The Columbia College Dance Company (CCDC) is made up of each dance major and a faculty liaison. The students elect a working Board of Directors and follow the constitution as a formal student organization at Columbia College. CCDC works closely with the Dance faculty. CCDC is responsible for all technical skills necessary to produce dance performances. CCDC choreographers produce finished works for the Fall and Spring Choreographer’s Showcase.

All dance majors are required to attend the weekly CCDC meeting through the following course work and syllabus in Dance 181, 182, 281, 282, 381, 382, 481, and 482. The meetings run approximately 50 minutes and include important information/sharing times. Yearly functions include welcoming freshman/transfer majors, open auditions, Fall and Spring Choreographer’s Showcases, To-Go Shows, Open House Weekend, Senior Banquet, space requests, community outreach, recruitment programs, fund raisers, etc.

Dance Company:
The Course and Assesment of Skills

DANCE 181, 182, 283, 284, 385, 386, 497, 488 DANCE COMPANY

Instructors: Martha Brim, Linda Caldwell, Patty Graham, Donald Shabkie, Patrick Faulds and Susan Haigler-Robles

Instructor Goals:

1. To explain clearly what is required to be a Dance Company Member
   
2. To monitor the student’s participation in Dance Company activities
   
3. To encourage personal discipline
   
4. To encourage students to take responsibility for making mature choices

Course Goals:

1. To understand the demands of a dance performer
   
2. To develop personal discipline required of a dance performer, understudy, production specialist
   
3. To participate in informal meetings with fellow dancers
   
4. To contribute to all departmental performances as a performer, choreographer, house workers, backstage worker, technical worker, public relations specialist

Grading: The Dance Company courses are graded upon a three-part skill assessment for a pass/fail credit.

The three-part skill assessment is organized around the following:

1. Dance Business – 30%
The secretary of the Columbia College Dance Company monitors this process. Participating in company fund raising, community service, recruitment, Fall and Spring Choreographer’s Showcase, Open House, Senior Banquet, etc. are several venues assessed by elected peers, the Board of Directors.

2. Auditions and Rehearsals –70%
Dance Company members must attend the placement class and open audition at the beginning of the academic year. Most CCDC members will be chosen to work in at least two pieces of choreographers per semester (faculty, guest artists, and/or students). If she is not rehearsing in at least two works she must volunteer as an understudy to meet this performance requirement. The student will attend all rehearsals called by the choreographer of the work in which she is cast, unless she is excused by the choreographer. The student must be prepared and willing to perform in all showings of the piece. including warm-ups and full preparation for each run of the show. The student must take proper care of her instrument (body) and keep it conditioned for performance.

Or:

2. Production Skills –70%
The areas of nine production skills are offered to be mastered by dance majors when they are not meeting the audition/rehearsal requirement.

Patrick Faulds will serve as the key mentor for production skills. Faye Pantsari will serve as the key mentor for box office. To successfully complete this criteria:

• a. Freshmen and transrer students must attend at the beginning of the academic year two production seminars. See Dance Department calendar for specific dates.
  
• b. All production students must attend the end of semester feedback meeting with Patrick Faulds regarding semester production skill assessment. See Dance Department calendar for specific dates.
  
• c. Students not performing will be assigned a production skill to practice and demonstrate her mastery of that skill for the given semester. See Production Skill sheet in Dance Major Handbook for assessment format.

Attendance

The student must have all absences from rehearsal and performances excused by the choreographer or rehearsal director of the work she will be missing.

The choreographer and the Dance chair will determine appropriate excuses from rehearsals and performances. The producer and technical director will determine appropriate excuses from production skills. The Dance Faculty, Infirmary, or the Provost’s office must excuse absences from Dance Major meetings. Failure to attend mandatory events will result in a failure due to absences for the course.