Reflections for the quarter

Congratulations on your incredible work this semester. Just to reiterate here are some of the things I see improve. I use the present tense because these new learnings are not over just because our class has ended.
• I see lengthening spines.
• I see fuller, rounder ports des bras.
• I see knees over toes.
• I see longer lines.
• I see arms working with legs more and more.
• I see students enjoying themselves.
• I see improved alignment.
• I see good stretching technique.
• I see hips facing front.
• I see short term memories getting better.
• I see strength in balances.
• I see personal confidence improve tremendously.

Michelle, Robin, Elizabeth, and Chihiro – I hope you take some time to heal over the holidays and you’re back dancing soon.
Vika – I’m sorry you won’t be in my Somatics class next quarter. I think it could be the perfect next step for you. I am teaching another 490 in the Spring. Keep it in mind.
Malin – Rock on! Good on you for not napping during ballet time.
Nicole – Good luck with your auditions. You determination will definitely help reach those dreams. All the best!
Shaina, Chihiro, Kris, Oscar, and Jared– Congratulations on your first ballet class! You are now seasoned ballet dancers. Keep on dancing!
Kristen – It’s always a pleasure.
Saza – You’re welcome and thank you for your hard work and constant good cheer.
Amanda – Keep working on those arms. They were definitely getting rounder.
Rachel – I am happy to agree. Be happy and shine.
Jared – I am honored to be a part of your rebuilding. You are naturally talented. We hope to see you involved more in the dance department.
Nathalie, Anna, and Kim – Thanks for your hard work. I see a new layer of ballet knowledge in your dancing.
Joanne – Please feel free to skip around any time you like.
Congratulations again on all your hard work. Have a great holiday break.
Sincerely,
Louis

Final Posting

At last, we come to the end. Wonderful work this quarter! I saw improvement on many levels from everyone. I'd like to you to take a moment and tell me how you have improved in your ballet technique. What steps have you really integrated and what ideas will you work on in the future? Take a moment and write a couple of paragraphs on what you've learned.

Congratulations!

Louis

Ballet Improvisation

Hey Dancers,

On Monday of last week, we did a ballet fast. The entire class had no steps, only music and an order. On Wednesday, we alternated between very simple exercises and improvisation. What did you learn from these approaches? What did you like? What was most challenging?

Louis

Port de bras

This week we focused on port de bras or "the carraige of the arms." What connections did you make this week between your arms and your dancing?

Head Strings and Corsets

Dancers,

We worked with head strings and corsets this week. We also moaned alot and tried to have a creative performative experience in ballet class. What did you learn this week?

What did you learn this week?

We explored some new steps and imagery for use in alignment. We explored sissonne, contre temps, saute entournaut. We now have head strings and rib cage support. We also thought about lengthening our spines. What worked for you? What helped the most with your ballet knowledge?

Louis

Ballet Contra Dance

Hey Dancers,

Tell me about your ballet contra dance experience.

Louis

Ballet teachers

Hey Dancers,

As you can see, ballet is taught in very different ways. Each teacher will offer instruction in the ways that they were taught and they will teach the movements that they like. Catherine and David are very different teachers and dancers. Catherine has years of experience, while David is beginning his career. What did you learn this week from these very different teachers?

Louis

Online Ballet Dictionary

Mikhail Barysnikov in Don Quixote.

There is an online ballet dictionary. Check out this link to see_some_professional_ballet dancers_demonstrate_the ballet vocabulary. Watch the quicktime videos and check out the definitions of glissade, ronde de jambe, pique, and balance. Tell me what you'd like to incorporate into your movement from watching these dancers.

Chamber Dance Concert

Hi Dancers,

This is a reminder that you are required to attend the Chamber Dance Concert this weekend. See syllabus for ticket information. What I would like you to think about as you watch the performance concerns ballet technique. Everyone in the performance has a ballet background as well as a foundation in modern techniques. How can you can see ballet technique in a modern dancers performance? How does it make you feel when you see technique in a dancer? What thoughts or impressions come to mind? How could you tell if someone is trained in ballet when they aren't performing ballet? You will respond to this performance in a comment below this posting. This posting is due by Wednesday, October 14. It needs to be only a paragraph or two in length.

Friday's Class

Now that you've a day to think about it...what were your impressions of our class on Friday. We talked about the transverse abdominal muscles, how to stretch, alignment vis a vis the three spinning orbs and tendu a la second. That's alot of information in one class! Again, what was most useful to you? What do you think you will be able to integrate most easily in class?

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Clue: Ballet lesson number 1

This week I would like to know what you've learned in ballet class that you can immediately apply to your dancing. I would also like to know what have you learned that you understand intellectually, but cannot yet integrate into your dancing.

