This course is designed to provide the physical training and preparation for students interested in dance, yoga, Pilates, and athletics, and is suitable for individuals seeking to move with greater efficiency and less pain in everyday activities. Students learn how to move safely and effectively while developing strength, flexibility, proper alignment, agility, balance, and coordination. Coursework is designed for those who want to work at a more deliberate pace and in a non-competitive atmosphere, or who are recovering from prior injury.

This studio course offers beginning modern dancers an introduction to the fundamental principles of modern dance. The course emphasizes an awareness of breath and gravity, skeletal alignment, and core strength; and investigates kinesthetic and spatial awareness. Modern dance technique, improvisational exercises, and choreographic phrases provide physical, mental, and creative exploration for beginner students, students preparing for transfer, and students seeking careers in dance. This course is a requirement for the Associate of Arts Degree in Dance and the Certificate of Achievement in Dance. The course may be taken once and repeated three times for credit.

This introductory course is designed for students who seek technical skill in classical ballet. The course will focus on functional body alignment and placement, traditional steps and combinations, musicality, ballet terminology, and the development of strength and flexibility. Students also gain knowledge of classical and contemporary ballet history. This course may be taken once and repeated three times for credit.

This course is designed to introduce beginning students to the fundamental physical skills, polyrhythms, terminology, and historical context that form the basis of jazz dance technique. Highly visible on stage and screen, jazz dance is an eclectic and versatile contemporary art form with deep roots in African-American music and dance. A variety of jazz dance styles are introduced, and may include tap, musical theater, contemporary lyrical, pop, funk, hip-hop, Lindy Hop, and other African-American, Latin, Cuban, and Afro-Caribbean social dances that form the basis of this dance genre in the United States.

This introductory course provides experience and laboratory exploration in all aspects of dance rehearsal performance for beginner level students. Students have the opportunity to perform in an evening-length dance concert, work with faculty choreographers and guest artists, and participate as a member of a touring dance ensemble. Students contribute as dancers and rehearsal assistants under the supervision and guidance of faculty choreographers. Productions will be presented for public performance on and off campus.

This course provides dance students the opportunity to participate in dance productions. Productions will be presented for public performance either on or off campus. Students will learn how to adjust a performance for presentation on a stage. Pre-performance and post-performance responsibilities will be outlined. In addition, students will be exposed to basic stage direction and techniques for overcoming stage fright. This course may be repeated for a maximum of 4 units in different semesters.

This studio course offers intermediate modern dancers an opportunity to deepen and strengthen fundamental skills acquired in Modern Dance I. While continuing to develop proper alignment and modern dance technique, the intermediate student learns to perform combinations while shifting spatial orientation and integrating improvisation as required in auditions. Learning to create movement phrases, students develop a sense of artistry and dynamic phrasing necessary for performing. Furthering their understanding of and ability to identify the underlying movement principles of modern dance, students hone their technical skills in preparation for transfer or careers in dance. This course is a requirement for the Associate of Arts Degree in Dance and Certificate of Achievement in Dance. This course may be taken once and repeated three times for credit.

This intermediate-level course is designed for students who want to further develop technical and performance skills acquired in Ballet I. The class includes more advanced technique work at the barre, across the floor, and in-center floor combinations. Complex adagio and allegro dance sequences are also introduced. Students have the opportunity to perform in an informal showing or concert setting. This course may be taken once and repeated three times for credit.

This survey course investigates the forces which and figures who have shaped dance through history. Through readings, films, research, and class discussions, students study dance forms from ancient to contemporary times, paying particular attention to Western concert dance. Comparisons of various dance techniques, theories, and personalities are conducted through dance movement analysis. This course is designed for students seeking to broaden their understanding of dance while fulfilling their general education arts requirement, and for dance majors pursuing an Associate of Arts Degree in Dance or Certificate of Achievement in Dance.

This introductory course focuses on the art and craft of dance composition. Through lecture and activity, students learn how to incorporate the elements of dance in order to create meaningful dance works. Basic elements of choreography—including form, design, motivation, phrasing, gesture, rhythm, dynamics, musical accompaniment, and production basics—are explored through improvisational exercises and experimentation. Additionally, students learn to analyze dance critically through Laban movement analysis (LMA). The class culminates in the presentation of student choreography.