The primary goal of the High School dance program is to expose students to the process of dance, both as a physical discipline and as a creative and performing art.  Our classes are designed to attract not only dancers and dance aficionados, but also athletes wanting to move with greater ease and efficiency and actors desiring more expressive movement qualities.  We aim to educate, to inspire, and to create both movers and viewers.  In all of our courses, special workshops, guest artists and performances will be featured for enrichment.

 

Students can take any of our dance classes to fulfill a PE or Art requirement.  Zen Dance, Body Conditioning and PE all excuse student athletes from class while their sport is in season).

 

Note: Even if you play sports, you are required as a ninth grader to register for either PE or one of the two dance classes mentioned above. 

 

Taking “Body Conditioning” or “Zen Dance” may only count as an Art Credit if you are not using it for PE credit. You may take two dance classes, one for Art Credit and one for PE credit.

 

All courses run for a full year, and receive 0.5 to 1.0 credit for the year if taken for Arts or Physical Education credit, except for Dance Theatre Workshop (please note special requirements below).   Courses may not be dropped at mid-year except to resolve a scheduling conflict with an academic subject.  A student may be exempt from specific requirements only at the discretion of the Dance Department.

 

Any student who participates in athletics or dance outside of school must still be enrolled in a Physical Education or Dance class, even if he or she is on one or more teams during the school year.  Please note that these policies only apply to Body Conditioning and Zen Dance class.  All other dance classes require year round participation, regardless of after school athletics.  Student managers of team sports are not exempt from Dance class during that particular season, even if they manage for two seasons.

 

The Dance Program is designed to give a well-rounded background in the technical and creative aspects of dance as an art form.  Students who wish to pursue their dance education in greater depth or those who might apply to professional schools or colleges in dance should meet with the Dance Department Chair to discuss recommended courses.  The ideal time to make the decision to concentrate in dance is probably at the end of the 9th grade year.  In this way, by the time a student chooses 10th grade courses, the student will know if student wishes to place dance as a priority choice and prepare for participation in the DTW concert.

 

 

Contemporary Dance & Composition	1 year
Intermediate Dance Techniques	1- 2 years
Advanced Dance Technique	1- 2 years
Dance Theatre Workshop/Dance Production	1- 2 years