NSU School of Creative and Performing Arts

Department of Theatre and Dance

DAN 155001N Intermediate Tap
Tuesday/Thursday 2-3:15, Room 112
Spring 2017

Instructor: Rebecca Morgan

E-mail: morganr@nsula.edu
Office: CAPA Room 112-A
Office Phone: 357-5082

Course Description: Skills. May be repeated for credit, maximum six hours. Pre-
requisite 1150 required.

Course Content: Students in this course will be presented with the next
level of tap terminology and technique building upon the foundation
established in beginning tap. Students will be exposed to Broadway and
Rhythm style tapping with more intricate patterns and greater physically
challenging movements. The course will consist of center work, barre
work, progressions, and an introduction to improvisation.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course the student will demonstrate:

A clear understanding of tap terminology and the timing associated with

those terms
Precision in tap movement, timing, and sound quality
A command of intermediate tap exercises, patterns, and combinations
An understanding of tap styling

Course Objectives:

Present Tap terminology

Execute precise clear tap sounds
Increase retention levels of intermediate exercises, patterns and
combinations
Introduce various tap styling and phrasing

Course Format:

Execution of more intricate rhythms will be the primary focus. The class is divided
into sections-warm-up, barre, progressions, and centre work.

Course Requirements:
 Supplies: Students should have some sort of dance bag which contains the
following:
A small screwdriver that fits your tap screws
Tap shoes
Gym Towel
A small first aid kit

Performance: Students must perform in Celebration of Dance

Evaluations: Evaluations of the student will be made throughout the semester.

Assessment will be based on individual performance and improvement. The final
grade will be comprised of the following:
Weekly Journals 10%
Mid-Term, Final Assessment, Celebration of Dance 10%
Technique Skills & Knowledge 40%
Performance Skills & Knowledge 20%
Disposition & Professionalism 20%

***Celebration of Dance is a requirement for this course. ****

Reflective Journal Description, Requirements &

Deadline (10%)
Please see exact due dates below. Please upload your journal
to Moodle. Should you experience any internet problems you
may also email your journals to morganr@nsula.edu as a
backup, in the subject of the email write class and journal
entry number (ex. Int Tap Journal #1). Compose your journal
as a word document and upload it; the journal must be
double-spaced, 12-point font in Times New Roman, 2-3
pages; at the top left corner write your name, class, journal
entry number and date. Comment on the following topics
each journal (you can discuss these in any order you would
like):

1. There are ONLY 3 journal entries required. Use these journals

as self-assessments; in the first journal explain, identify and
describe your goals for the semester in the areas of
technique, performance, and professionalism, the second
entry will be a midterm self-assessment and the last entry
 will be a final self-assessment of the semester.
2. What general or individual feedback did you receive and
apply that was helpful. What did you discover about yourself
as a mover, learner, body, person?
3. Comment on your three self-identified goals in the areas of
technique, performance, and professionalism. What progress
did you make in each? What are you doing outside of class to
strengthen them? (Does not apply to first journal)
4. How is what you are learning in this dance class informing
you in other movement experiences (dance training or
pedestrian) or classes you take part in in your life?
5. How is your body/mind/spirit serving you in dance class?
6. What do you believe are your strengths and weaknesses and
why?
7. Anything else you feel I should know (personal or
professional)?

All journal entries are due by 9am on the date listed. NO

LATE JOURNALS ACCEPTED!
#1 January 31st #2 March 7th #3 April
25th

ATTIRE/DRESS CODE FOR TAP CLASSES

Warm-up clothes (sweats/hoodies) are permitted for the first 10 minutes of class
and must be removed thereafter. There are no hats or sunglasses in class, nor
should there be any logos or writing on any shirts/pants.

All students must have good quality jazz/oxford type tap shoes with a re-enforced
toe box ( for executing toe stands)

Women: Black/white attire in all classes. Appropriate dance pants or skirts with
tights, t-shirt/tank top or leotard, black tap shoes. Hair needs to be pulled back, off
the neck and away from the face at all times (this includes short hair). Hair needs to
be neat and tidy.

