Bravo Dance

New Registration Accepted to January 26, 2013. Contact The Dance Office at dance@coppin.edu or 410-951-3355 (Ages 6-adults).

Program Dates:

September 10, 2012 - May 11, 2013

Program Description:

The Coppin State University (CSU) Dance Program is pleased to offer the new Bravo! Dance Training Program that will begin in the fall of 2012. Held in the state-of-the art facility at CSU, the program is designed to train students aged 9 – 18 through intensive dance education in modern dance, ballet, jazz, tap and hip-hop techniques. The mission of the Bravo! Dance Training Program is to provide multi-faceted dance training that will prepare students to pursue dance majors at the university level, to perform in professional or community dance companies, or simply to enjoy dance as an essential and healthful aspect of their daily lives. The program strives to offer the best in dance training at an affordable tuition rate. All courses will follow the university model, including a syllabus that emphasizes objectives and course expectations.

The program offers two tracks: the Bravo! Dance Company and the Community Dance Initiative. The Bravo! Dance Company focuses on the concert dance forms of modern dance and ballet. Participation is by audition only. Taught by university professors and professional dancers from the community, these classes will offer the most knowledgeable and up-to-date technique training available. The participants will perform in several performances throughout the year, including the CSU Dance Program’s 2nd Annual Urban Contemporary Dance Festival Concert where they will appear as an introduction to the dynamic performance of the featured company StepAfrika.

The second track, The Bravo! Community Dance Initiative is open to young dancers who may not yet have the experience required to enter the Bravo! Dance Company, but who show great potential to progress in dance. These students have many courses available to them, including Jazz, Tap, and Hip-Hop. These students are strongly encouraged to audition for the Bravo! Dance Company the subsequent year.

Outcomes:

• Dance: Students are able to perform movement skills efficiently taught through effective training and professional development opportunities;
• Health: Students are able to discuss the impact of anatomical awareness as a learning tool for advancement;
• Education: Students are able to demonstrate accurate movement memorization through good study habits and problem solving skills;
• Motivation: Students are able to utilize movement language as a form of self-expression and self-motivation for learning and achieving excellence;
• Social: Students are able to perform improvisation and structured choreographic group activities;
• Collaboration: Students are able to incorporate a keen sense of musical accompaniment and theater presentation as it relates to artistic performance, both inside and outside of the classroom;
• Cognitive: Students are able to evaluate their progress in the areas of good physical habits, social relationships and intellectual attainment;
• Language Arts: Students are able to discuss criteria for making aesthetic judgments about dance;
• Global Relations: Students are able to discuss dance /movement as a vehicle for cultural, historical, political and social phenomena
• Technology: Students are able to utilize technology as a resource for research projects and other written assignments.

BRAVO! Dance Training Program Audition Information:

Dance Training Audition:

Auditions are required for all students registering in the ballet and modern dance training program. Students are accepted into the dance program through either an adjudicated audition process. Following the audition, students are assigned to different movement levels based on age, prior dance experience and movement assessment/ranking. Classes are not open to beginning level students unless approved by the dance director. Students must audition for the program on Tuesday, May 22-Thursday 24, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. in the Physical Education Complex Dance Studio.

Final Audition Date: Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 10:30 a.m.

Jazz, Tap & Hip Hop Open Division Placement Audition:

Students interested in registering for jazz, tap and hip-hop must attend the placement audition on Saturday, August 22, 2012 at 10:30 am- Classes are open to Grades 3rd-12th. Students will participate in a jazz, tap and hip-hop dance technique class—dance attire required. Students are assigned to a different grade level based on the placement audition ranking. Students must have prior dance experience to register for classes. Students must audition for the program. The program is extremely competitive. Therefore, only 25-30 students are accepted into the program.

Final Placement Audition Date: Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 11:30 a.m.

Note: Students who audition for the open dance division may be admitted into the Dance Training program based on the adjudicators recommendations.

Youth Dance Company Audition: Saturday, September 29 at 1:15 pm PEC Dance Studio

Students interested in either modern/jazz dance should attend the audition on Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at 1:15 pm- Open to students in Grades 3rd-12th. Students will participate in a dance technique class—dance attire required. CSU Youth Dance Company Rehearsals, and Professional Development Workshops are held mainly on Saturday afternoons. Dance Company Fee = $300.00 plus any additional fees (such as costumes, conferences and traveling fees). Students accepted will perform modern dance, and different jazz styles (Broadway, Lyrical and Popular Culture).

Performance Training Program Class Schedule

Dance Training Audition Dates:

Final Audition Date: Saturday, September 8, 2012 @ 10:30 a.m. Physical Education Complex (PEC) Dance Studio

Jazz, Tap & Hip Hop Open Division Placement Audition Dates:

Final Placement Audition Date: Saturday, September 8, 2012 @ 11:30 a.m. PEC Dance Studio

Frequently Asked Questions:

Attendance Policy: To achieve the maximum results of training and proper progression through the syllabus, students are asked to attend all classes and rehearsals to which they are assigned to achieve the best training results. Parents are urged to take into consideration classes and rehearsals when scheduling their children for appointments and when planning family vacations. Excessive absences (2 or more non-academic absences) will result in a student being asked to leave the program. Students are not allowed to miss rehearsals in preparation for a performance! Consistent attendance is vital in maintaining mastery of dance technique. Dance is a physical activity that requires consistent weekly training to establish muscle strength and muscle memory.

