi, if you need a mobile hotspot please
let us know ASAP
5. The chat will only allow you to talk to the instructor, not the group, you can ask dance related
questions privately this way.
6. You can log in 10-15mins early, after the class start time and attendance will be taken. If you
are late, you will have remain in the waiting room until the instructor can let
you in.
7. Set up a zoom account or have your parents set one up for you ​Click Here for a
tutorial
8. *If you are using a parent or guardians zoom account, rename yourself on each
meeting so we know who you are and can take proper attendance
9. You are expected to participate the full length for each class
10. Have a good attitude, make the best of the situation, we’re all adjusting to
online learning, this keeps us safe and healthy. Bring your possitivitay!!!!

In this syllabus you will find important details about:

1. Class Descriptions
2. Proficiency-Based Grading
3. Daily Professionalism Grade/Skill Grade
4. Required Materials
5. Absences, Illness/Injury

If you have any questions, please email us at the email addresses listed above.

2
Class Descriptions
​Introduction to Dance:
An introduction to the fundamental movements, vocabulary, musicality and technical
execution of West African, Modern/Contemporary, Cuban and Brazilian dance. Students
will also learn basic elements of dance through composition and choreography. In
addition to daily conditioning for dance, students will learn the general history and
cultural traditions with each dance form. Introductory classes will be evaluated on
professionalism and participation in the dance studio.

I​ntermediate Dance (semester or year long)

Prerequisite: Introduction or prior dance experience
Continuing dance students will develop proficiency in choreography, musicality,
technique, composition and performance. Evaluation will focus on technical execution
and professional etiquette in the dance studio and on stage. Classes will be performance
focused. Students will engage in daily conditioning, learning choreography, and perform
in the semester dance concerts. Only students with prior dance background are
recommended for this class.

​Advanced Dance (year long)

Prerequisite: Intermediate Dance
Classes will be performance focused and have a series of performances in addition to the
semester concerts. Continuing dance students will sharpen proficiency in choreography,
musicality, technique, composition and performance in West African,
Contemporary/Modern, Afro-Caribbean. Evaluation will focus on technical execution
and professional etiquette in the dance studio and on stage. Students will engage in
daily conditioning, learning advanced choreography, and performance based learning.
Only students with prior dance background are recommended for this class.

3
GRADING
Dancers are assessed in ​TWO​ categories:

1. WEEKLY STUDIO NETIQUETTE (see below)

2. TECHNICAL SKILL (see below)

FINAL QUARTER GRADE:

60% Professionalism / 40% Skill = END OF QUARTER
GRADE

1. Participation/WEEKLY STUDIO NETIQUETTE ​: Every class students will be evaluated

and graded on the following criteria:
1. Being On Time
2. Being in full ​Dress Down Clothes ​(see below)
3. Barefeet or appropriate footwear
4. Hair out of the face
5. Full Participation (energy and effort) with camera ON

The dance department takes its ​WEEKLY STUDIO NETIQUETTE ​requirements

very seriously. For students struggling to meet the professionalism
requirements ​three​ or more times in one of the above categories, there will be
communication home to discuss ways in which we can all better support the
student.

Dress Down Clothes/Shoes: ​All 6-8 grade students are required to dress down
for every dance class (see details below).
• ​Dress code required by: Wednesday, January 30th

2. TECHNICAL SKILL GRADE​: Dancers will be periodically assessed on their dance

knowledge, skill and comprehension of dance standards as they progress towards
mastery. Dancers that fall below proficiency on their skill grade will need to seek out
additional support in order to increase their skill. At the end of the year student's
technical skill will be assessed to determine their placement for the next year.
Dancers will need to maintain a proficient or higher grade on their overall skill score
to be considered for promotion to the next level the following year.

4
ABSENCES, TARDINESS, ILLNESS & INJURY
Absences:​ Students may be absent three times each quarter without the participation grade being
negatively impacted. Students with excessive (four or more) absences will need to submit videos
demonstrating their knowledge of choreography.

Tardiness: ​You will be marked late after the first 5 minutes and remain in the
waiting room. Please notify us if you have a conflict that will make you late to
class in advance.

Illness/Injury:​ If you are injured or ill and will be unable to participate in class,
send an email from a doctor or school nurse explaining the need for relief from
the activity is required. Send this to ​both ​teachers.​ If you are unable to get an
email from a doctor or nurse, a detailed note from your ​parent or guardian
explaining the illness/injury will be temporarily accepted. You will be given an
alternative assignment to make up credit. Students WITHOUT notes will be
required to participate.

Making Up Work
The best way to make up class material is to invest additional practice to learn the material you missed.
Alternative assignments, will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Check in with both teachers if you
are concerned with the amount of classes or assignments you have missed.

Be accountable, communicate and read your emails.

If you have any questions about the information contained in these pages for dance class at Faubion and
Harriet Tubman, please don’t hesitate to contact the dance teachers listed at the top of the page.
All the best,

Tubman Dance Department

-- Oluyinka Parsons-Akinjiola
-- Derrell Walker/ Sekou