Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Social Dance (Face-to-Face)

DANC 1170-01

Course: DANC 1170-01
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Theatre, Dance, & Arts Admin
CRN: 30280

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) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Repeatable for Add’l Credit? Yes - Total Times: 3

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

  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

Participation - 100%

Course Outline

1-  Course syllabus and introduction; rotation exercise

2-  Foxtrot: Sept. 9, 14, 16

3-  Cha Cha: Sept. 21, 23, 28, 30

4-  Waltz: Oct. 5, 7, 12

5-  Practice: Oct. 14 (Practice all dances learned to date)

6-  Rumba: Oct. 21, 26, 28

7-  Tango: Nov. 2, 4, 9, 11

8-  Swing: Nov. 16, 18, Dec. 2

9- Practice: Dec. 7, 9 (Practice all dances learned to date)

This is a movement-based technique course therefore the traditional outline that a lecture course follows does not apply.

Movement: Students will participate in movement combinations throughout each class that will include: a warmup and partner dancing. These will be based on the level of the students within the class to promote equal part rigor and safety.

Discussions/Reflections: Occasionally, students will participate in discussions in class and reflections in relation to historical and current developments within the dance genre subject matter.

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.

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 an 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. Three observations will count as an absence and applied to the attendance grading policy.

Make-up Work: Make-up work is not an option. This is a participation course. 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 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.

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

Religious Holidays and Class Attendance Policy
SUU TDAA recognizes the importance of religious expression in the lives of our community and therefore students may make arrangements to make up course work missed for religious holidays. Students will be allowed to complete required assignments after returning and religious holidays will NOT count toward the total of excused absences allowed in a given class.

Responsibilities of the student include:
Students are required to identify to the instructor, in advance, that their absence will be for excused religious reasons.
  • Students must make these arrangements in a way that allows for the instructor to plan how missed work will be made up.
  • Students are required to make up any work that is missed.
  • Students must take responsibility for honestly representing their religious commitments when missing a class.

Responsibilities of the instructor include:
Instructors will make sure that work missed for a religious holiday can be made up by the student.
  • Instructors will articulate clear guidelines for how a student may make up missed work.
  • Instructors will make students aware of the way in which an attendance policy allows for making up work missed for a religious holiday.
  • Instructors may give an exam on a religious holiday provided that there is an appropriate way for a student to make up the exam if it is missed due to the observance of a religious holiday.

Course Fees

None

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.