The latvian academy of culture

The Name of the Course: Therapy of Dance

The Scope of the Course: 64 hours. 2 credit points.

Type of Assessment – a test and an examination.

VI.The Author of the Course: Lecturer Silvija Umbraško

The Content of the Course: “Therapy of Dance” is a scientifically generated, creative programme recognised and applied in the whole world to develop, organise and be aware of the movements of the body. It is designed to maintain and improve the students’ creative potential and their physical condition. It helps the students fully understand how the body works and introduces them to other techniques of dance. “Therapy of Dance” is also irreplaceable in the prophylaxis of traumas.
Preconditions for the Acquisition of the Course: General training in movement and dance.
Thematic Planning:

THEMES	Week	Type of classes and hours
An introduction: a short survey of the development of dance therapy, its author and application.	1, 2	L2;L2;L2;L2
The working skeleton. The awareness of one’s body in space. Interconnectedness of the parts of the body.	3, 4	L2;L2;L2;L2
The awareness of the activity of the head and cervical vertebrae and their connection with other parts of the body.	5, 6	L2;L2;L2;L2
Movements in the shoulder line and the upper extremities. Their connection with other parts of the body.	7, 8	L2;L2;L2;L2
Movements in the chest, ribs and their connection with breathing and other parts of the body.	9, 10	L2;L2;L2;L2
The awareness of the hip line and the relaxation of hip joints.	11	L2;L2
An understanding of the activity of the knee joints and ankles. Their connection with other parts of the body.	12, 13	L2;L2;L2;L2
Work in couples observing the movements of the partner’s body and their succession. A discussion.	14, 15	L2;L2;L2;L2
The way of “fat lines” through bones.	16, 17	L2;L2;L2;L2
Forces of balance and breathing.	18, 19	L2;L2;L2;L2
The spine as the centre of strength, protection and coordination.	20, 21	L2;L2;L2;L2
The prevention of unnecessary strain of muscles by making the technical side of the dance easier.	22, 23	L2;L2;L2;L2
Organisation of movements under static and dynamic load.	24, 25	L2;L2;L2;L2
The control of one’s psychological condition in relation to the control over the physical position of one’s body.	26, 27	L2;L2;L2;L2
An insight into the essence of the key principles of massage as a prevention of trauma.	28, 29	L2;L2;L2;L2
Preconditions of massage (the acquisition of venous and lymphatic systems).	30, 31	L2;L2;L2;L2
The prophylactic massage for dancers, its acquisition and application.	32	L2;L2

Preconditions for the Acquisition of the Credit Points:

VII.The test and the examination successfully passed.

VIII.Literature:

4. 
   Mabbel E. Todd. The Thinking Body. London, 1997
   
5. 
   Moshe Feldenkrais. Image, Movement and Actor: Restoration of Potentiality. Tulane Drama Review Vol. 10, Nr. 3., 1996
   
6. 
   Eshol – Wachman. Movement Nation. 50 Lessons by Moshe Feldenkrais.
   

The Name of the Course: Character Dance

The Scope of the Course: 32 hours. 2 credit points.

Type of Assessment – an examination.

IX.The Author of the Course: Lecturer Olga Žitluhina, MA

The Content of the Course: Character dance is one of the key disciplines in the study programmes of dance. The given course is designed to acquire national and academic dances which are entered into the repertoire of the world’s collection of ballet. The objective of the course is to introduce students to the manners and styles of character dance by performing national and academic dances. The main tasks during the course are the acquisition of coordination, the work-out of the nuances of the technique of character dance, expressiveness and an ear for music.
Preconditions for the Acquisition of the Course: General training in movement and dance.
Thematic Planning:

THEMES	Week	Type of classes and hours
Exercises at the bar: 1.1 Positions of legs; 1.2 The movement of legs from one position to another; 1.3 The placement of hands in positions; 1.4 Plié – shallow and deep; 1.5 Battement tendu; 1.6 Battement tendu jeté; 1.7 Rond de jambe par terre; 1.8 Pas tortillé; 1.9 Battement fondu; 1.10 Battement developpé; 1.11 Grand battement jetté.	1, 2	P2; P2
The Byelorussian national dance “Krizhachock”. 2.1 The acquisition of the key principles of the technique in exercises; 2.2 The key principles of the technique of the dance in combinations.	3, 4	P2; P2
The Polish national dance “Krakowiak”. 3.1 The acquisition of the key principles of the technique in exercises; 3.2 The key principles of the technique of the dance in combinations.	5, 6	P2; P2
The Polish academic dance “Mazurka”. 4.1 The acquisition of the key principles of the technique in exercises; 4.2 The key principles of the technique of the dance in combinations.	7, 8	P2; P2
The Hungarian academic dance. 5.1 The acquisition of the key principles of the technique in exercises; 5.2 The key principles of the technique of the dance in combinations.	9, 10	P2; P2
The Italian academic dance “Tarantella”. 6.1 The acquisition of the key principles of the technique in exercises; 6.2 The key principles of the technique of the dance in combinations.	11, 12	P2; P2
The Russian national dance. 7.1 The acquisition of the key principles of the technique in exercises; 7.2 The key principles of the technique of the dance in combinations.	13, 14	P2; P2
The Georgian national dance “Kartuli”. 8.1 The acquisition of the key principles of the technique in exercises; 8.2 The key principles of the technique of the dance in combinations.	15, 16	P2; P2
The Romany national dance. 9.1 The acquisition of the key principles of the technique in exercises; 9.2 The key principles of the technique of the dance in combinations.	17, 18	P2; P2
The Spanish national dance “Jota” and “Flamenco”. 10.1 The acquisition of the key principles of the technique in exercises; 10.2 The key principles of the technique of the dance in combinations.	19, 20, 21, 22	P2; P2
The Greek national dance. 11.1 The acquisition of the key principles of the technique in exercises; 11.2 The key principles of the technique of the dance in combinations.	23, 24, 25	P2; P2
The Scottish national dance. 12.1 The acquisition of the key principles of the technique in exercises; 12.2 The key principles of the technique of the dance in combinations.	26, 27, 28	P2; P2
The Irish national dance. 13.1 The acquisition of the key principles of the technique in exercises; 13.2 The key principles of the technique of the dance in combinations.	29, 30	P2; P2
The Jewish national dance. 14.1 The acquisition of the key principles of the technique in exercises; 14.2 The key principles of the technique of the dance in combinations.	31, 32	P2; P2

Preconditions for the Acquisition of the Credit Points:

X.To perform a miniature assigned by the teacher observing the peculiarities, the specific rhythm and manner of the relevant national or academic dance.

XI.Literature:

1.Лапухов А., Ширяев А., Бочаров А. Основыхарактерного танца. - Л–М, 1939

2.Стукалькина Н. Четыре экзерсиса. Уроки характерного танца. - М, 1972

3.ТкаченкоТ. Народные танцы. М., 1975

4.Мин. Културы СССР. Характерный танец. – Программа., М., 1988