Men: Black/white attire in all classes. Dance/athletic pants (these are pants which
allow for range of movement) or tights for jazz, t-shirt/tank-style shirt, black tap
shoes. Hair should be pulled back, off the neck and away from the eyes at all times
(this includes short hair). Hair needs to be neat and tidy.

Jewelry: Please leave all jewelry at home. Only stud earrings/small hoops and
wedding or engagement bands are allowed. Necklaces, bracelets, watches, anklets
and other rings may not be worn during class.

Hygiene: As this is an activity class, the need for personal hygiene is mandatory.
Clean dance clothes are essential, as is a clean body. We expect you to sweat so
please use deodorant. Avoid the use of perfumes or colognes as it is irritating and
distracting for others. Due to the amount of activity in the class, students may bring
a gym towel and place it on the bench during class to use when necessary.

Studio Rules:

Please store your belongings in designated areas. Please bring a towel and drink
plenty of water. No food in the studio and no glass bottles, only plastic water bottles
allowed. No street shoes are allowed into the studio. Individual use of the dance
studios is by instructors consent only. Cell phones should be turned off while in the
studio.

Attendance Policy and Procedure

Northwestern State University is particularly strict about class attendance and so is

the Theater/Dance Program. We know that if you are simply in class and listening
that you are learning more than if you are not there. Furthermore, in performance
classes your absence impacts the quality of educational experience of your
classmates. To harm the performance of another artist, be they in a scene, dance
patterning or member of a design team is professionally unethical behavior.

If a student is absent three times, the highest possible grade they can achieve in
the course will be lowered from an A to a B. For each additional two absences,
the highest possible grade will be reduced in a similar fashion. Class starts
immediately on time with an attendance check. A student that is not completely
dressed in standard dance attire at this time will be counted as late. Two lates
equal one absence. If you are not dressed in correct dance attire, it will be counted
as a late does.

The instructor may excuse absences for one of three reasons:

An email or letter requesting the students to participate in a University event.

A medical excuse on an original physicians letter head, with the date of the visit
and the physicians signature given to the instructor not more than three days after
the student returns to class.
 A family emergency in which the student must attend. Proper documentation in
the form of an obituary note from a Parent must be presented to the Instructor not
more than three days after the students return to class.

There shall not be any make up classes in regards to absences. Students are
responsible for all missed class work regardless of the reason for the absence.
Immediately upon the students return to class a conference will be arranged by the
student with the Instructor to determine what action, on the students part, is
necessary to compensate for the time lost and materials missed due to the
absence.

Dance students will be allowed one observe for the semester. You will not be
allowed to study other class notes when you observe, you will take notes on the
class observed and show them to the instructor upon completion of the class and a
partial participation grade will be assigned for that day. Students who are not
properly dressed for class or those who are tardy in excess of 10 minutes will not be
allowed to participate in class and, instead may take notes and view the class for
partial attendance credit. A participation grade of zero, however, will be assigned
for that day. Students are expected to be in shoes and properly dressed for class no
later than two weeks after the first day of class.

UNIVERSITY POLICIES

A. Disability Policy
It is the policy of NSU to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal law, state law, and the
University's commitment to equal educational opportunities. Any student with a disability who needs
accommodation, for example, in seating placement or in arrangements for examinations or other disability related
issues, should inform the instructor at the beginning of the course. Students with disabilities are encouraged to
contact the Office of Disability Support: 2234 Friedman Student Union; 357-4460.

B Academic Honor Code

Academic dishonesty is defined as the following: 1) acquiring or using a published test bank, 2) copying from
another students test, paper or computer file, 3) using unauthorized materials during a test, 4) collaborating during a
test with any other person by giving or receiving information without authority, 5) stealing, buying, or otherwise
obtaining non-administered or unauthorized tests, 6) selling or giving away non-administered or unauthorized tests,
7) bribing anyone to obtain information about a test, 8) substituting for another student or permitting another person
to substitute for oneself to take a test, 9) submitting as your own, in fulfillment of academic requirements, any work
prepared totally or in part by another, 10) supplying to another student any theme, report, or other work for use in
fulfilling academic requirements, 11) plagiarism, defined as the use of another persons work and the
unacknowledged incorporations of that work in ones own work that is offered for credit, and 12) duplicity, defined
as offering for credit identical or substantially unchanged work in two or more courses without approval. Academic
dishonesty will result in one of the following disciplinary measures to be decided by the course instructor: 1)
verbal/written warning, 2) conference with department chair or dean, 3) reduction of test/course grade to an F. A
student may subsequently be referred to Student Conduct and be placed on probation, suspended, expelled or forced
to withdraw from Northwestern as a result of academic dishonesty. Refer to the section in the Student Handbook
concerning Academic Infractions and Sanctions for Academic Misconduct.

