Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Modern Dance IV (Face-to-Face)

DANC 3360-01

Course: DANC 3360-01
Credits: 2
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Theatre, Dance, & Arts Admin
CRN: 30292

Course Description

Intermediate level course for dance majors. Focus on laboratory investigation to develop technical proficiency and expand the student’s vocabulary of modern dance. (Fall) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): DANC 2360 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C Repeatable for Add’l Credit? Yes - Total Times: 3

Required Texts

There is no required text for the course.

Supplemental videos and readings will be posted to Canvas and advanced notice will be given to students to read and review the material prior to class.

You will need to provide a journal.

Learning Outcomes

At the successful completion of this course students will:


Knowledge of Human Cultures, Creative Thinking, Integrated and Lifelong Learning:

• Exhibit an informed historical and theoretical understanding of modern dance

• Engage in personal assessment and reflective practices that encourage self- directed learning

Critical Thinking, Communication:

• Demonstrate an ability to observe and analyze phrase work in order to facilitate constructive feedback for self and others

• Apply sound anatomical principles related to dance to aid movement efficiency and injury prevention

• Organize one’s own body in relation to gravity, release, effort, space, and impetus

• View, discuss, and write about movement in a thoughtful and articulate manner

Course Requirements

Participation:  

This is a participatory class – attendance is required and recorded daily (see attendance policy below). Your participation (physical, cognitive, and creative) is essential for the most productive learning environment of the group. It is your responsibility to respect yourself, your peers, and the instructor by actively participating and invoking a willingness to grow.  
Active participation* in a dance class reflects the following: 

o Personal investment, willingness to take risks, applying focus and concentration, and wholistic engagement 
o Positive working demeanor, demonstrating empathy and respect for peers and the instructor 
o Feedback and corrections received and applied in a proactive and respectful manner 
o Working safely and effectively in class and supporting others in doing the same 
o An understanding that “on time” means to be properly attired (refer to “studio etiquette”) and prepared, even if this means early arrival and personalized warming practices

Participation will be self-reported quarterly. 

Physical Contact Disclaimer: A potential component of this course is physical contact. At times, touch is the most effect 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. 

*Instructor will notify a student if level of active participation becomes questionable. Making modifications in a timely manner will prevent impact on the student’s grade.  

Movement Understandings

We will move work to expand somatic awareness and dynamic complexity in your movement practice. While every class aims to refine your technique with embodied research, "grading" of movement understandings will happen often over the course of the semester. These opportunities to showcase your somatic tracking within modern dance will unfold inside of your journal and be graded on a rubric created by you to showcase personal progress. 

Written Assignments

There will be a few written assignments released on canvas. These assignments include peer feedback, a progression tracking of your entire semester (really a portfolio of what you have done during evaluations), as well as a final reflection. 

Students will be expected and guided to creating a trajectory of evaluations for themselves. Evaluations will be heavily influenced by the student's needs and interlace and refine rubric starters with their own criteria for what progress looks like for them. While this work is folded into both Written Assignments and Movement Understandings, this serves as an affirmation for the work you are doing to set a technical rigor for yourself. 

Journals

Journals are a resource to keep track of your process and will be graded by perusal and used in your reflection portion of assessments. 

Course Outline

We will move through various concepts and examine how they are applied in phrase work. Each evaluation of phrase work will be accompanied by a self-reflection and peer observation. 

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

 I do not accept late assignments. That being said, I do not consider an assignment late if it is turned in before I finish grading. This gives the entire class generally about a week to get the assignment turned-in around the due date.  

Attendance Policy

This course is graded based on attendance. A student is allotted three unexcused absences (for classes meeting two-days per week) or four unexcused absences (for classes meeting three-days per week). Following the allotted unexcused absences for a specific course, 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 
In addition to attendance, grades are contingent upon the completion and quality of all other course requirements as outlined by the professor. 

Course Fees

Content for this section will be provided 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.