Courses - Faculty of Creative Arts And Industries
Dance Studies
Stage I
Introduction to Dance and Creative Processes
To develop an understanding of our moving bodies through movement awareness, dance improvisation, choreography and creative and analytic writing. Students will undertake both theoretical and practical classes focusing on a range of practices that dancers and movement practitioners use to facilitate kinaesthetic awareness, experimentation, communication and choreography. Students will explore somatic theory and practice, improvisation scores, choreography and dance analysis. DANCE 101 not available for BDanceSt.
Dance History and Contexts
Study of the historical development in western theatre dance from the nineteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth century.
Contemporary Dance and Choreography 1
A study of contemporary dance practices through the choreography, creative facilitation and techniques of contemporary dance makers. For BDanceSt students only.
Dance Kinesiology
Introduction to physiological and kinesiological analysis of dance movements. The study of skeletal alignment, muscular balance and mechanical efficiency.
Dance Vocabulary I
Introducing the study of diverse dance vocabulary including ballet, contemporary dance and the field of somatics. Students will examine specific technical requirements of identified dance vocabulary.
Dance Technique
Continuation of work undertaken in DANCE 120 with exploration of skills, repertoire, and merging dance styles.
Prerequisite: DANCE 120
Stage II
Dance and Culture
Examines the interrelationship between dance and wider political and cultural movements through practical dance classes and theoretical investigations into diverse cultural environments around the world. Students physically and theoretically engage in the study of various dance forms such as Tango, Salsa, Dabkeh, traditional Chinese dance and Bharata Natyam.
Prerequisite: 60 points passed
Dance and Interdisciplinarity
Building integrated connections with other arts disciplines such as music, literature, art.
Prerequisite: DANCE 101 or 110
Choreography and Performance
Focuses on the development and consolidation of choreographic and performance skills.
Prerequisite: Any 30 points at Stage I in Dance Studies
Contemporary Dance and Choreography 2
Study of contemporary choreography practice and theory. Students create choreography that may be shared through film and/or live performances.
Prerequisite: DANCE 101 or 110
New Zealand Dance Contexts and History
Emphasis is on the socio-historical developments of dance in the twentieth century. Choreographers, dancers, designers and composers who have created, influenced and shaped dance in New Zealand will be studied via lectures, videos, scores, and reconstructions.
Prerequisite: DANCE 107
Special Topic: Styles and Techniques: Street Dance and Jazz
Prerequisite: Any 30 points at Stage I in Dance Studies
Indigenous Dance: Aotearoa and Te-Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa
Develops knowledge of foundational creative dance praxis pertaining to the Contexts of Aotearoa and Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa. Explores cultural and kinaesthetic expressions, traditions, protocols and artists' elements in relation to indigenous concepts and methodologies of dance practices.
Prerequisite: MĀORI 190, PACIFIC 110
Dance Vocabulary II
Exploring and analysing contemporary dance practices and techniques. Movement skills and performance skills will be developed integrating personal movement with techniques.
Prerequisite: DANCE 120
Safe Dance Practices
Establishing the theory and practice of safe dance practices within education, performance and health related contexts. Anatomy, kinesiology and dance conditioning methodologies will be studied in relation to dance practice.
Prerequisite: DANCE 112
Community Dance
Entering diverse community settings and teaching and learning dance; analysing the roles and functions of dance in your own and others' communities. Note: this course does not meet the requirements for teacher registration in New Zealand.
Prerequisite: DANCE 131
Stage III
Dance Project
Resident/Guest Artist project that gives students an intensive experience of a particular choreographic vocabulary and repertoire. Not available to BA students.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Dance Studies
Dance and Improvisation
Developing an embodied personal practice, and understanding of the theory and practice of contact improvisation and its influence in dance, education and community contexts.
Prerequisite: Any 30 points at Stage II in Dance Studies
Dance in Aotearoa New Zealand
An examination of dance in New Zealand including Māori, Pacific Island, European, and Asian influences. Emphasis will be on developments during the twentieth century of traditional form into contemporary practice, indigenous forms in NZ society, the developments in ballet, contemporary and popular dance.
Prerequisite: DANCE 212, or DANCE 200 for students in Transnational Cultures and Creative Practice
Contemporary Dance and Choreography 3
The study of contemporary dance practices through the choreography and techniques of contemporary dance makers.
Prerequisite: DANCE 210
Dance Production
Dance works are choreographed on the students by leading dance professionals in their chosen genre, resulting in a dance production. Not available to BA students.
