Dance Courses

Please Note: All students must be placed in an appropriate level of proficiency for all studio/application dance classes. This placement will be re-evaluated each semester on an individual basis between the instructors of record for each class in consultation with the Head of Dance. Dance classes can be taken for a $200 fee by registering for the 0 unit lab. Skills designations on zero unit classes may not fulfill Key Skills and Knowledge requirements.

DA103 Dance Appreciation– An Introduction to Dance Studies One unit.  An overview and survey course increasing the students understanding of dance and its many faces as an art form, entertainment and activity. The students will learn through lecture, viewing, reading and short simple movement experiences.  Prior dance experience or training is not required. This is not a technique class in dance. Designed for all students with an interest in dance.

DA112 Dynamic Movement. 0.5 unit. A course designed to improve the dancer’s strength, stretch, and overall body condition. The course is specifically tailored to help the physical demands of a dancer. 

DA112F Dynamic Movement Lab. 0 unit. See DA112. 

DA 114 Hip Hop and Street Dance. 0.5 unit. An open level dance class designed for the student who wishes to develop the basic foundation and techniques of Hip Hop and Street Dance. Cross-listed with DA114H. 

DA 114H Hip Hop and Street Dance Lab. Zero units. Lab fee. See DA 114. 

DA 116 Dance Pedagogy 1– Introduction to Movement Analysis and Somatic Practices. 1 unit. An introductory course surveying the aspects of Movement Analysis and Somatic Practices for the purpose of dance education and movement invention. The students will practice the studies of Laban Movement Analysis for discussing, decoding, analyzing and embodying movement choices.  The class will cover humanistic movement and the movements required of a trained dancer. This will be done through lecture, movement exploration, embodiment of movement characteristics and observation. Dance Majors or by permission of Instructor.

DA 120  Hatha Yoga.   0.5 unit.  The aim of Hatha Yoga is a more thorough understanding of self.  Students will pursue this objective through asana, meditation, and Pranayama, practicing the integration of their body, mind and breath.

DA 120Y  Hatha Yoga Lab.  Zero units.  Lab fee.  See DA120.

DA 191 History of Dance. 1 unit. This course traces the evolution of Western dance from Primitive tribal dance through the birth of folk dance, classical and modern dance, and ballroom dance.

DA 151 Ballet I. 0.5 unit. A practical, beginning level ballet class designed for the student who wishes to develop the basic foundation and technique of ballet.

DA 151B Ballet I Lab. 0 unit. See DA151.

DA161 Jazz I. 0.5 unit. A practical, beginning-level jazz class designed for the student who wishes to develop the basic foundation and technique of ballet.

DA 161J Jazz I Lab. 0 unit. See DA161.

DA 171 Modern Dance I. 0.5 unit. A beginning level dance class designed to build the fundamental techniques of Modern Dance. The student will study the ideas and concepts of our Modern Dance pioneers through practical application of movement.

DA 171M Modern Dance Lab. 0 unit. See DA271.

DA181 Tap I. 0.5 unit. A practical, beginning level tap class designed to develop the basic foundation and techniques of tap dance.

DA 181T Tap I Lab. 0 unit. See DA181.

DA 191  Dance History. 1 unit.  This class traces the evolution of Western dance from tribal dance through folk dance, classical and modern dance, and ballroom dance. 

DA210 Movement for Performers I. This is an actor orientated course that develops the body as a performance instrument. Lessons focus on building physical presence; increasing interpretative choices; increasing flexibility and range of motion; and learning to control stage focus.

DA211 Movement for Performers II. A continuation of the techniques learned in Theatre 210. Prerequisites: Theatre 117 and 210.

DA214  Hip Hop II. 0.5 unit.  A second level dance class for the student who wishes to continue to develop the techniques learned in Hip Hop and Street Dance. Cross-listed with DA214H. Prerequisite:  Permission of instructor only.

DA214H Hip Hop II. o units.  See DA214.

DA 245 Dance Exploration and Improvisation. 0.5 unit. A class designed to build the ability to move freely and create movement vocabulary. Student will work, not within a specific technique of dance, but use the somatic and kinesthetic principles of movement to create language. Dynamics of movement will be explored through use of external directives.

