How does your course utilize writing as a mode of learning to cover course topics? 

The use of writing in Dance Appreciation allows my students to observe dance on deeper levels. One cannot write effectively about dance without first carefully witnessing and analyzing what one sees. Students develop a greater appreciation for dance when they realize what a rewarding challenge it can be to capture this ineffable art form with words.

How does your course support writing as a process?

Writing in Dance Appreciation is gradual—it’s a deliberate, mindful unfolding. Students first learn the basic elements of dance, so they share a common language when describing it. They are then introduced to a specific sentence structure that we workshop in class together. Students pair up; one student executes simple movements while their partner utilizes the sentence structure to articulate what is happening with their partner’s body. We also have several class discussions reflecting on short dance films viewed all together. The students are then equipped to choose a full-length dance to watch and write an essay about. 

What is one writing assignment in the course you are particularly excited about? 

I am very excited about a new essay assignment asking students to compare and analyze two works based on the stylistic features of each. One work is a classical waltz from The Nutcracker, and the other is a dance to Duke Ellington’s Jazz Nutcracker. We are using course lectures and conversations about jazz, paired with ballet Pinterest boards to assist the students in identifying the differences and similarities between these two dance genres. 

What is one writing convention specific to your discipline that students need to know to write effectively in your class? 

A writing convention employed in Dance Appreciation is the “three component description” developed by Assistant Professor Jennifer Salk at the University of Washington. It encourages sentences that describe dance movement to include, a body part, a verb, and an adjective. 

Why is writing critical to this course?

“What we have no words for, we cannot understand.” —Jack Kornfield

Updated Fall 2020