Rehearsals Policy: Students must attend all scheduled rehearsals. It is imperative that all dancers are present at every rehearsal to achieve the level necessary for a public performance. It is very difficult for fellow dancers to work on a piece without everyone present. It is not about how well a dancer knows their particular part, but how much it affects the other dancers and choreographer not to be present for a rehearsal. Participation in any of the Student Ensembles requires consistent attendance to all rehearsals as scheduled. Two excused absences during the School year are allowed (otherwise students are dismissed for additional non-academic absences)

Bulletin Board: Check the Dance Bulletin Board each week for announcements or website for updates.

Classroom Etiquette: Excessive talking during class and rehearsals is discouraged with the occasional question welcomed and indicated by the students' raising of their hand. Students who are disruptive to the teaching and learning process will be asked to observe class so that others may continue their work. The instructor has the right to dismiss disruptive students from their class, and/or request a student-parent conference prior to readmitting the student. No refunds or make-up classes apply.

Student Classroom and Rehearsal Expectations:

• Arrive on time for the start of class and remain until the class is over.
• Students 10 minutes or more late will watch the class;
• Cell phones and pagers are not allowed in the dance studio.
• Refrain from talking during class.
• Food or drinks (except water) are not allowed in the dance studios.
• Dance attire is required for all dance classes and rehearsals.

Parent Conference: Parents are welcome to schedule a conference with their child's teacher or the director of the school at any time. Please email the school administrator at dance@coppin.edu to schedule an appointment. We ask that you do not confront the instructors before or after classes with questions, but instead email the dance office. Our capable staff may be able to answer your questions or you can schedule an appointment to meet with your child's instructor.

Dress Code: Students of any age should always wear street clothing over their dance attire when coming to and from their classes. Ballet slippers must never be worn outdoors as this tracks dirt into the studio. All dress code requirements are mandatory in every level of the school. Students must wear their dance attire to participate in classes.

Ballet: School leotard, pink tights, pink ballet slippers.

Modern: School leotard, footless tights, bare feet.

Jazz and Musical Theater: School leotard, black jazz pants, black jazz shoes.

Tap Dance: School leotard, black jazz pants, black tap shoes.

Hip Hop: School leotard, hip-hop style pants and jazz sneakers or clean street sneakers (approved).

Email: The School frequently sends information by email about upcoming events at the school. Be sure to list your email address clearly on your registration form so that we can keep you informed and updated during the year. Contact the dance office if you have not received "welcome to the program" email confirming your address.

Pre-Pointe/Pointe Classes: Students are selected for Pre-Pointe work usually around the age 11 or 12 who are strong enough physically and advanced enough technically to begin Pointe work. It can be dangerous to start a student on Pointe too early in the process of her training. The student must have a thorough understanding of proper body alignment as well as ankle, foot, leg and abdominal strength to prevent injury or the development of chronic conditions such as tendonitis. It is much wiser to wait until the appropriate time when the student is physically ready and can achieve the anticipated results. Some students are invited to register for the class however they may or may not perform on Pointe for the spring concert.

Make-up Classes: There are neither make-up classes offered nor refunds for missed classes or dismissal from the program, etc.

Parent Observation: (First Week In February) Parents and other individuals interested in viewing students as they train are invited inside the studios to observe classes during Parent Visiting weeks. Please check the School calendar for the scheduled dates. To minimize distraction for our students and to allow our faculty to do the best job possible in the training of your child, please refrain from observing class through doorways or windows during non-observation weeks. Our goal is to keep your child focused so that they can maximize their class experience and continue to progress effectively through the required syllabus. Visiting weeks are intended for parents, relatives and older siblings who are able to understand classroom etiquette. Turn off cell phones, and reframe from talking during the class. Please do not bring visitors to the program during your regular class periods.

School Closings Due to Inclement Weather: Contact the dance office at 410-951-3355 for information regarding closings due to inclement weather. Generally, classes are cancelled when the university is closed and/or Baltimore County Schools are closed.

School Holiday Closings: Generally speaking, the program follows the university calendar for holidays and semester breaks except fall classes begin two weeks after the beginning of the academic schedule while winter classes normally begin two weeks prior to the beginning of the academic schedule in January. Classes are offered September through May.

Tardiness: Students are expected to arrive on time for the start of their classes and rehearsals. In the interest of injury prevention, students who arrive ten or more minutes late for class will be asked to observe class that day. Please show respect to your teachers and fellow students by arriving on time for your classes.

Tuition: Payments and registration fees are required before the first day of classes. Students will not be allowed to participate in classes or performances unless tuition is paid. Our teachers will aid in enforcing this policy.