Exploration of Hip Hop Dance as an art form that offers a limitless way to express oneself in human movement. Primary emphasis is on developing skills and techniques of the basic Hip Hop movement vocabulary supplemented by instruction in Hip Hop dance history, terminology and the principles of time, space, and energy. Classroom physical practice will focus on anatomically correct body alignment, awareness of the body in space, musicality, strength, stamina, and flexibility. Care of the body and conditioning for dance is also emphasized.
Students will be evaluated during the first week of class to determine if they should place into DNCA-1721 rather than DNCA-171 as this is an introductory class intended for those with no formal Hip Hop dance experience.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
- Understand and practice the skills and combinations of hip hop dance movement at a beginning level.
- Demonstrate and practice proper conditioning of the dancers’ body in preparation of dancing.
- Provide students with a knowledge and understanding of hip hop dance history, vocabulary, events, and performance.
- Prepare students for audition and entrance into four-year dance programs.
- Provide transferable technique course credit were applicable (some Dance programs will take a beginning level class, where others that require auditions to enter may not).
- Anatomical Alignment
Explain musculoskeletal structure and its relationship to movement and energy in the body. Execute movement with connectivity and coordination of the parts to the whole.
- Dancer Conditioning
Demonstrate personal growth along with an increase in individual capacity of physical strength, endurance, balance, and flexibility as needed in a beginning level dance technique class.
- Hip Hop Dance Technique
Demonstrate personal progression of the integration of alignment, conditioning, musicality, and use of energy to execute Hip Hop movement combinations and phrases.
- Musicality / Rhythmic Sensitivity
Sustain accurate rhythm, dynamics, accents, and musicality with movement vocabulary, combinations, and phrases and being able to do so while adjusting to a variety of music.
- Hip Hop Dance Vocabulary
Recognize, identify and apply Hip Hop Dance terminology.
- Hip Hop Dance History / Current Events / Performance
Analyze historical and current events and performance in Hip Hop Dance through interpretative reading, writing, observation, and/or discussion.
Assessment and Requirements
Assessment of academic achievement may include but not be limited to written, oral, or movement exams to identify hip hop dance and skeletal and muscular terminology. Movement exams include the demonstration of beginning skill levels in technique, performance, and musicality. Interpretative reading and writing assignments and interactive discussion may also be used to assess academic achievement.