COURSE INFORMATION:

Students will be enrolled in 3 credits of DANC 290: Dancing Through Europe, which will count towards the Humanities general education requirement (http://registrar.cofc.edu/general-edu/catalog-2015-16/humanities-2015-16-fwd.pdf).


PROGRAM INFORMATION:

Dancing Through Europe is a special topics course designed to fulfill the humanities requirement at the College of Charleston. The course will begin at the College, spending the first few days in Maymester classes to ensure that all students understand the purpose of the trip and receive thorough background information on the areas in which we will be traveling. Students will have assigned readings on dance history in England, Paris, and the Netherlands, and are required to submit written reports detailing their understanding of why these locations are significant to the development of dance as an art form.

Travel begins with the Trinity/Laban School in London, the oldest professional contemporary modern dance school in the UK. Studemnts will have the opportumnity to take dance classes, meet with various faculty and researchers, and tour the facilities to learn more about the development of this centre and its importance in the dance world. They will also watch a performance by Hofsesh Schecter's company; he is one of the leading contemporary choreographers in the world.

They then will visit Paris, where students will take a class at the Paris Opera Ballet, tour the facilities, and see a performance by the world-renowned ballet company. Tours of museums (Louvre) and Versailles are also included to gain a better understanding of the roots of ballet.

The program will conclude in The Hague, Netherlands, where students will see Netherlands Dans Theatre, see the company perform, and take classes from company dancers. Throughout their travels, students are required to keep extensive journals and participate in scheduled discussions about their experiences abroad.

Students will have several opportunities to participate in dance technique master classes in ballet, contemporary modern, and improvisational dance. Students should be in adequate health to meet the physical demands of these classes if they wish to participate in the technique classes. While a background in the study/practice of dance techniques is not required for participation in the program, students must have an appreciation for dance to participate.


PROGRAM DIRECTOR:

Dr. Gretchen McLaine
Department of Theatre and Dance
mclaineg@cofc.edu
843-953-5944

Dr. McLaine has previously traveled abroad with students to Germany and Italy while researching various areas of dance history. An avid dance historian, Dr. McLaine has studies the development of ballet and contemporary dance for many years, and has some personal connections at Laban School and in Paris. She has previously organized many domestic travel experiences for students and is excited to share her love of dance history with students who also wish to experience the development of dance as an art form by visiting some of its most significant sites.