Module: DAN5204-20 Applied Techniques

Level: 5

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Sarah Alexander

Module Tutor Contact Details: s.alexander@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

This module aims to further develop your contemporary dance technique and to diversify your practice through the introduction of other dance styles. The aim is to develop your versatility, enabling you to access a range of opportunities with the dance sector, particularly how these can be applied to freelance, education and community contexts. This will allow you to explore how your dance skills can be applied to these types of employment scenarios.

Foundational skills in facilitating workshops will support the application of your own technical dance training to the context of delivering a technique class or workshop to others. Throughout the module, you will be engaging with pedagogical approaches and safe practice principles that are particular to dance provision.

2. Outline syllabus: 

The module will continue to develop your contemporary technique through a core programme of regular classes. You will build skills within more challenging technical material that aims to further develop your qualitative and expressive potential alongside the improvement of your physical application, including flexibility, stamina and strength. Alongside contemporary technique, you will have a series of guest classes in another/other dance style(s) taken from popular, social, folk or world dance forms (e.g., hip-hop, charleston, gumboot) with a view to diversifying and broadening your skills and knowledge within dance techniques and styles.

You will also develop the skills and knowledge required for the role of a freelance dance artist and will gain practical experience within community and/or education settings. Weekly sessions will help you to develop foundational teaching skills such as safe practice, inclusive practice, lesson planning, lesson delivery and evaluative skills, with a view to applying your learning from your technique classes to a workshop situation where you are the facilitator.  

3. Teaching and learning activities:

Technique classes will be practical in nature, face-to-face, and require continuous independent learning. You will receive regular verbal feedback by the tutor and will also have opportunities to engage in peer and self critique. You will also have a mock technique class.

The preparation for teaching practice will be taught through a series of workshops, lectures and seminar sessions, and will involve activities such as lesson planning, micro teaches and evaluative processes. There will be an emphasis on the integration of theory and practice through the development of a teaching portfolio.

The dance studios and the virtual environment of Minerva Ultra form the basis of the teaching and rehearsing spaces for this module. Theoretical and practical work is supported by the university library, digital video resources, and the knowledge and experience of tutors and the student cohort. 

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description:  Practical Skills Assessment

• % Weighting: 60%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description:  Teaching Portfolio

• % Weighting: 40%