Dance: Musical Theatre Dance

The art of dance in musical theatre with training in performance skills, vocabulary, choreography, and specific styles of musical theatre dance. Special emphasis on choreographers whose works influenced musical theatre dance. Reading, writing, and attending live performances required. Prerequisite: DNCE 1400.

Prerequisite: DNCE 1400 or instructor permission PACE students with permission and override

The art of musical theatre is explored through readings, viewings, discussion, and lecture. However, the majority of the class is dedicated to the practical application. This course includes dance conditioning, dance technique, dance vocabulary, choreography and the study of specific styles of musical theatre dance. There is a significant amount of physical activity, as well as focus on performance skills. The course functions for the most part, as a performance lab in which emphasis will be placed on choreographers whose work and genres influenced 20th and 21st century (US American) musical theatre. Influences will be evidenced in dance combinations used in class. Most class meetings will follow the general format used in professional dance classes. A set warm-up geared toward technique building. An adage segment with application of strength, balance, extension and expression. Across the floor focusing on improvement of jumps, leaps and turns. We will end the class by learning a combination that brings together physical and performance skills applied to various styles.