2016 – 2017 Dance Handbook for Students and Parents
Welcome to DANCE at Frank Hurt Secondary. My
goal is to help students become happy and healthy dancers. This is a fun class
but it is a lot of work. Dance is an art form that when performed can look
easy, but much work and effort goes into even the smallest movement. With hard
work, determination, and a positive attitude, students will do really well in
this class, gain a sense of accomplishment, have fun, and make some new dance
friends.
Units of Study
We will review concepts that we learned in previous
grades and move towards increasing our cardiovascular endurance, strength, and
flexibility. This year we will be focussing on finding our cores, using our
breath, and engaging with the audience.
Here are some of the activities that we will be
working on for each curricular competency:
Explore and
Create (8-12)
·
Combinations in different dance genres (Hip Hop, Jazz, Contemporary,
BBoy/BGirl, Tap)
·
Freestyles, battles, ciphers, improvisations
·
Across the floor
·
Choreography challenges
Reason and
Reflect (8-12)
·
Verbal critiques to watching performances
·
Feedback Activities
·
Scoresheet Activities
Communicate and Document
(8-12)
·
Class choreography – the process
·
Dance quizzes in small groups
·
Performances: Breakout / Outbreak, Dance Festival, and Frank Hurt Dance
Shows
·
Ms. J’s warm-up quiz
Connect and
Expand (9-12)
·
Student warm up and music edit
·
Student choreography and music edit with a social, cultural,
environmental, or historical context connection
·
Finale choreography challenge
·
Choose your own adventure
How are you Marking Me?
As you
can see above there are not a lot of written assignments in Dance. Most of our
assignments are physical. If you attend regularly, try your best, and have a
positive attitude towards learning dance while helping and encouraging others,
you will be very successful in Dance.
You will
be asked to complete a Google Questionnaire before each report card. You can
use your own device, a classroom IPad or computer. You will also have an
interview with your teacher to talk about your personal dance goals and how to
accomplish them.
Work
Habit Marks
Days of the Week
After
the first three weeks of Dance conditioning we will move to the following
weekly schedule for most weeks:
Monday
|
“Tech”Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
“Freestyle”Friday
|
Review and add
choreography
|
Longer warm-ups
|
Review and add
choreography
|
Review and add
choreography
|
7:10 – 8:10am Morning
conditioning
|
Watch YouTubes or
performances and reflect using dance vocabulary
|
Tech classes in: Ballet,
Lyrical, Jazz, Break, Hip Hop
|
Clean
|
YouTube Choreographies
for blog
|
|
Introduce new dance
genres
|
Core workouts
|
Dance Club at lunch
|
Freestlye / Battle
|
|
Flexibility Classes
|
Performances
Dance is
a performance art. Performances and competitions are mandatory. If you know
that your child is going to be absent, please have him / her inform the teacher
as soon as possible. This will give the class time to learn new formations and
choreography as well as, become comfortable in their new positions. We are a
team and are learning to work together. You let your team down if you do not
show up to a performance.
Semester One Performances
What
|
Where
|
When
|
Who
|
Transportation
|
Ticket Info
|
Throwdown
Vol. 2
|
Panorama
Ridge
|
Thursday Oct. 27th : 4 - 8
|
Anyone
can enter this freestyle / break competition
|
Parents
/ public transportation
|
Tickets
$5 at the door.
|
Dance
Dress Rehearsal & Show
|
Frank
Hurt Theatre
|
Thursday,
Dec. 15: Dress Rehearsal 3 – 4/ go eat / Return at 5:30/ Doors open at
6:15 for audience/ Show starts at 6:30 – 7:30/ Clean up and home by 8pm
|
All
dance 9-12 semester one dancers and all dance team members.
|
Parents
/ public transportation
|
Tickets
are $5 in advance and at the door.
|
Surrey
Dance Festival
|
Bell
Centre
|
Wednesday,
Jan. 11: 8:30 – 1pm
|
All
semester one 9-12 dance classes.
|
School
bus – paid for by district
|
Free
– come and watch!
|
Breakout
Dance Competition
|
Tweedsmuir
|
Saturday,
Jan. 14: 10 – 5pm
|
All
dance 9-12 semester one dancers and all dance team members.
|
Parents
/ public transportation
|
Tickets
$10 in advance from Ms. J (Always best to buy in advance for competition –
they tend to sell out.)