DA 245E Dance Exploration and Improvisation Lab. 0 unit. See DA245.

DA250 Dance History 2-A Cultural, Social, and Historical Approach. 1 unit.  This course looks at dance from a global viewpoint through observation and assessment of both Western and Non-Western forms of dance and their relationship to culture, society and history.  The class utilizes a contextual lens to review ritual, theatrical, folk, performance and social forms of dance. The class will focus on a variety of genres of dance that are relevant to understanding diversity and intercultural factors. Prerequisite DA103 Dance Appreciation or DA191 History of Dance.

DA 252 Ballet II. 0.5 unit. A practical, intermediate level ballet class designed for the student who has the basic knowledge of the ballet and wishes to strengthen his or her technique. Prerequisite: DA151 or DA151B or permission of instructor.

DA 252B Ballet II Lab. 0 units.

DA 262 Jazz II. 0.5 unit. A practical, intermediate level jazz class designed for the student who has the basic knowledge of jazz technique and wishes to strengthen his or her technique. Prerequisite: DA161 or DA161J or permission of the instructor.

DA 262J Jazz II Lab. 0 units. See DA262.

DA 272 Modern Dance II. 0.5 units. An intermediate level dance class designed for the student who has the basic knowledge of modern dance and wishes to strengthen his or her technique and further their study of the concepts of our Modern Dance Pioneers through practical application of movement. Prerequisite DA171 or DA171M or permission of instructor.

DA 272M Modern Dance II Lab. 0 units. See DA272.

DA 282 Tap II. 0.5 unit. A practical, intermediate level tap class designed to strengthen the fundamental techniques of tap dancing. Prerequisite DA181 or DA181T or permission of the instructor.

DA 282T Tap II Lab. 0 unit. See DA282.

DA 295 Musical Theatre Dance. One unit. A practical open level dance class designed to familiarize the student with the styles of dance most frequently used in Musical Theatre. Students will be taught choreography of specific musical theatre dance genres to perform in a final presentation at the end of the semester along with a system of notation for recording choreography. The students will also be given an overview of the various expectations and roles that may be required in the Musical Theatre Industry. Required by all Theatre Performance Majors. Open to performance majors and dance minors only. Prerequisites: One half or 0 unit dance technique classes in any of the three disciples of Dance: Modern Dance, Jazz Dance or Ballet.

DA 301 Musical Theatre Styles. One unit. A practical open level dance class designed to familiarize the student with the styles of dance most frequently used in Musical Theatre. Student will be taught choreography to perform in a final presentation at the end of the semester. Prerequisites: DA151, DA161, DA171, DA181 or any other higher level technique class.

DA 302 Experiential Anatomy and Kinesiology. One unit. A course designed to teach the basic principles of functional anatomy and movement patterning through experiential somatic practices. Anatomical terms and definitions, fundamental body mechanics and injury prevention will be examined as related to their application of dance and movement to the performer. Designed for the working artist of theatre and dance. Offered as needed. 

DA303 Partnering. 0.5 unit. A practical class for the advanced level dancer to develop the techniques of shared weight and principles of classical partnering, i.e. lifts, carries and promenades. Permission of instructor required.

DA303P Partnering Lab. 0 unit. See DA303.

DA 304 Musical Theatre Styles Tap CC, O. One unit. See. Offered as required. A practical open level dance class designed to familiarize the student with the styles of tap dance most frequently used in Musical Theatre. Student will be taught choreography to perform. Prerequisites:   DA295

DA316 Dance Pedagogy II– Lesson planning and curriculum building. 1 unit. A beginning level course in dance pedagogy designed for the student interested in developing lesson plans and curriculum for teaching dance at any level.  Ballet, Jazz Modern and Tap techniques will be covered as based on student interest, personal goals and mastery of skill.Prerequisite:  DA116 Dance Pedagogy I. 

DA 353 Ballet III. 0.5 unit. A practical advanced level ballet class designed for the student who wishes to maintain his or her ballet technique and develop the proficiency to execute advanced level movements. Prerequisites: DA252 or DA252B or permission of the instructor.

