Catalog Course Search Details

 Department:    PE

 Course #:    143

 Credits:    1

 Variable:     No

 IUs:    1.5

 CIP:    500301

 EPC:    n/a

 REV:    2018

 Course Description  

Coordination, fitness, and communication skills through partner dancing. Students will learn basic steps and a variety of swing dance moves.

 Prerequisite  

None

Contact Hours (based on 11 week quarter)

Lecture: 0

Lab: 22

Other: 0

Systems: 0

Clinical: 0

Intent: Distribution Requirement(s) Status:  

Academic Elective  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

1. Increase motor skills, coordination, and rhythm through learning basic moves and variations of swing dancing to a variety of music styles and tempos.
2. Increase fitness through the fast, high-energy movements required in swing dancing.
3. Increase nonverbal and verbal communication skills through leading or following in partner danceing.
4. Master enough swing dancing basics to dance with confidence and pleasure with any partner of at least the same level of skill.

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2008 and affects outlines for 2008 year 1 and later.

2. Critical Thinking

Definition: The ability to think critically about the nature of knowledge within a discipline and about the ways in which that knowledge is constructed and validated and to be sensitive to the ways these processes often vary among disciplines.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
2.2 Analyze issues and develop questions within a discipline.

3. Communication

Definition: Understanding and producing effective written, spoken, visual, and non-verbal communication.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
3.3 Demonstrate effective listening skills.

4. Community & Cultural Diversity

Definition: Recognizing the value of human communities and cultures from multiple perspectives through a critical understanding of their similarities and differences.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
4.2 Understand, value and respect human differences and commonalities as they relate to issues of race, social class, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities and culture.

6. Individual Awareness & Responsibility

Definition: Understanding, managing, and taking responsibility for one’s learning and behavior in varied and changing environments.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
6.1 Identify ethical and healthy choices and apply these personally, socially, academically, and professionally.

Course Contents

1. Brief introduction to the various types of swing - including West Coast, East Coast (single-, double-, and triple-time), and Lindy Hop
2. Basic footwork in East Coast triple-time and single-time swing, and how these work with the ""beat"" of the music
3. Appropriate upper body, arm, and hand positions for dancing in ""open"" and ""closed"" positions (the ""frame""), and doing turns and moves
4. Up to 10 common turns and other moves in East Coast swing (depending on how fast the class progresses), beginning with basic ""inside"" and ""outside"" turns, ""open"" and ""closed"" positions, and ""lead's turn,"" and concluding (for those who are ready) with the Charleston (from Lindy Hop) and several variations that can be easily incorporated in East Coast Swing
5. Communication skills of lead and follow roles, with emphasis on the ""pre-lead.""
6. Beginning development of individual style and expression, and matching style to the type and tempo of the music (""musicality"")
7. Brief introduction to social skills and etiquette of partner dancing, with emphasis on how to bring out the best in your dancing partner