HERE - PHS Social Dance

PHS SOCIAL DANCE
Instructor: Mrs. Deena McClellan
If you need to contact me I am available after class on B-days. My office is located in
the girls’ locker room of the dance studio. PHS phone # 801-465-6025 ex. 1546 or you
can e-mail me at: [email protected].
Course Introduction:
Every person is a potential dancer, and although some may dance better than others, all
can learn to dance well enough to enjoy themselves. Our primary emphasis this semester
will be on ballroom dance technique and styling. We will also cover some dance history,
etiquette, and social skills. Students will be required to perform at the “PHS Dance
Department Showcase,” to be held January 13, 2015 as their final examination, with
the possibility of a performance at SFHS’s “Parents Night.”
Academic Requirements:
A. We will follow the attendance policy as outlined in the PHS student handbook.
However, in any activity class participation is essential to progress and critical to
learning. For this reason, every day is considered a test or an assignment and must be
made up if missed for any reason. When an absence is excused, the work can be made
up, but it must be made up within three class periods of the absence (see attached
make-up possibilities). Participation points lost for unexcused absences, tardies, not
participating in class, disruptive behavior, etc. can NOT be made up. If you are injured
and have a doctor’s note points may be made up through make-up work. If a student is
more than 30 minutes late they will be considered absent and must do a make up.
B. Points are earned daily on a scale from one to thirty for being to class on time and
participating fully.
The following items constitute a loss of daily points:
Tardy to class
-5
Inappropriate dress or shoes
-20
Tardy past 15 min -15
Leaving the room without permission -30
Absence
-30
Insubordination
Determined by instructor
Hats/cells/mp3
-5
C. Grades will be determined as follows: Participation/attendance 70%, assignments,
practical and written evaluations, and skill progression 15%, performance at PHS Dance
Department Showcase (our “final exam”) 15%.
100-95% A
86-83% B
76-74% C
66-63% D
94-90% A82-80% B73-70% C62-60% D89-87% B+
79-77% C+
69-67% D+
59-0%
F
8/13/2014
Testing:
All written quizzes/tests will be administered through UTIPS and can be reached at the
following web address: http://www.ucutips.org/~deena.mcclellan/. Students will be
required to go to a computer lab, library, or home computer to take each quiz. Once
assigned, they will have approximately five days to complete each test. If they fail to do
so they will receive a zero on that particular quiz with no opportunity for make up.
Practical testing: All students are required to dress up for practical testing. This
includes dress pants and collared shirts for men, and skirts for women (no jeans, shorts,
or t-shirts), as well as appropriate shoes for both. There are no make ups for missing
a practical evaluation.
Self-Evaluations:
To help each student continue developing I will be videotaping all of their practical evaluations
and posting those video’s on our class YouTube channel. Each student will be required to go to
YouTube and complete a self-evaluation form. This evaluation is due the next class period.
Remember that it takes some time to upload all of the videos after the initial evaluation so keep
checking back to see if your video has been posted. You can link to our class YouTube channel
at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBqH2Nqrxtf4nhYS-WWumlg. You may also find your
videos on my class web site at: http://phssocialdance.weebly.com/
PHS Dance Department Showcase:
Students enrolled in Social Dance will be required to perform at the PHS Dance
Department Showcase, scheduled to be held January 13, 2015. If they are unable to
participate in the showcase due to school a school excused activity (i.e. choir
performance, drama performance, UHSAA athletic event, etc.) it is the responsibility of
the student to make arraignments with the instructor for an optional assignment a
minimum of two weeks PRIOR to the showcase. The only exception to the two week
requirement would be a UHSAA State sponsored playoff event. If you are involved in
such an event, it is your responsibility to inform the instructor as soon as possible to get
the optional assignment PRIOR TO MISSING. Prior notification is important to help
reduce disruptions in the choreography of the routines as well as those disruptions
involved with partnering. If a student does not meet the two week prior approval
requirement they will receive a zero on that portion of their grade.
Class Expectations:
To insure the greatest development for each class member, all students will be expected
to treat other students with courtesy and RESPECT. Food and drinks are not allowed in
the classroom; however, strong mints (i.e. Altoids) are highly recommended. Remember,
this is a class that often requires close contact, please be aware of personal hygiene –
brush, floss, use deodorant, perfume/cologne, soap, what ever will do the trick to
eliminate undesirable body odor. 
Technology:
I maintain a website with information pertaining to each class. When a student misses
class it is their responsibility to check the website to learn what was taught in class that
day. This site includes copies of my disclosure, recent handouts, video of each step
taught, class music, and links to PHS, Aspire, and UTIPS. To access my website go to:
http://phssocialdance.weebly.com/ this is a direct link. Or you can link to my site
through the schools web page at: www.nebo.edu/phs/.
