DNCE 100: New Student Seminar
Credit hours (3)
An introduction to the place of dance within academia and the professional/public spheres. The course is designed to orient incoming dance majors to the university setting and familiarize them with the Radford Department of Dance. Lecture.
***(or Theory (TH) in alignment with other dance courses)
Detailed Description of Course
Official Course Description:
New Student Seminar serves as an introduction to the place of dance within academia and the professional/public spheres. The course is designed to orient incoming dance majors to the university setting and familiarize them with the Radford Department of Dance. Topics covered include time management, university resources, injury prevention, nutrition, and career opportunities in dance. The course aims to build a community of artists within the incoming class and develop the artistic process.
Content:
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
Students will engage in a semester-long collaborative inquiry centered on the creation
and presentation of a co-created choreographic concert. Through sustained creative
research and application of dance composition fundamentals, students will explore
the creative process, originality and intention, collaboration, and systems thinking
as they develop original movement studies. Working initially in small groups, students
will create choreographic investigations that are subsequently refined and integrated
through a collaborative class process into a cohesive performance work of approximately
30 minutes. Throughout the semester, students will participate in learning experiences
that support artistic development, academic success, and professional preparation.
Coursework will include the study of dance technique fundamentals, historical and
contemporary dance practices, research methodologies, writing about dance, digital
literacy, and dance professionalism. Additional learning activities will address topics
such as effective study strategies, time management, career pathways, ethical and
professional behavior, health and wellness practices, and anatomically safe approaches
to dance training and performance. Students will engage with research resources through
library instruction, evaluate source credibility, and explore ethical considerations
related to copyright, artificial intelligence, and the use of digital media. Reflective
practice will be cultivated through regular journal writing and a final reflection
paper that encourages students to critically examine their creative, collaborative,
and learning processes. The culminating concert will be presented in a formal performance
setting with theatrical production elements and a public audience. Following the performance,
students will participate in a structured talkback, communicating their artistic intentions,
research findings, and creative decision-making while engaging in dialogue with audience
members. Building upon this experience, students will adapt their work for a site-specific
performance presented in a campus location selected for its relevance to the themes
and concepts of their choreographic project. Through these performance, research,
reflection, and civic engagement experiences, students will synthesize and demonstrate
the knowledge, skills, and professional competencies developed throughout the course.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Assessment Measures
Other Course Information
Primary Text
Schupp, K. (2014). Studying dance: A guide for campus and beyond. Human Kinetics.
Supplemental Readings
Giguere, M. (2014). Beginning modern dance. Human Kinetics. Selected readings on the history and evolution of modern dance.
Kassing, G. (2013). Beginning ballet. Human Kinetics. Selected readings on the history and development of ballet.
Review and Approval
February 13, 2017
June 20, 2015
November 9, 2026