|
Semester Two Performances
What
|
Where
|
When
|
Who
|
Transportation
|
Ticket Info
|
Name that Competition - Small Teams
|
Fleetwood Park
|
Monday, Feb. 27: 4 - 7pm
|
Anyone
can make their own duo, trio, quad, or small team (5-8 dancers)
Music
2 minutes maximum
|
Parents
/ public transportation
|
Tickets $10 in advance from Ms. J
|
Surrey
Dance Festival
|
Bell
Centre
|
TBA
(April 3-11)
|
All
semester two 9-12 dance classes.
|
School
bus – paid for by the district
|
Free
– come and watch!
|
Outbreak Dance Competition
|
Chandos
|
Saturday, April 22: 11 - 5pm
|
All
dance 9-12 semester two dancers and all dance team members.
|
Parents
/ public transportation
|
Tickets
$10 in advance from Ms. J (Always best to buy in advance for competition –
they tend to sell out.)
Frank
Hurt Volunteers needed.
|
Dance
Dress Rehearsal & Show
|
Frank
Hurt Theatre
|
Thursday, June 15: Dress Rehearsal 3 – 4/ go eat / Return at
5:30/ Doors open at 6:15 for audience/ Show starts at 6:30 – 7:30/ Clean up
and home by 8pm
|
All
dance 9-12 semester two dancers and all dance team members.
|
Parents
/ public transportation
|
Tickets
are $5 in advance and at the door.
|
Thu
Costumes and Make-up
Frank Hurt Dance has a costume room that
has some costume items in it. (If you have not returned costume items from
previous years please give them to Ms. J in the dance office. You will be
rewarded with great thanks. I know how easy it is to forget you have something
at home and I will appreciate that you have washed it and returned it.)
Students will often be asked to bring in
their own clothing to use as costumes. This year we are going to order a
t-shirt (or similarly priced item) for the classes. All classes will pay $15
and get to keep their class t-shirt. Teams will discuss costuming as a team and
will let Ms. J know if they need help with acquiring items.
Students are responsible for keeping their
costumes fresh and must bring them to each performance and competition
themselves. If students are using a Frank Hurt item, they are responsible for
cleaning, folding and returning to Ms. J. Please let Ms. J know if an item is
damaged so it can be repaired or replaced.
In professional theatre, male and female
dancers wear make-up. It allows the audience to see facial expressions with all
the stage lights. We are aiming to be professional but I also do not want to
make anyone uncomfortable or deter them from taking Dance. For this reason, make-up
is expected to be worn by females for shows and performances (unless of course
there is an allergy or parents do not allow make-up). Males are not expected to
wear make-up unless they want to or it is for dramatic effect. Please do not
share make-up. Basic required make-up for dancers (this may change slightly,
depending on the artistic requirements for each dance):
Foundation
Brown/black
eyeliner and mascara
Brownish-red
blush
Natural
red lipstick
(This is a very detailed video. Students do
not require fake eye-lashes. Mascara is sufficient.)
Ms. J will talk about costumes and make-up
for each dance with the students before performances and competitions. I will
also post this information on the blog and send reminders through social media.
Field Trips
Field
trips to performances are mandatory. If you know that your child is going to be
absent, please inform Ms. J so we can make changes in the formations and
choreography with ample time for the other students to learn new places
confidently.
There is
one field trip per semester that is optional but encouraged. These fun
excursions are designed to help dancers expand their knowledge of dance by
watching live performances and working with artists, choreographers, and other
experts in the field of dance.
I try to
keep all field trips affordable and when possible we use money we have made
from fundraising to keep the price down. Most field trips are between $20 and
$30.
Semester one we have a field trip to The Dance Centre in Vancouver on Thursday, November 24th. The
students will be watching a contemporary performance called The Response and
having a dance class with one of the artists. The cost to students is $25. This
includes a live performance, a dance class, and transportation by school bus. Students
will need to bring a lunch or money to purchase a lunch. (sushi, Starbucks, pizza,
Tim Horton’s, and Subway are all close by.)
To sign
up for this field trip please fill in and return the attached permission forms
signed by parents and teachers with $25 in exact change or a cheque made out to
Frank Hurt Secondary with your child’s student number on it.
There
may also be a field trip to a local elementary school to teach grade sevens
some moves and share our love of dance. This field trip will be happening at
the end of the semester. More details will be posted on the blog. It will be
free of charge and happen within school hours.
I have
attached all field trip forms to this handbook and I have sent a copy home with
students on the first day of school or the first day of dance team practice. Everyone
that brings their forms back to me filled in and signed by both parents and
teachers by Thursday, September 29 at 4:20 will have their
name entered in a draw to win a free Frank Hurt Dance Wear T-Shirt!
