Elizabeth Lindenmeier, in front of the construction at University Street across
from Mc104 dance studio (fall 2008).
University High School
Dance I
Orchesis Intercity Dance Company
Instructor: Laurie Merriman
Welcome
to Dance I/Orchesis!
This
teaching assignment brings me a lot of pleasure as an educator and as an artist! I
feel privileged to bring dance to the high school students of
University High School and surrounding schools. It is always a thrill to work
with the diverse student population of the Orchesis Intercity Dance Company and its'
affiliated technique and
dance theory course. While University High School has had the vision to support the
Fine and Performing Arts within their curriculum, they extend this opportunity to the
community of Bloomington/Normal by offering Dance to students of other high schools.
As a result, the Dance I/Orchesis
class is traditionally
composed of students ranging from freshmen to seniors
from University High School, Bloomington High School, Normal Community High School,
Normal Community West High School, and Central Catholic High School. Students
enrolled in this course are able to apply their credit towards their Physical Education or Fine
Arts requirements. While a large majority of the students enrolled in
Dance
I/Orchesis
have
had some prior dance training or experience that does not preclude the novice student from
joining the class. Students are assessed each semester on their effort and
continual progress affording most students every opportunity for academic success.
The Dance I/Orchesis academic course meets
Monday through Friday from 7:00-7:45am throughout the school year as outlined by
University High School. The
Dance I/Orchesis
class follows the University High School calendar with the exception of their
"Schedule A-E"
days. We meet each and every morning M-F unless I notify you to the contrary or your
course calendar (available on Blackboard) indicates otherwise. As a full-time
Full Professor at Illinois State University, I am sometimes required to attend 7am meetings at
the University or called away to attend an off-campus professional meeting. Our "mornings off" will be
reserved for such occasions.
As a "laboratory school" within the Illinois State University system, the University High School dance course utilizes the dance facilities and equipment of the University currently located in McCormick Hall on I.S.U.'s campus. During the winter break this year the dance studio spaces will be transferred to a new home in Centennial East, room 116, to accommodate the renovation and construction project of McCormick Hall. I will provide students with more information as the fall semester progresses.
Students are
exposed to a wide variety of events, performances, and opportunities as members of the
University High Laboratory School community.
Dance
I/Orchesis students are invited and encouraged to attend Master Classes
and performances sponsored by the Dance Program, housed within the School of
Theatre of
Illinois State University. In addition, as Illinois State University
includes the training of teachers within its' mission, University High
School's Dance I/Orchesis
students are exposed to a variety of
student teachers and student choreographers from the Dance Pedagogy and
Dance Composition courses at Illinois State University as well as others.
This feature brings additional dance experiences to the University High
School students. You can expect student teachers this semester!
The Dance I/Orchesis class includes a wide
variety of course experiences throughout the year.
Course Goals/Content Standards
(as outlined by the National Standards for Arts Education)
- Identify and demonstrate movement elements and skills in performing dance.
- Understand choreographic principles, processes, and structures.
- Understand dance as a way to create and communicate meaning.
- Apply and demonstrate critical and creative thinking skills in dance.
- Demonstrate and understand dance in various cultures and historical periods.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the connections between dance and healthful living.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the connections between dance and other disciplines.
Course Grades To Date
Your grades will be continually posted on Blackboard over the course of the semester.
In order to maintain your confidentiality, the grades will be posted according to the Call
Name I provided you with at the beginning of the course. It is important that you not
reveal your secret Call Name to your friends and classmates unless you are comfortable
with your grades being public knowledge. If you should elect not to have your grades posted in this forum, please
see me immediately and I will insure that they not be posted...however, in those cases,
students must come see me during my office hours to get an update on their progress.
About this Site
In this course, students will study and learn the theories and fundamentals of a variety dance forms, choreographic principles of dance, and the cultural and historical relevance of dance. You will be asked to demonstrate your knowledge in a variety of ways - both inside and outside the classroom. It is my hope that you will find this site of great assistance throughout the semester as a supplement to our class and for use outside of the classroom. I will be continually updating information for classroom use on this page and strongly suggest you "check in" on a regular basis. This page serves two important functions for our class...1) to communicate; and 2) to explore the vast use of computer technology in an academic/performing arts environment.
On the left hand column of this page you will find a number of useful links for our class. You are responsible for each of these links. In that technology is what it is...you are responsible for the material associated with these "links". If you have any "techno difficulty" I would expect that you will come and see me during my office hours or problem solve (an under-rated skill) on your own to find a solution to your problem. I will explain this in more detail in class. Go ahead and click away however and get a jump start!
"Dancers are part soldier, part gladiator, part matador.
They possess the disciplined courage of the first,
the brute daring of the second, the finesse of the last."
Jose´ Limon, "On Constancy"
home
August 18,
2008www.ilstu.edu/~lmerri
copyright © L.Merriman