Dance

Dance education at Parish provides students with the opportunity to acquire a comprehensive knowledge of dance as an art form by helping them to gain significant knowledge of dance elements. Each class is given the opportunity to apply this knowledge of learned technique during formal presentations in different venues throughout the academic year. Skills and knowledge of dance help students develop meaningful concepts of self, human relationships and physical environments. In addition, dance strengthens and refines critical thinking skills by examining movement and choreography intent.

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Curricular and Co-Curricular Offerings

Middle School Dance

5TH GRADE DANCE
Students will explore movement and learn basic dance techniques and methods. We will stimulate the body to develop general coordination and learn self-awareness through critiques and reflections.

6TH GRADE DANCE
This course continues to build on previous work by adding more advanced movement. This course serves as an introduction to beginning technique. It will introduce proper placement within ballet, modern, and jazz techniques, while developing an awareness of space and rhythm. Students continue to learn self-awareness through application of critiques and reflections.

7-8TH GRADE DANCE
This course will introduce various dance styles which will include jazz, lyrical/ballet, contemporary/modern dance, and social dance. Content includes technique, fundamentals of movement, musicality, composition, written assignments, and performance opportunity. Each unit of curriculum includes objectives that are interrelated and ongoing. Class may be taken multiple times.

7-8TH GRADE DANCE TECHNIQUE
This course is designed for students that are seeking to pursue dance in Upper School and beyond. This class will focus on technical dance skills, movement quality, and performance quality. Grades will be taken on evaluation of improvement and effort in these categories. Students will also be reflective in their own improvement and performance with written assignments and self-grading rubrics. This class will solely focus on the skills necessary for more advanced opportunities such as Junior Dance Company, Rosettes, and Upper School dance courses. This course can be taken multiple times.

Junior Dance Company

7-8TH GRADE PARISH JR DANCE COMPANY
Parish Junior Dance Company is a repertory-based, year-long, auditioned course in which students learn material for performances. Students will receive PE credit due to the extensive physical training required in the class. The mandatory audition is held the spring of the previous year where students will be required to display proficiency in intermediate ballet and modern techniques as well as perform a minute long solo in the style of the dancer’s choosing. This course requires students to be available for mandatory performances outside of the school day. Students will dive deeper into ballet, modern, jazz, and contemporary technique with a focus in movement quality. Students that take Junior Dance Company may not take Dance as their enrichment.

Upper School Dance

Dance for Athletes
This course is for athletes who want to enhance and refine their athletic performance through techniques and training in dance. No dance experience is required. Agility, flexibility, footwork, balance and endurance are all specifically addressed in this beginner course. A student taking this will improve upon his or her ability to perform on the athletic field.

Dance I: Foundations in Technique
In Dance I, students will become acquainted with basic techniques in ballet, modern, and jazz, as well as dance history. Gaining movement skills and finding confidence and enjoyment through movement are a focus of this class.

Dance II: Modern and Improvisation
Dance II is designed to introduce and further the understanding, knowledge, and terminology of the various dance techniques at a beginning/intermediate level. Students will begin and continue to develop strength, control, and flexibility with an emphasis on movement efficiency and proper body alignment. Students will begin to increase a mastery of ballet, modern and jazz movement vocabulary at the barre, in axial movements, and in adagio movements. Students will also begin to focus on improvisation techniques along with performance quality with an emphasis on musicality.

Dance III: Composition and Performance
Dance III is designed to build on the skills of Dance I. Students will further their understanding, knowledge, and terminology of the various dance techniques at an intermediate/advanced level. Students will further develop strength, control, and flexibility with an emphasis on movement efficiency and proper body alignment. If arts credits are fulfilled, this course may count as an athletic credit. Students will continue to increase their mastery of ballet, modern and jazz movement vocabulary at the barre, in axial movements, in adagio, and in petit and grand allegro combinations. Students will also work on composition, increased movement propensity, performance clarity with an emphasis on musicality.

Dance Company

Dance Company
Parish Dance Company is a repertoire-oriented performance ensemble. Members focus on perfecting more difficult movement combinations in each discipline of dance. Mastery of performance is emphasized at this level. Parish Dance Company is designed for students who are serious about dance and are willing to work and perform for any outside performances and/or special events. This class is also designed to nurture the student’s talent and provide a new venue for performance. The students will continue to work on all various techniques of dance. Composition classes, dance improvisation classes, and methods of teaching will aid them as they begin the process of creating their own choreographic work that may be considered for a public dance performance. The student will gain experience in approaching rehearsal and performance in a professional manner, including: learning and retaining various choreographic material, learning and practicing proper rehearsal demeanor and effort, learning and becoming proficient in performance skills, and following appropriate performance etiquette.

Rosettes

Rosettes (Drill Team)
Rosettes is an audition based Drill Team for students of the Upper School. Students will train and prepare for performances such as football games, basketball games, pep rallies, competitions, and headline their annual “Rosettes Review” show. In addition, students have the opportunity to travel and perform at both local and non-local events. The objective and purpose of Drill Team is to create school spirit, pride and loyalty through various performances and also to develop responsibility, teach self-respect and encourage honest effort while developing character by striving for excellence. Rosettes enhance physical fitness development and fosters teamwork through quality performance.

Dance for Athletes

This course is for athletes who want to enhance and refine their athletic performance through techniques and training in dance. No dance experience is required. Agility, flexibility, footwork, balance and endurance are all specifically addressed in this beginner course. A student taking this will improve upon his or her ability to perform on the athletic field.