Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Back to Syllabus Search | Browse by Department
Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Dance Ensemble (Face-to-Face)

DANC 4300-05

Course: DANC 4300-05
Credits: 2
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: TA
CRN: 30603

Course Description

Enrollment by audition. Advanced study in ensemble performance. (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Repeatable for Add’l Credit? Yes - Total Credits: 16

Required Texts

There is no required text for this course.
Learning in Real Time
Learning is not a fixed, linear process. It evolves as students interact with new ideas, reflect on their experiences, and engage with the course material. This policy acknowledges that students' understanding, and interests may develop over time. As such, the selected readings will be determined by student choice and be adjusted throughout the semester based on ongoing discussions, evolving interests, and feedback. This real-time learning approach ensures that the course remains relevant and responsive to their academic journey and allows for agency and autonomy.
References                                                                                       
If Videos, articles, and other resources are needed they will be posted to Canvas and advanced notice will be given to the student to review the material prior to rehearsal if utilized. 

Learning Outcomes

Communication: 
  • Demonstrate a command for content in both physical and written work, whether it is in a kinesthetic, verbal, or visual experience. 
  • Become comfortable initiating movement improvisations as inspiration for the work and/or gain the ability to perform devised work set by the choreographer
Creative Thinking: 
  • Engage in the creative process by transforming the physical practice through exploration of anatomical and artistic components with the use of divergent thinking techniques. 
Integration of Learning: 
  • Demonstrate the ability to make connections between physical and cognitive experiences both as an individual and collectively
  • Converge written, verbal, and physical content to the discipline presented 
Lifelong Learning: 
  • Demonstrate self-sufficiency in learning to engage in purposeful, ongoing learning, and application of artistic and scientific concepts to new and existing movement forms. 
Problem Solving: 
  • Formulate, analyze, and implement strategies to improve movement and performance through application of concepts and techniques while honoring sound anatomical alignment 
Teamwork: 
  • Demonstrate productive and positive interactions with others (in or out of class) to complete assignments, tasks, or projects. This includes members of the cast, creatives, company, and technical crew. 

Course Requirements

Assignment Breakdown
Participation: 100%
Physical, cognitive, and creative participation are an essential part of the course and include adherence to:
1. Introductory policies
2. Attendance and late policies
3. Appropriate attire
4. Mutual respect
5. Applying corrections
6. Attention to movement retention.

Additionally, daily active participation in the course is expected and students will be assessed based on the following criteria:
1. Personal Responsibility
2. Performance/Psychomotor skills
3. Knowledge and Cognition
4. Positive character and willingness to engage.

The Choreographer will notify a student if the level of active participation is not meeting the standard, becomes questionable, or drops. Students who actively modify their participation in a timely manner will prevent a negative outcome on their participation evaluation at the end of the semester. 

Criteria Used for Assessing Final Grades
The following grading standards will be used in this class:
  • All assignments must be submitted in order to pass the course
  • Students must receive a C or higher for it to count towards their major/minor requirement
  • *Remember to review the attendance policy with respect to final grades
Grade Range
A 100 % to 94.0%
A- < 94.0 % to 90.0%
B+ < 90.0 % to 87.0%
B < 87.0 % to 84.0%
B- < 84.0 % to 80.0%
C+ < 80.0 % to 77.0%
C < 77.0 % to 74.0%
C- < 74.0 % to 70.0%
D+ < 70.0 % to 67.0%
D < 67.0 % to 64.0%
D- < 64.0 % to 61.0%
F < 61.0 % to 0.0%

Course Outline

*This is a movement-based performance course therefore the traditional outline that a lecture course follows does not apply. 
Rehearsals to Performance: Students will participate in movement combinations throughout each rehearsal that will include developing individual and collective artistry to support the students process in building material either with or as part of a faculty or guest choreographer piece. The culmination of this course results in a performance viewable to the public. 

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

Late/Missed Assignments
Students MUST complete all assignments in order to pass the course. Therefore, if an assignment is missed or turned in late, the student will be placed on the Incomplete List for the course and fail the assignment. Once the missed assignment is turned in, the student’s name will be removed from the Incomplete List. For every day an assignment is late, students will lose points for the assignments and if an assignment is 4 weeks late, the assignment will receive 0 points (extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis). Note: all students must submit all assignments so while no points will be accrued for work submitted beyond the 4 weeks late, students are still required to submit the material or will receive an incomplete for the course. The per day deduction depends on how many points the overall assignment is worth.

Extensions for Assignements
Students will ONLY be considered for an extension of an assignment through written emailed requests. Please note the request must come through at least 3 days prior to the assignment due date and will not necessarily be approved. This will be a case-by-case basis and will ONLY be considered under extenuating circumstances.

Make-up/Extra Credit Work
Make-up work and extra credit will only be considered under extenuating circumstances. Proper documentation will be required for these to be considered.

Repeat Credit Assignments
Students retaking this class for repeatable credit CANNOT submit assignments from previous semesters. If said student would like alternate resources to complete the assignment, please let the instructor know. The expectation is that students are furthering their knowledge from the previous semester and deepening their understanding of the material. If a student submits a previous assignment from a previous semester, they will be given a single opportunity to resubmit within 3 days of discovery.

Attendance Policy

SUU Dance Program Ensemble Attendance Policy  
Audition Policy
Students interested in being cast in the Faculty Dance Concert must complete the dance production audition form. In rare instances, a video submission is possible but must be cleared with the Associate Chair, Director of the Dance program. 
Students CANNOT be considered for casting:
  • If they have not filled out the Technical Production Experience (TPE) form
  • If they are considered “not in good standing” as per the TDAA Student Handbook
Mandatory Attendance
Mandatory attendance (both primary and understudy roles) is required at all rehearsals, tech times, and performances. In the event of an unexpected absence from a rehearsal, the student must promptly e-mail their instructor and choreographer. No arrangements to scheduling will be made to accommodate outside auditions, work commitments, or free-lance opportunities. Choreographers may schedule certain dancers on certain days however this is at the discretion of the choreographer and will be communicated in advance to avoid confusion.

Tardiness  
If a student arrives to rehearsal more than 5 minutes late, they will observe and complete an observation form to be handed in to the instructor at the end of class. Three instances of tardiness to a rehearsal will be counted as one unexcused absence and applied to the attendance grading policy.
Observation 
If a student is unable to participate in a rehearsal due to an injury or otherwise, students are allowed to sit out and observe with approval from the instructor. They will fill out a hard copy observation form to be handed in to the instructor at the end of rehearsal (found in each dance studio’s sound cabinet). Note in rehearsals choreographers may give an alternate assignment to students sitting out so as to assist with the process. Students exceeding three observations will meet with the instructor to develop a plan moving forward. 

SUU Required Disclaimer Statement

As per SUU Policy 6.36 the Disclaimer Statement is required to appear on all SUU syllabi. See here.

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.

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.