DA 3513B Ballet III Lab. 0 units.

DA 363 Jazz III. 0.5 unit. A practical advanced level jazz class designed for the student to maintain his or her jazz technique and wishes to continue to develop the proficiency to execute advanced level movements. Prerequisite: DA262 or DA262J or permission of the instructor.

DA 363J Jazz III Lab. 0 units. See DA363.

DA 373 Modern Dance III. 0.5 units. A practical advanced level dance class designed for the student who has the skills of modern dance and wishes to maintain his or her technique and study more eclectic and contemporary theories of movement through practical application. Prerequisite: DA272 or DA272M or permission of instructor.

DA 373M Modern Dance III Lab. 0 units. See DA373.

DA 383 Tap III. 0.5 unit. A practical advanced level Tap dance class designed for the student to maintain his or her technique and wishes to continue to develop the proficiency to execute advanced level movements Prerequisite: DA282 or DA282T or permission of the instructor.

DA 383T Tap III Lab. 0 unit. See DA 383. Offered as required.

DA 395 Dance Criticism. 1 unit. A foundation course analyzing various types of dance performance and theories. Students will watch performances and study different types of dance weekly. This course would be multi cultural and diverse in its approach. The student will then participate in class discussions.

DA 401 Techniques of Choreography. 1 unit. A comprehensive study of choreographic theory and composition. The course is designed to develop the tools for choreography. Prerequisites: DA 210, DA248, DA248I or permission of instructor.

DA 402 Techniques of Choreography and Performance. 1 unit. A studio class where the students will apply the skills mastered in DA 401 to create a more developed choreographic composition for public presentation. Prerequisite: DA 401. Offered as required.

DA 416 Dance Pedagogy III (Capstone). 1 unit. An advanced level course designed for students who want to teach and create dance.  Each student will work with movement invention to develop a specific technique and style of dance.  From which they will develop methodologies for application and overall curriculum for practice. The aspects of leadership, ethics of touch, class management and skill assessment will also be covered.  Each student will work to develop their own pedagogical statement for support in their career as a Dance Educator. Each student will participate in a 100-hour (at minimum) teaching experience integrating knowledge and skills learned through the Dance Major classes in order to prepare the student for graduation and a career beyond Wagner College; Prerequisites DA*** Dance Pedagogy II and DA401.

DA 454 Ballet IV. 0.5 unit. A practical advanced level ballet class designed for the student who is serious about dance and has already established a strong technique while developing more advanced movement ability, performance skills and styles of ballet dance. The class will aid in preparing the student for working in the profession world of dance. Prerequisites: DA353 or DA353B or permission of instructor.

DA 454B Ballet IV Lab. 0 units. See DA454.

DA 464 Jazz IV. 0.5 unit. A practical advanced level ballet class designed for the student who is serious about dance and has already established a strong technical foundation. The class will facilitate the student’s ability to maintain his or her technique while developing more advanced performance skills. The class will aid in preparing the student for work in the professional world of dance. Prerequisites: DA363 or DA363J or permission of instructor.

DA 464J Jazz IV Lab. 0 units. See DA464.

DA 484 Tap IV. 0.5 unit. A practical advanced level tap class designed for the student who is serious about dance and has already established a strong technical foundation. The class will facilitate the student’s ability to maintain his or her technique while developing more advanced movement ability, performance skills and styles of jazz dance. The class will aid in preparing the student for work in the professional world of dance. Prerequisites: DA383 or DA383T or permission of instructor.

DA 484T Tap IV Lab. 0 unit. See DA484.

DA 495 Contemporary Dance Workshop. 0.5 unit. A class designed for the intermediate and advanced level dancers to work within an experimental and creative environment. The course will provide students with intensive practical experience through close work with faculty. Students will be mentored to express themselves artistically through dance and develop a contemporary form of artistic expression. Instructor permission required. Offered fall and spring semesters. Class may be repeated.

DA 495C Contemporary Dance Workshop Lab. 0 unit. See DA485.