So...

Why did you take ballet this quarter? What do you hope to get out of this class? What is your experience with ballet?

Syllabus

DANCE 107A
M/W/F 2:30-4:15
Meany Hall 265
Autumn 2008
Instructor: Louis Gervais, Graduate Student, UW Dance Program
Office: Meany Hall 59J
Email: lgervais@u.washington.edu
Office Hours: Mondays 10:30-11:30 am and by appointment (The best way to set up an outside meeting is through email or approach me in person after class to set up a time.)

Course Description: Ballet Technique.

This course offers guidance and instruction in the theory and practice of ballet technique at the beginning level.

Course Objectives:

Students of this ballet course will be encouraged to personally engage their technical dance training. It takes many years to develop the strength and flexibility that support the body in its aesthetic linear expression.It is my hope that the tools you will acquire over the next ten weeks will enable you to not only get better at ballet, but also teach you how to continue on your journey as a dancer and artist.

Learning Goals
To understand your personal responsibility in your technical training.
· Expand your knowledge of ballet movement and terminology.
· Develop ballet technique that serves the individual artist.
Acquire a basic understanding of correct muscular-skeletal alignment·
Develop an awareness of musicality while dancing.
· Use the ballet technique as a mode of individual and group artistic expression and communication.
· Learn and practice the culture of studio etiquette.

Suggested Reading"Dictionary and Manual of Classical Ballet," by Gail Grant"Inside Ballet Technique," by Valerie Grieg"Ballet Basics," by Sandra Noll Hammond (or any dictionary/glossary of ballet)

Online Ballet DictionaryAmerican Ballet Theater’s ballet dictionary (also has Quick Time video for many of the terms) http://www.abt.org/education/dictionary/index.htmlBallet on Video and DVD (all at UW Odegaard Undergraduate Library)List compiled by Betsy Cooper, Associate Professor, Director, UW Dance Program, Summer 2007 http://staff.washington.edu/mca/Ballet%20videos%20and%20DVDs.html

Requirements and Grading

Studio Participation (75%)Participation grades reflect the following:
· Attending class on a consistent basis
· Arriving on time or early, giving yourself time to focus and prepare to fully participate in the class.*
· Demonstrating individual progress toward achieving the kinesthetic, aesthetic and intellectual goals of the course.
· Demonstrating a working knowledge of the classical ballet terminology at the beginning level.

· Attendance at Chamber Dance Concert in Meany Hall October 9-11, 2008 at 7:30pm
October 12, 2008 at 2 pm.

Tickets: Adults $18, UW Faculty/Staff & UWAA $16, Students/Seniors $10Available for purchase at UW Arts Ticket Office (40th and University Way) or on-linehttp://www.meany.org/tickets/index.aspx

*NOTE: Do not come to class if you are very ill. If you are not ill, but cannot dance for some other reason, you must observe class and make a journal entry. If you are contagious, then you should stay home, rest and get well.

Online Journal Responses (25%)
A blog has been set up for this course. Over the course of the semester, this blog will be the place where we as a class will share our thoughts and reactions to the course. Assignments will be posted here and your responses will be submitted electronically as comments.The URL is http://www.uwdance107A.blogspot.com/.

Click on Subscribe to: Posts (Atom) and enter your weekly responses online as comments. These responses are personal reflections about your learning in class and are to help you integrate your learning. These responses need not be longer than a few sentences.

Personal attire/Personal Belongings:
· Please dress neatly and simply – no baggy clothes or excessive jewelry.
Long hair should be pulled back and securely fastened so that you can do consecutive turns and pirouettes. No hats.
· Use dressing rooms on Lower Level to change into dance clothes.
· Be responsible for your personal belongings. You are required to bring a padlock and use the lockers provided in the hallway. (Dressing Room lockers on Lower Level are for Dance Majors and Minors only) Hallway lockers are for use during class time only.

Missed classes: There are no make up classes or incompletes given for dance technique courses. If you are well, I will expect you to be in class and participating to your fullest. If you become injured or suffer a prolonged illness during the quarter then you will need to schedule an appointment with me (or send an email) to discuss your situation.

Academic Accommodations:To request academic accommodations due to disability, please contact disabled Student Services, 448 Schmitz, (206) 543-8924 (V/TTY). If you have a letter from Disabled Student Services indicating that you have a disability that requires academic accommodation, please present the letter to me so that we can discuss the accommodations you might need in this class.

University of Washington Policy on Sexual Harassment:
Call the University Ombudsman and Ombudsman for Sexual Harassment at 543-0283 or 543-6028, or the University Complaint Investigation and Resolution Office at 616-2028.