Frank Hurt Dance Policies and Classroom Expectations
1. Arrive on time and be
prepared to work.
You must be at the change
room or in the studio when the bell goes. Make sure Ms. J sees you and marks
you present. You will then have five minutes to get changed. Start warming up
your muscles, reviewing choreography, or have a seat in the circle. This year
we will start all classes in a circle. If you are late, please enter quickly
and quietly. Make sure Ms. J sees you so she can adjust the attendance. If you
missed the warm-up, please warm yourself up on the side to prevent injury and
join us as quickly as you can. If you are late (or have unexcused absences) to
class more than three times, Ms. J will call contact your parents. If lateness
persists the administration will be informed.
2. Please respect the studio
space, audio equipment, washrooms, and Fine Arts building.
This is your
dance space and the only one we have. Please work to take care of it by wiping
up any spills, throwing out garbage, and treating the sound system with care.
Please do not bring food or drink (other than water) into the dance room. If
you do not know how to work the soundboard, please ask before touching. Ms. J
or one of the senior dancers will be happy to show you.
3. Participate fully and
positively.
The course
content is best learned through active participation. Maintain an open mind and
have a positive attitude. Be ready to listen, learn and share your ideas.
4. Show courtesy and respect
at all times.
a)
Be respectful of others’
opinions, space and personal property, as well as that of the studio space.
b)
Listen to whoever is speaking.
Everyone has a right to participate as well as to be heard. Therefore, do not
call out or speak over others.
c)
Rudeness, intolerance,
discrimination, ridicule and other unacceptable behaviors will not be
tolerated. This includes comments that are sexist, racist or homophobic in
nature.
d)
Everyone is learning. Help each
other and demonstrate your capacity to teach as well as learn.
5. Catch up on missed
choreography.
If you miss
class and new choreography, make your best effort to get a friend in class to
catch you up at lunch. This is a great way to make a new friend too. J
6. Take responsibility for
your own learning.
Each day you
will be faced with dozens of choices, some of them more difficult than others.
Part of Ms. J’s responsibility is to help you make sound decisions about what
goes on both inside and sometimes outside the classroom. Ultimately, however,
YOU are the one who is responsible. Your success in this class depends on the
choices YOU choose to make. Remember that learning and growth in dance is an
ongoing process that is a culmination of effort, a positive attitude and
focused practice.
Injuries
Injuries happen. In class we will talk
about warming up properly and using proper technique to help prevent injuries.
But sometimes, injuries still occur. So, what happens when you have an injury
and you cannot participate fully in Dance class? First of all, communicate with
Ms. J, your parents, and your physician. We want all injuries to heal properly
so that they do not get worse. During class, injured students can participate
by watching, playing the music, taking choreography notes, or coming up with
costume ideas. Everyone is different and has different interests, so Ms. J will
talk with the injured student to come up with an individual plan. The key is,
an injured student should still be participating in class to some degree. The
student should not be somewhere else – like on their phone.
If a physician has sent a note saying that
the student cannot dance for a certain period of time, they should be cleared
by their physician before they re-join the class.
Above all, listen to your body. There are
two different kinds of pain. One is good pain that tells the dancer that they
worked a new muscle group and the other is the bad, sharp pain that tells the
dancer that they have gone too far. We want only good pain in Dance class. It
is better to work slow and steady than to try and do too much too soon.
Supplies needed for Dance
Comfortable clothing to dance in that is appropriate for school
Bare feet, socks, toe undies, jazz shoes, or ballet slippers for
contemporary, jazz and ballet.
Sneakers for street styles: hip-hop and bboy – bgirl styles.
Water bottle
Sweat towel
Internet device *There are
two computers and three Ipads we can share (Frank Hurt is not responsible for
lost or stolen items, so if you are not good at taking care of expensive items
leave them at home and use ours.)
Stage Make-Up for shows
Dance Team
Dance
team is a class that you get credit for and runs during an X block after
school. This year we have four dance teams: Junior Hip Hop, Senior Hip Hop,
Break Team, and Contemporary Team. Sign up for Dance Team Auditions HERE.
