Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Social Dance (Face-to-Face)

DANC 1170-01

Course: DANC 1170-01
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: TA
CRN: 30584

Course Description

Catalog Course Description: An introduction to the basic technique and fundamental principles of social dance. Movement is presented by means of demonstration, description, and exploration. No prior dance experience necessary. (Fall, Spring) (Repeatable up to 3 times) 


Your Instructor's Description: Social dance is the non-competitive version of ballroom and Latin dancing. They include the same dances, but the social dance version is for practical situations like wedding receptions, nightclubs, business functions, or informal gatherings. This course focuses on timing, rhythm, execution of steps, leading and following, partnering, and styling. The course will include instruction of bronze-level (beginning) steps in the American Smooth and American Rhythm style of dances (Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Cha Cha, and Rumba) as well as East Coast Swing.

Required Texts

  • There is no textbook.
  • Ballroom dance shoes are encouraged, but not required. Wearing proper ballroom dance shoes will allow you to have full range of motion and properly align weight and posture. Alternatively, leather-soled shoes are recommended. Heels or flats are acceptable. For safety reasons, athletic or rubber soled shoes are not recommended. Bare feet, socks, slides, flip-flops, or other sandals are not allowed. Dancers are welcome to bring a separate pair of shoes to class sessions. A cost-effective alternative for practice conditions is Dance Socks (which are worn over shoes).
  • Clothing recommendations: Loose clothing that you can dance in comfortably without damaging clothes or getting too warm is recommended. Dancing will take place during each class period. Dress appropriately in order to participate.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate fundamental competencies in social dance forms.
  2. Demonstrate basic rhythmic skill.
  3. Understand the basic principles of leading and following.
  4. Develop an appreciation of the role of social dance as a recreational lifetime activity.

Course Requirements

  • Studio Etiquette: Cell phone use, gum, and drinks (with the exception of water) are not permitted.
  • Attendance & Active Participation: Attendance and active participation is critical for learning motor skills such as dance. Your classmates also depend on you for their learning. Attendance is expected for all classes. Your grade is based on attendance and active participation.

Course Outline

8/27 - Course syllabus and introduction; rotation exercise
Foxtrot:    Sept. 3, 8, 10
Cha Cha: Sept. 5, 17, 22, 24
Waltz:      Sept. 29, Oct. 1, 6 
Practice:  Oct. 8 (Practice all dances learned to date)
Rumba:    Oct. 15, 20, 22 
Tango:     Oct. 27, 29, Nov. 3, 5 
Swing:     Nov. 10, 12, 17, 19 
Practice:  Dec. 1, 3 (Practice all dances learned to date)


Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Each class meeting is an assignment. That assignment is to attend class and actively participate in learning the dance of the day. You will earn one point for each day you participate. There are a total of 24 class meetings.

Tardiness: If a student arrives to class after the review (that happens roughly in the first 10 minutes of class), they will be considered tardy. Three instances of tardiness will be counted as one unexcused absence and applied to the attendance grading policy. Students arriving more than 20 minutes late will be considered absent.

Observation: If a student is unable to participate in a studio-based class due to an injury or otherwise, students are allowed to sit out and observe with approval from the instructor and in some cases, a doctor’s note. They will turn in notes to be handed in to the instructor at the end of class. Students exceeding three observations will meet with the instructor to develop a plan moving forward.

Make-up Work: Make-up work is not an option. This is a participation course and only one section is taught. Social dance is a partner activity; therefore, making work up outside of class is quite difficult. Your attendance is critical.

Attendance Policy

Attendance & Active Participation: Attendance and participation (practice) is critical for learning. Attendance is expected for all classes. Your entire grade is based on attendance and participation.
SUU Dance Program Attendance Policy: 
This course is graded based on attendance and participation. A student is allotted three unexcused absences. Following the allotted unexcused absences, each additional unexcused absence will incur a half letter grade deduction from a student’s cumulative grade as outlined below:
  • 0 additional unexcused absences: A
  • 1 additional unexcused absence:   A-
  • 2 additional unexcused absences: B
  • 3 additional unexcused absences: C+
  • 4 additional unexcused absences: C-
  • 5 additional unexcused absences: D
  • 6 or more additional unexcused absences: F
Illness: Do not come to class if you test positive for Covid or are otherwise ill/symptomatic. Recover at home for brief illnesses. Report a positive Covid test to the self-report form, especially if seeking an accommodation.
Note: Students who display symptoms of illness while in class will be asked to leave or sit out.
Tardiness: If a student arrives to class after the review (that happens roughly in the first 10 minutes of class), they will be considered tardy. Three instances of tardiness will be counted as one unexcused absence and applied to the attendance grading policy. Students arriving more than 20 minutes late will be considered absent.
Observation: If a student is unable to participate in a studio-based class due to an injury or otherwise, students are allowed to sit out and observe with approval from the instructor and in some cases, a doctor’s note. They will turn in notes to be handed in to the instructor at the end of class. Students exceeding three observations will meet with the instructor to develop a plan moving forward.

Additional Course and Campus Information

Subject Matter, Course Content, & Values: To study Theatre & Dance is to study the human condition. The department respects SUU’s policy on academic freedom and reserves the right to address controversial issues as they relate to the art form. If course content is deemed objectionable to you for personal reasons, please notify the professor privately either in person at the end of class, or via email, to discuss strategies and/or alternatives for your continued participation.

Assumption of risk - Movement, Dance, and or Stage Combat coursework carry with them certain inherent risks that cannot be eliminated regardless of the care taken to avoid injuries. I know and understand and appreciate these and other risks are inherent in the activity I am participating in. I hereby assert that my participation is voluntary and that I knowingly assume all such risks. The Department of Theatre Arts and Dance does take all possible precautions for the welfare and safety of its students. If students believe choreography or movement is too risky or notice other risks to their health or welfare, the student should stop immediately and report the condition or concern to any faculty member or directly to the department chair.

Contact Disclaimer - A necessary and unavoidable component of this course is physical contact. Often, touch is the most effective way for the instructor to offer feedback and/or guidance. Please, if you are uncomfortable in any way or have any injuries, do not hesitate to discuss this with the instructor before or after class.

Canvas Information

Canvas is where course content, attendance, and communication will reside for this course.

SUU Campus Resources and Services

SUU has several resources and services available to support you during your time here at SUU, please review this list of SUU Campus Resources and Services (Links to an external site.) and the Student Handbook (Links to an external site.). For more information on Canvas and other technologies, and their statements on Accessibility and Privacy statements please review our Vendor Resources page.

Financial Security Statement

Finances are an integral part of maintaining your wellbeing. If you are struggling financially or wish to know more about budgeting, please visit the Financial Wellness Center in room 201C in the Sharwan Smith Center, contact Ashleigh Zimmerman at (435) 865-8436, or text the Financial Wellness line at 435-708-1952.  

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.