C Classroom Civility Statement

Northwestern State University students, staff, and faculty are expected to create an environment that
promotes academic excellence, personal dignity, mutual respect, and individual responsibility in both face-to-
face and electronic educational settings regardless of the content of the ideas and opinions being shared. Ideas and
opinions that are controversial or in opposition to others are welcomed in the NSU environment, and this policy
shall not be used to prohibit the sharing of controversial or unpopular ideas or opinions but merely to call for civility
when idea and opinion sharing.

All members of the NSU community have the right to a safe environment free of disturbances and civil in all
aspects of human relations. Whether in a face-to-face or online classroom, students who engage in disruptive or
abusive discourse or actions may be removed from the class and subject to disciplinary sanctions. In on-campus
classrooms, students who speak at inappropriate times, take frequent breaks, interrupt the class by coming to class
late or leaving early, engage in loud or distracting behaviors, use cell phones or other noise-making devices, wear
headphones, are distracted with computers or other electronic devices, are verbally abusive, display defiance or
disrespect to others, or behave aggressively toward others during the class period may be removed from the class
and may be subject to disciplinary action under the Northwestern State University Student Code of Conduct
(Articles IV Infractions and VII Sanctions).

The instructor of a course may deem additional behaviors or actions inappropriate; these actions or behaviors will be
outlined in the course syllabus. Copies of infractions and sanctions are available on the NSU website at
https://www.nsula.edu/studenthandbook/.

D Definition of Diversity
Today, members of our University Community are more likely to experience differences among people.
Northwestern State University defines diversity as differences in age, gender, religion, language, sexual orientation,
socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, exceptionalities, and geographic background. In our mission to acknowledge
our differences, we also hope to realize our commonalities.
E. Sexual Harassment & Assault
NSU is committed to eliminating sexual misconduct in our community, advocating for students who have
experiences sexual assault or harassment, and respecting the legal rights of both complainants and
respondents. Misconduct involving sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking,
a hostile environment caused by sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, coercion, retaliation, intimidation, sexual
consent, and discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression should be reported to
the Dean of Students (318) 357-5286. Also, hate crimes, including those based on gender identity or national origin,
should be reported. The offenses listed above are prohibited by the University. Information about conduct infractions
and sanctions (Articles IV and VII of the Student Code of Conduct) are available on the NSU webpage at
https://www.nsula.edu/studenthandbook/.

Reporting and Assistance: NSU strongly advocates reporting sex discrimination, sexual assault, intimate-partner
violence, or sexual harassment. If a student discloses an incident they will learn options for assistance, such as health
and wellbeing counseling, residence and class accommodations, and options for filing complaints or criminal
charges. Disclosure to University personnel will not obligate the complainant to file a grievance or criminal charge,
nor will it subject the complainant to scrutiny or judgmental opinions.

Students have two options:

1. Reporting to Dean of Students (318) 357-5286 or University Police (318) 357-5431.
For emergencies or a 24/7 Confidential Advisor, please call University Police.
2. Confidential Disclosure to Campus Counselor (318) 357-5621 or Confidential Advisor (318) 357- 5570.

For a comprehensive list of parish-wide resources for assistance, please visit https://www.nsula.edu/notalone/.

Confidentiality: All reporting of sex discrimination and sexual misconduct is treated as confidential to the greatest
extent possible; the privacy of all individuals involved is important to the Northwestern State University. In most
situations, only individuals involved in the resolution of the situation will have access to the information
about the case. If there is a risk of the alleged perpetrator committing additional crimes, if a
student is in immediate danger, or if there has been expressed intent to harm others, or
other risks such as involvement of a weapon or the age of the students involved, the
University may determine that it is necessary to compromise the level of privacy provided.