Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Ballroom Touring Ensemble (Face-to-Face)

PVA 3150-01

Course: PVA 3150-01
Credits: 1
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: TA
CRN: 14030

Course Description

 SUU Ballroom Dance Company - Touring Ensemble (by audition).
The course focuses on choreography for performances, implementing bronze, silver, and gold level ballroom syllabus steps, musicality, rhythm, and performance skills. (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): Instructor permission. Repeatable for Add’l Credit? Yes - Total Credits: 8

Required Texts

 There is no required text for this course. 

Learning Outcomes

Students will learn a variety of performance routines in multiple styles selected by the team coach and company director. Instruction will cover technique as it applies to the choreography, musicality and rhythm, as well as performance skills. This course will also cover lead/follow and complimentary skills such as dance position, frame, line of dance, and formations. 

Course Requirements

This course is primarily graded based on attendance. As a member of a performance dance team, rehearsal attendance is ESSENTIAL for your own benefit as well as your partner and other team members.
Please see attendance policy below.

In addition, each team member is expected to complete 5 service hours to benefit and help promote the Ballroom Company on campus and in the community. These service hours are communicated and assigned by team leadership members and company directors 

Course Outline

  •  Daily rehearsal (M-F 6- 7:50 am) where students will warm up, review, and learn new choreography
  • Small performances throughout the semester, as they present themselves
  • One larger showcase for the full Ballroom Dance Company
  • SUU Ballroom Company tour (March 12-15)
  • *Tour team tour (April 23 - May 2)  *dates subject to change

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

This is a performance-based dance class; therefore, the typical lecture course format does not apply. There will not be any physical or digital assignments to turn in for this course. 
Please see the Attendance and Grading policies.

Attendance Policy

 
Mandatory Attendance
Mandatory attendance is required at all regular rehearsals and additional rehearsals during show week. Attendance for performances is based on the event and routine that will be performed. In the event of an unexpected absence from a rehearsal, the student must promptly communicate with the coach. It is the students responsibility to catch up on what they missed through videos and meeting up with their partner. Coaches may schedule certain dancers on certain days; however this is at the discretion of the coach and will be communicated in advance to avoid confusion.
Tardiness
If a student arrives to class more than 5 minutes late, they will be marked tardy. Three instances of tardiness to a class will be counted as one unexcused absence and applied to the attendance grading policy.

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. They will be engaged and an active participant as much as physically possible. Students exceeding three observations will meet with the instructor to develop a plan moving forward.

Grading

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 coach and/or director 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. 

Course Fees

$700 per semester

Additional Expectations

  • Respect the studio space by picking up after yourself and keeping the space clean
  • No food or drink on the dance floor, with the exception of water; no glass water bottles 
  • No cell-phone use during class time, unless assigned by the instructor.  Phones should be kept on silent. Speak to the instructor in case of an emergency based situation.
  • Report any injuries in class right away, including the exposure of blood. 
  • Be mentally and physically prepared to work.  Class is a place to be pro-active and fully engaged. 
  • As this is a class with close proximity and partner contact, please be thoughtful about dress and hygiene (deodorant, fresh breath, clean clothing, proper attire/supportive under clothing.)
  • If you are injured to the point of being unable to participate and need to step out of the exercise, you may be asked to observe the remainder of the class period. Excessive “observing” or “sitting out” without a doctor’s note will count as an absence. You cannot learn to dance through observation alone.
  •  Make the most of rehearsal time by being punctual, focused, and engaged.
  • In any team or partner activity, your attitude greatly affects the experience of others as well as your own. Be respectful, kind, and encouraging to the coach and other team members at all times!

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.