Technology is amazing and I believe that it has now allowed me the opportunity to go
“paperless” for most of my handouts. Therefore, I will be emailing my students and
parents a link to a shared folder that will contain all of the handouts that I will be using
throughout the semester. This folder will also contain any new handouts that pertains to
upcoming events.
Substitute Teachers:
Parents: At times it is necessary for me to have a substitute teacher take over my class.
Due to the specialized nature of this class it is difficult (nearly impossible) to find a
substitute who is qualified in my subject matter. Therefore, in these rare occasions I
have a limited library of content related videos that the students will be watching. The
titles of these videos include: “Mad Hot Ballroom,” “Strictly Ballroom,” “Dance With Me,”
and some edited episodes of “Dancing With The Stars.” If you have a concern with any
of these titles please let me know and during these occasions I can have the substitute
give your student another activity to participate in during the period.
Class Rules:
1.
NO cell phones, head phones (ipods/mp3 players), hats, food or drinks allowed in the
classroom.
2. No talking while the teacher is teaching. Be respectful to the teacher, classmates,
and school property. Crude language and behavior will not be tolerated.
3. MAKE UP WORK IS DUE THREE CLASS PERIODS OF THE MISSED DAY.
4. Non-marking appropriate shoes are required (soft soled shoes and character shoes
work best and will be required for the Department Showcase). No stocking feet,
slippers, flip flops, crocks, cowboy boots, or clunky shoes. All shoes MUST have a strap
on the back. Girls will be required to wear the assigned dance shoes.
5. Students are required to dress suitable for dancing. Short skirts and low riding pants
are unacceptable clothing for social dance.
6. Use good hygiene…PLEASE!!!
Social Dance Make Up/Extra Credit Possibilities
Each of the following activities can be used to make up excused absences. Two of the following activities may be
used for those students wishing to earn extra credit. ALL WORK MUST BE TYPED AND DOUBLE SPACED!
1. Go to BYU or UVU and observe a social/ballroom dance class, for a minimum of 40 minutes.
Type a one page paper answering the following questions:
1. Where was the place of observation?
2. What was the date of observation?
3. Who was the instructor? (Ask someone)
4. Approximately how many people were in the class?
5. What style of dance were they working on?
6. What steps looked familiar?
7. What were some of the things you noticed? (Type of dress, music, attitudes, styling mannerisms, etc.)
8. What questions came to mind? Anything you were curious about?
9. Did the class look fun to you? Why or why not?
2. Attend a dance concert or ballroom dance competition.
Turn in the program and a typed one page critique answering the following questions:
1. Where and when was the performance held?
2. What was the name of the group/company/club/etc. performing?
3. What particular things do you remember?
4. What types of music were used?
5. How well did the dancers perform? (skill, projection, spacing, etc.)
6. What is one thing that you would change about the production to make it better?
7. Who was the choreographer of your favorite dance?
3. Go dancing at a club, school sponsored dance, or social dance hall. Turn in a typed paper stating your name, the
date and place you attended, and a parent signature confirming your attendance. List some of the dances you
danced and be prepared to share a new step with me and possibly the rest of the class.
4. Learn a new line dance from the internet and teach it to the class, or make up your own with 2-3 other students
from your class (48 counts minimum/64 counts maximum).
5. Watch
1.
2.
3.
4.
a Fred Astaire movie and answer the following questions: (typed)
What is the title of the movie?
What year was the movie was produced?
Thoroughly describe your two favorite dances. (Types of movements, costumes, music, etc.)
What thoughts and questions came to mind as you watched this movie?
6. Teach one (or both) of your parents two of the dances we have learned in class. You need to spend a minimum of
60 minutes dancing. Turn in a paper with your parent’s signature. Also indicate on your paper what you learned
about teaching others to dance. What was easy? What made it hard? All work must be typed.
7. Watch “Dancing with the Stars” or “So You Think You Can Dance” and type up a two page (double spaced)
synopsis of the show.
(Sign and return next class period worth 15 points)
Name: ________________________________
Class Period: ____
My parent/guardian(s) and I have read and understand the disclosure policy for this course and
I am excited to DANCE for the next two quarters!
Student Signature and date: ____________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature and date: ______________________________
We have access to a home computer: Yes ______
No ______
**I often send out email to the class regarding what is
going on and things to remember. Please make sure your
email address and phone numbers are correct under the
student profile section on Aspire.

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