Get
prepared for dance team auditions by coming to our pre-audition classes:
Hip Hop Tuesday,
September 13 2:50 – 3:50
BBoy –
BGirl Wednesday,
September 14 2:50 – 3:50
Contemporary
Thursday,
September 15 2:50 – 3:50
Dance team auditions:
Junior
and Senior Hip Hop team Tuesday,
September 20 3:00 – 4:00
Break
Team Wednesday,
September 21 3:00 – 4:00
Contemporary
Team Thursday,
September 22 3:00 – 4:00
What if
you do not get accepted on a dance team this year? Come to Dance Club on
Thursdays and Morning Conditioning on Friday mornings. Take Dance with Ms. J,
dance at lunch, take classes outside of school, or even just practise at home
with some YouTubes. Do not give up.
If you really want to dance you should continue to practise and learn wherever
and whenever you can. Then, try again next year. If you practise all year you
will have an amazing chance of getting on the team next year and you will have
shown that you are dedicated and can persevere which are two amazing life
skills that all dancers need to have. We learn more from our failures than we
do when we succeed.
Dance
Teams will run after school on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 2:50 to
4:20. We will make use of the dance studio, the theatre, the cafeteria and
whatever other spaces we can find available when necessary. There will be two
teams practising on Tuesday and Wednesday. We will know which days after
auditions. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are for reviewing and adding new
choreography. All teams will meet on Thursdays in the dance studio. We will
have a warm-up all together, clean dances, and showcase. Tuesday and Wednesday
practices will end after our last competition which is usually Outbreak.
Thursday practises will run until our final show.
Dance
Team members are strongly encouraged to attend conditioning classes on Friday
mornings from 7:10 – 8:10. This is another opportunity to not only train our
bodies but we can bond by seeing each other first thing in the morning – all
sleepy. J
Dance
Team members are strongly encouraged to attend all field trips to broaden their
perspectives on all dance genres and become more familiar with new dance
opportunities outside of Frank Hurt.
Dance
Team members are strongly encouraged to take Dance class with Ms. J. Dance team
is designed as an add-on to supplement Ms. J’s Dance class during the school
day.
Dance Club
Thursdays
at lunch in the dance studio. Run by dance team members. Eat your lunch first
then come and dance. (It might be a good idea to bring your lunch on this day
so you don’t have to wait in line at the cafeteria.) No experience necessary
and everyone is welcome. Students that are interested in joining dance teams
are strongly encouraged to participate because it shows initiative and you will
get to know students on the dance teams.
Friday Morning Conditioning Classes
Join Ms.
J in the dance studio on Friday mornings from 7:10 – 8:10 for one hour of
conditioning. Dance team members and all Dance class students are strongly
encouraged to attend. Everyone is welcome. You can bring your friends, your
favourite teacher, or even your favourite administrator. Let’s see if adding
one day of conditioning a week can make a big difference in our overall dance
abilities.
Communication is Key
We are
so lucky to have so many ways to communicate with one another. Let’s use them!
Spotify:
Frank Hurt Dance – music playlists
Fresh
Grade: More information to come – I will be trying this interactive grading
program this year.
Frank Hurt Dance Wear
This
year we will be ordering:
  |
Black Men's windbreaker - no hood
XS, S,
M, L, XL
Black Women's windbreaker - with hood XS, S, M, L, XL |
$45
$45 |
 |
Black
BBall Shorts
XS, S,
M, L, XL
|
$45
|
 |
Black
T-shirt
White
T-shirt
XS, S,
M, L, XL
|
$15
|
 |
Baseball
T-shirt
XS, S,
M, L, XL
|
$25
|
 |
White
Crew Neck
XS, S,
M, L, XL
|
$25
|
 |
White
Hoodie
XS, S,
M, L, XL
|
$35
|
Fill in
the attached form and return with exact change or
cheque made out to Frank Hurt Secondary with student number on it. We only
order once a year, so if you are in semester two and you would like Frank Hurt
Dance Wear you must order with the semester one students. All orders are Due: Thursday, September 29th at 4:20.
To Do:
Read through the 2016 – 2017
Dance Handbook for Students and Parents or you can watch it on YouTube.
I will not be sending notices
home. If you would like to get blog updates you can enter your email on the home page. Feed Burner will send
you a confirmation e-mail. You must open the e-mail and click to complete the
subscription.
Complete field trip forms:
Medical information, parent and teacher signatures by Thursday, Sept. 29 at
4:20 to be entered into the Frank Hurt Dance Wear T-shirt prize draw!!
Money form and exact change or
cheque made out to Frank Hurt Secondary with student number on it for: costume
t-shirt ($15), optional field trip ($25), optional Frank
Hurt Dance wear (depends what you order).
Sign-up for Dance Team
Auditions HERE.