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The Dance program at Esperanza High School allows students to develop technique, rhythm, and performance skills as members of the school’s Dance Team. Through choreography, rehearsals, and performances, students build confidence, teamwork, and stage presence while representing the school at events and performances.
*Any recommended prior courses will be listed in the course description.
Large Jazz
Large Pom
Medium Lyrical
Large Hip Hop
Advanced Dance
Advanced Dance
College Prep
UC approved List F
10 credits
Advanced Dance, The Dance Company, is an advanced level course that will emphasize performing skills. Students will continue to work on strengthening techniques needed for ballet, jazz, modern and tap. Choreography will be required and selected works will be performed. Through the choreography assignments students develop leadership skills, problem solving techniques and teaching skills. Students will make critical assessments of professional dance concerts and videos through critique assignments. The Dance Company class, as a performing group, will emphasize the technical art of dance.
Dance 1
College Prep
UC approved List F
10 credits
Dance 1 is an introductory course for students to study the fundamental genres of dance. The course will allow them to create their own dance composition at the end of the year. Throughout the course the students will learn warm-up techniques, working vocabulary of movement germane to the genre, historical and cultural content. The course is designed for all students with or without previous experience. The course will prepare the student to move forward to more advanced classes. The purpose of Dance I is to introduce students to the study of dance. Emphasis will be placed on proper technique and vocabulary. Different genres of dance will be studied including ballet, jazz, tap, musical theater. Dance history specific to each genre will be infused through each unit of study. The goal of this class is to develop proper dance technique. This includes body alignment, strength, flexibility, rhythm and coordination. Students will execute techniques appropriate to the genre in a combination that will strengthen memorization and sequencing. Focus on proper alignment and technique and terminology are key. Kinesthetic principal of body awareness, flexibility, strength and balance are included in all units. Students will be introduced to the elements of self-expression through self-choreographed pieces.
Dance 2
College Prep
Recommeded Prior Course: Dance 1
UC approved List F
10 credits
Dance 2 is a proficient level course for students with at least one or more years of formal dance training. Its purpose is to increase one’s body awareness, technique and strength training while demonstrating dance movement. Through the continued exploration of a variety of dance genres, students will advance their dance vocabulary, deepen their connection between the physical and emotional components of dance and continue to broaden their choreography and technical skills. Students will continue to explore the elements of self-expression through improvisational work and self-choreographed pieces. The students will prepare for performance opportunities through rehearsal of routines, staging awareness, technical preparation for live audiences in costumed performances. The goal of this course is to give students the opportunity to advance on a technical level, create dance pieces as a means of self-expression, evaluate the process and product of that creation and better learn to assess their own progress throughout the course.
Dance Team
College Prep
UC approved List F
10 credits
Placement by Audition
This course is designed to address the technical and performance requirements of a competitive performing dance team. The curriculum includes advanced dance techniques including but not limited to jazz, ballet, modern, tap and character. The class focus is on performance demands including but not limited to half-time shows, parades, indoor competition, annual dance concerts, pep assemblies, traveling shows for the community and related performance opportunities, physical fitness testing, goal setting and nutritional information. This course may be repeated for credit.
Intermediate Dance
College Prep
UC approved List F
10 credits
Beginning and Intermediate Dance Technique will introduce the art of dance. The student will gain a technical foundation for developing skills in ballet, jazz, and modern dance techniques, as well as an introduction to dance movement incorporated in musical theater. Dance terminology is introduced with each unit of study. The basic theories of choreography will be taught through a variety of group projects. The student will discover the physical benefits of the art of dance and its relationship to a healthy lifestyle. The student will experience personal growth in flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, and muscular strength. The emphasis of this course is proper dance technique and strong body alignment.
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