Syllabus
World History of Dance
TERM: SPRING – 2026
Jan 12 – Apr 27
University of Miami
Frost School of Music – Dance Program
DAN 250 – Q (6767) / World History of the Dance – 3 units
Meeting time: Tuesday and Thursday 12:30 - 1:45 pm
Location: Wellness Center
Jorge Luis Morejón, PhD
Office Hours: TBA Tuesday & Thursday 4:45 noon – 5:45 PM / by appointment
Academic Calendar:
https://registrar.miami.edu/_assets/pdf/spring-2026-commencement-6-24-2026mc.pdf
Bulletin Description: This course tries to put into practice an integral approach to Dance History by bringing to the students a survey of world dance history including various historical dance periods such as: Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance and Contemporary. DAN 250 Q (2055) is an interdisciplinary course introducing dance enthusiasts to a genealogy of dance styles with an emphasis on critical appreciation of historical influences that shaped them. This interdisciplinary approach contextualizes dance by emphasizing the different historical periods that gave birth to different danced styles by using selected cultural activities made available to the students to aid in correlating historical facts and embodied experience.
Prerequisites: There is no prerequisite and the course welcomes students who have no previous experience in dance as well as those who do.
Course Objectives / Students will be able to:
· Identify various dance forms according to the historic period in which they developed.
· Reflect on the historic importance and value of dance for humanity.
· Discuss choreographic choices made in relation to any given historic period.
· Explain the connections between each dance style in the context of historic events.
· Demonstrate historical dances through creative ensemble pieces choreographed in class.
· Write about social and cultural influences on dance throughout history.
In addition, throughout this course, students will have the opportunity to improve their presentation skills, written communication, dance literacy, creativity, career development, and critical thinking.
Instructional Methodology: dance/movement experiential in class, self-reflection journal, final paper on dance period referencing book readings, creative project on application of learning (ensemble piece).
Required text:
Carter, Alexandra. Destabilizing the Discipline: Critical Debates About History and their Impact on the Study of Dance. Rethinking Dance History: A Reader. Routledge, 2013
LINK:
Assignments:
Journal
Ensemble/Group oral presentation
Dance/Music event review
Research Paper
Mid-term
Final
Grading Breakdown:
Attendance & Experiential Work 45
Journal 10
Group presentation 15
Self-Reflective Paper 15
Mid-term Quiz 15
TOTAL 100 pts
Attendance & Experiential Work 45 %
You are expected to participate in class discussions by actively engaging in the re-enactment of the dances covered in the course and with class material.
To participate you MUST come to class both ON TIME AND PREPARED BY:
Reading assigned material before class
Review your notes prior to class meetings
Bring questions or thoughts to contribute to the informed discussion.
JOURNAL:
Every class, the student will write a journal entry summarizing the content of the class and a response/reflection/critique of it. 10%
GROUP PERFORMANCE / PRESENTATION PROJECT 15 %
We will discuss examples of types of research topics in class.
Presentation Project Guidelines: Analyze a dance, dance movement, dance style, dance technique or trend using a clearly defined historic framework. Situate the content and formal qualities of the specific dance in the specific cultural and historical context in which it occurs. Demonstrate the dance with a short choreographic piece to illustrate the historic period in which it was performed.
Duration: A 15 multimedia group presentation (10 minute oral, 3 minute performance, 2 minute questions and answers).
Rehearse and time your presentation!!!!!!!!
Feel free to incorporate any creative ideas to enhance your project.
Have a one-page handout prepared, including an outline of the information above along with websites that offer samples of the artists’ work to help your classmates review for the final exam.
Self-Reflective Paper 15 %
Students will write a self-reflective paper on their experience in the course (Their take-aways from the course; how they would use them in their own field of studies and how they felt about the experience with history of dance.
MID-TERM QUIZ 7.5 %
FINAL QUIZ 7.5%
Rubric for Self-Reflective Paper (total 15 pts)
I. CONTENT
Introductory Paragraph: Tell what you will write about (thesis). (1pt.)
3 Supporting paragraphs:
a) Take-aways (3 pts)
b) How you would apply this knowledge to your own field of studies (3 pts)
c) Your own feelings about the experience in this course, the students, the subject matter. [3pts]
Conclusion: What did it mean to you to be part of this class. [1 pt.]
II. MECHANICS
Grammar & Punctuation (1pt)
Coherence (1pt)
Clarity of Ideas (1pt)
Quality of arguments (1 pt.)
DAN 250 - CLASS SCHEDULE
Week 1 – 16 Topic/Activity
WEEK 1
Tu - Jan 13 Introductions / Rethinking Dance
Th - Jan 15 Prehistory: The Paleolithic Period / Ritual Dance
.
WEEK 2
Tu - Jan 20 Human Origins
Th - Jan 22 The Shaman’s Labyrinth
WEEK 3
Tu - Jan 27 Neolithic Domestication
Th - Jan 29 Researching the Dance Ritual / The Ritual Process
WEEK 4
Tu - Feb 3 Copper Age: Birth of the Mediterranean Subsistence System & Regional Cults
Th - Feb 5 Reconstruction of Bronze Age Dances
WEEK 5
Tu - Feb 10 The Bronze Age: The Sun Cult
Th - Feb 12 The Iron Age / Dokwaza: Last of the African Iron Masters
WEEK 6
Tu - Feb 17 Creating the Smelting of Iron Story
Th - Feb 19 REVIEW & MID – TERM
Progress Reports Begin
WEEK 7
Tu - Feb 24 Ancient History: Egypt / Egyptian Processions
Th - Feb 26 Ancient Intersections: The Yemenites
WEEK 8
Tu - Mar 3 Ancient Greece: The Athenian Chorus
Th - Mar 5 Ancient Rome: Pantomime
SPRING RECESS (Mar 7 – 15)
WEEK 9
Tu - Mar 10 SPRING RECESS
Th - Mar 12 SPRING RECESS
WEEK 10
Tu - Mar 17 Classic Period / Meso-America – India - China
Th - Mar 19 Medieval Dance / Europe - Japan
WEEK 11
Tu - Mar 24 Creation of Presentation Groups / Review / Quiz
Early Modern Period
Th - Mar 26 Gathering & Organizing Presentation Materials The Baroque & Rococo
WEEK 12
The Ballet
Th - Apr 12 PRESENTATION / Expressionist Period - WWII (1939 -1945)
END OF THE SEMESTER
Monday - Apr 27
Self-Reflective Paper Due
ATENTION
In the event that the University of Miami’s campus closes unexpectedly for an extended period of time due to a hurricane, pandemic, or other emergency situation that prevents this course from meeting in person, students should be prepared to continue their learning remotely through Blackboard and other platforms.
Students are expected to check their UM email account and course Blackboard sites regularly for communications with me and the rest of the class, and to the extent feasible, continue participating in their courses from their off-campus location by the alternate means determined by me in coordination and agreement with you.
In the event that no internet or electricity is available, a course pack will be provided to students to continue working on their own until communication is restored and/or campus life is back to normal.
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