Dance Studies - DANCA13403
Stream Summary
Faculty: ARTSC - Faculty of Arts&Social Science
School: School of the Arts and Media
Contact: sam@unsw.edu.au
Program: 3403 - Arts
Award(s):
Bachelor of Arts (Major)
Information valid for students commencing 2013.
Students who commenced prior to 2013 should go to the Handbook's Previous Editions
Stream Outline
The BA major stream in Dance Studies aims to produce dance artists, writers, researchers, educators and arts workers ready to enter the performing arts industry and secondary and tertiary educational institutions. Thinking, Writing and Making dance are three broad areas of study linked by the key terms of corporeality and movement.
Thinking: Your studies will cover the history, theory and analysis of dance in diverse cultural contexts, locating dance within a larger ecology of related national and international practices and knowledges. This expansion is also reflected in the interdisciplinary orientation of the major stream, reflecting current practice in the field of dance practice and theory.
Writing: Students are encouraged to develop a writing practice alongside their creative or theoretical interest in dance, and explore the various relationships between writing and dancing.
Making: The major streams studio-based content involves movement-based practices and techniques, recognising the role of studio-based learning and the develop physical knowledge which is fundamental to the discipline of dance.
Dance Studies at UNSW has strong ties with local industry through teaching staff and associated professional residencies, and is aligned with the existing ecology of dance practice in NSW with a focus on self-authored movement research, offering clear pathways to higher research in Creative Practice and Dance Theory.
The subject-specific aims of the BA major stream in Dance Studies are:
Thinking: Your studies will cover the history, theory and analysis of dance in diverse cultural contexts, locating dance within a larger ecology of related national and international practices and knowledges. This expansion is also reflected in the interdisciplinary orientation of the major stream, reflecting current practice in the field of dance practice and theory.
Writing: Students are encouraged to develop a writing practice alongside their creative or theoretical interest in dance, and explore the various relationships between writing and dancing.
Making: The major streams studio-based content involves movement-based practices and techniques, recognising the role of studio-based learning and the develop physical knowledge which is fundamental to the discipline of dance.
Dance Studies at UNSW has strong ties with local industry through teaching staff and associated professional residencies, and is aligned with the existing ecology of dance practice in NSW with a focus on self-authored movement research, offering clear pathways to higher research in Creative Practice and Dance Theory.
The subject-specific aims of the BA major stream in Dance Studies are:
- To develop an appreciation of dance as an influential force within the broader ecology of the humanities
- To establish a firm grounding in the key concepts of corporeality and movement that form the disciplinary basis of dance
- To recognise the role of somatic knowledge as fundamental to the study of dance
- To apply a variety of critical approaches to both the theory and practice of dance
- To explore a diversity of dance forms, knowledges and practices beyond the Western canon
- To develop research skills, both practical and theoretical, in gathering, classifying and communicating information about dance and choreography
- To apply writing skills to the translation and communication of somatic practices and knowledges
- To recognise and reflect on social, cultural and ethical issues, as they apply to diverse dance practices.
Stream Structure
A student who wishes to gain a major stream in Dance Studies must complete 54 units of credit including 12 UOC at Level 1, at least 18 UOC at Level 2 including the core courses ARTS2005 Choreography and Theory and ARTS2006 Composition Across Music and Dance, and at least 18 UOC at Level 3 including the capstone course.
The first possible Major stream in Dance Studies is for students with less formal training in Dance:
Level 1 Courses
- ARTS1005 Dance Introduction (6 UOC) GATEWAY
- ARTS1121 Reading Performance (6 UOC)
Level 2 Courses
Students must complete the core courses:
- ARTS2005 Choreography and Theory (6 UOC)
- ARTS2006 Music and Dance (6 UOC)
And at least one of the following:
- ARTS2009 Technical Production (6 UOC)
- MDIA2001 Bodies and Interfaces (6 UOC)
Level 3 Courses
- ARTS3011 Writing Bodies (6 UOC) (Requires completion of 24 UOC in English)
- ARTS3012 Choreography and the Moving Image (6 UOC)
- ARTS3125 Multimedia Performance (6 UOC)
- ARTS3013 Performance Arts Internships (6 UOC)
Dance Studies Capstone (compulsory)
- ARTS3014 Interdisciplinary Composition (6 UOC)
The second possible Major stream in Dance Studies is for students with some formal dance training, and is accessed via a performance-based assessment in the Level 1 gateway course, ARTS1005 Thinking, Writing and Making Dance. In this course, students will be asked to self-select a level for the tutorials (studio-seminars) based on their experience as a dancer. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced studio-seminars will be offered in ARTS1005 Thinking, Writing and Making Dance. A student with little or no dance experience should select a Beginner group. A student with substantial skills in social dance forms (traditional - kathak, indigenous etc, or salsa, tango, hip hop etc) or western techniques (ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap) should select Intermediate. Students with a Dance HSC result in band 5 or 6, Intermediate level in a major dance syllabus (RAD, Cechetti, BBO etc) or significant professional dance experience should select Advanced.
Students in the intermediate and advanced studio-seminars who obtain a Credit in the performance assessment for ARTS1005 Thinking, Writing and Making Dance can proceed to the studio-based subject ARTS1006 Introduction to Movement (Level 1, S2) and those in Level 2 and 3 of Dance Studies.
Students in the intermediate and advanced studio-seminars who obtain a Credit in the performance assessment for ARTS1005 Thinking, Writing and Making Dance can proceed to the studio-based subject ARTS1006 Introduction to Movement (Level 1, S2) and those in Level 2 and 3 of Dance Studies.
Level 1 Courses
- ARTS1005 Dance Introduction (6 UOC) GATEWAY
- ARTS1006 Introduction to Movement (6 UOC)
Level 2 Courses
Students must complete the core courses:
- ARTS2005 Choreography and Theory (6 UOC)
- ARTS2006 Music and Dance (6 UOC)
And at least one of the following:
- ARTS2007 Body Practices (6 UOC)*
- ARTS2008 Dance Technique (6 UOC)*
- ARTS2009 Technical Production (6 UOC)
- MDIA2001 Bodies and Interfaces (6 UOC)
* Both ARTS2007 and ARTS2008 are compulsory for students intending to take ARTS3123 Solo Performance Making
Level 3 Courses
- ARTS3011 Writing Bodies (6 UOC) (Requires completion of 24 UOC in English)
- ARTS3012 Choreography and the Moving Image (6 UOC)
- ARTS3013 Performing Arts Internships (6 UOC)
- ARTS3123 Solo Performance (6 UOC)
- ARTS3125 Multimedia Performance (6 UOC)
Dance Studies Capstone Course (compulsory)
- ARTS3014 Interdisciplinary Composition (6 UOC)
The second stream is recommended for BA/BEd students in order to meet the criteria set by the NSW Institute of Teachers (in brackets):
- Level 1 Introduction to Movement (Applied anatomy)
- Level 2 Choreography and Theory (History and Analysis of Dance)
- Level 2 Dance Technique (Performance with a technique base in modern/contemporary dance and ballet)
- Level 2 Body Practices (Performance with a technique base in modern/contemporary dance and ballet, applied anatomy)
- Level 2 Creative Practice Across Music and Dance (Composition/choreography)
- Level 3 Solo Performance Making (Composition/choreography)
Students undertaking ARTS1006 Introduction to Movement (Level 1, Semester 2) are required to undertake a physical assessment before the commencement of semester 2 for their own safety. These are offered at Kensington Physiotherapy on UNSW campus: (02) 9385 6482. The onus is upon students to disclose relevant outcomes from the assessment to teaching staff in studio-based classes.
