KDB206 Dance in Contemporary Culture

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This unit builds upon embodied knowledge and dance practice developed in KDB122 Popular Dance Styles. Through a series of seminars and practical workshops you will explore different trends in the role and place of dance in contemporary culture. You will explore dance's place in society and the development of trends such as Dance in Museums, Hip-hop culture, Dance as a Political Intervention, and Dance for Well-being.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Synthesise relevant theoretical, cultural and historical concepts into physical embodied practice (dance).
2. Cite and discuss in both written and verbal discourse coherent knowledge of historical and contemporary cultural contexts in dance. ---

Content

Learning Approaches

Classes will comprise of seminars and regular workshops and studio sessions.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways. For the theory component of the unit:

• a range of formative exercises discussed and applied in class
• generic comments posted to the whole cohort via the unit Canvas website
• feedback from peers as you investigate and discuss issues raised throughout the unit
• comments about summative assessment work included on criteria sheets with your grade.

For the practice-based components of the unit, feedback is provided by lecturers during workshops and discussions throughout the semester.

Assessment

Overview

The assessment for this unit requires you to demonstrate your grasp of theory which can be translated into embodied practice. You are required to submit an essay relating to topics explored in the unit, and to perform a short solo dance in response to those topics.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Essay

Choose from the trends explored within the unit and discuss the development of a specific context (the individual artist, dance phenomena etc.) for dance. You will also need to make reference and contextualise the impact on the field of dance and the broader cultural, social and environmental influences.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Performance

Create a short choreographic response to the concepts underpinning the unit. This assessment has both formative (developmental) and summative elements.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

All students and staff are required to complete the Tier 1 CIF General Health and Safety Induction for access to campus buildings and facilities. This must be completed online.

The study in this unit involves physical training in a variety of locations and venues which may include, your home, purpose-built dance studios, public venues, outdoor locations,  industry standard performance venues and online formats. Full physical participation in any class / workshop / rehearsal all unit activities is subject to compliance with safe dance practice. You have been taught safe dance principles as life-long learning skills and it is expected that you will apply them in this unit. Physical challenges are an inherent part of dance training. The development of essential risk-management skills that minimise potential injury is a high priority with all lecturing staff. All students are taught safe dance principles as life-long learning skills and it is expected that you apply them in this unit.

Due to the athletic nature of dance training, the dance discipline provides the necessary duty of care in emergency situations that arise on campus in relation to this unit, through its first first-aid and health and safety officers at all venues in which you are required to participate in this unit protocols.

Course Learning Outcomes

KK34 Bachelor of Fine Arts

1. Cite and discuss a broad and coherent knowledge of historical and contemporary cultural contexts for creative practice, including the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges.
   Relates to: ULO1
2. Identify and demonstrate knowledge of the techniques and concepts underpinning your field of creative practice.
   Relates to: ULO2
3. Demonstrate technical proficiency in at least one area of your field of creative practice.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO2
4. Communicate independent learning clearly and coherently in diverse modes relevant to your field of creative practice.
   Relates to: ULO2
5. Discern, critically analyse and synthesise knowledge in complex creative practice settings.
   Relates to: ULO1
6. Formulate and apply an independent perspective through reflection and by acting on the informed critique of others.
   Relates to: ULO1