Prerequisite: Any 45 points at Stage II in Dance Studies
Dance and Technology
Project based study of the interaction between technology and dance. Including hands-on practice with video, digital photography and the study of dance for film.
Prerequisite: Any 30 points at Stage II in Dance Studies
Dance Composition
Studio based course developing improvisational and compositional skills. Choreographic principles are studied as guidelines for structure and design in movement.
Prerequisite: Any 30 points at Stage II in Dance Studies
He mana Motuhake o te-Moana-Nui-a-kiwa: Contemporary Indigenous Dance
Explores the artistic relationality of Vā and Whakapapa through indigenous dance praxis. Storytelling through complex choreographic methodological and theoretical concepts will navigate the importance of people to place. Offers an insight into distinct Oceania values as it pertains to the Creative Arts in Aotearoa and wider te-moana-nui-a-kiwa.
Prerequisite: DANCE 216
Dance Vocabulary III
Refining and deepening dance practices and pedagogy strategies specific to contemporary dance. Choreographic research methods are introduced with emphasis upon articulating key questions and processes for problem solving.
Prerequisite: Any 30 points at Stage II in Dance Studies
Professional Practices
Developing skills and knowledge in planning and managing for careers in the diverse dance professions. Students will develop arts management and financial business skills, such as learning to write grant applications, CVs and personal plans that relate to employment and funding issues.
Prerequisite: DANCE 222
Dance Education Research
Analysis of dance teaching and learning philosophies, issues and theories as they are translated from texts and curriculum into classroom and community practice. This course does not meet the requirements for teacher registration in New Zealand.
Prerequisite: DANCE 231
Special Topic: Indigenous Contemporary Dance o te Moana Nui a Kiwa
Prerequisite: Any 30 points at Stage II in Dance Studies
Postgraduate 700 Level Courses
Choreography and Performance Research
Investigates choreographic practice and dance creation as a location for artistic production and academic research. Students will reflect on their own choreographic and performance practice through studio-based activities, while examining choreographic and performance theory.
Restriction: DANCE 733, 735, 760
Dance in Community and Education Research
Examines issues and philosophies critical to the development of dance education in formal and informal contexts in New Zealand and internationally. Personal pedagogical practices are reviewed and dominant discourses critiqued.
Restriction: DANCE 734
Research Methods and Critical Analysis in Dance Studies
Examines diverse qualitative research methods, critical theory and research ethics. Through practical investigations students will source and critically review literature relevant to their personal research directions.
Restriction: DANCE 751
Dance Therapy, Theory and Practice I
Students will develop their knowledge of dance therapy through theoretical and practical approaches to understanding the conceptual and theoretical foundations that underpin concepts of therapy, well-being, therapist/client relationships and clinical health care systems.
Dance Therapy, Theory and Practice II
Builds on DANCE 772. Focuses on deepening theoretical and practical understanding of the needs of a variety of client populations in regard to different ages, issues and settings, in individual and group work.
Prerequisite: DANCE 772
Psychology in Dance Movement Therapy
Focuses on fundamental skills required for professional clinical settings, including counselling and psychological theories and practice including accurate observation and listening techniques, development of the individual and group therapeutic relationship. Key areas covered include abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, group process and advanced counselling skills.
Therapeutic Modalities of DMT
Practicums in dance therapy contexts are supervised by experienced dance therapists. Students will extend their real world knowledge and develop their experience in observing, reporting and facilitating dance movement therapy.
Awareness and Analysis in DMT
Anatomy and kinesiology will involve the study of the structures and systems of the body through both somatic and scientific approaches. Movement observation involves developing key diagnostic and reporting tools in dance movement therapy.
Practicum in Dance Movement Therapy
Advanced practicum placements in dance therapy settings are supervised by experienced dance therapists. Students will extend their practical knowledge and develop their experience in observing, reporting and facilitating dance movement therapy at a professional level.
Prerequisite: B average or higher in Part I
Corequisite: DANCE 797
To complete this course students must enrol in DANCE 777 A and B
Thesis - Level 9
To complete this course students must enrol in DANCE 792 A and B
Thesis in Community Dance - Level 9
An independent research study focused on a topic associated with community dance.
To complete this course students must enrol in DANCE 795 A and B
Thesis - Level 9
Prerequisite: Departmental approval required
Restriction: DANCE 794
To complete this course students must enrol in DANCE 796 A and B