Dance Arts

Department Overview

DESCRIPTION OF EXCELLENCE

Our mission is to equip students with spiritual, artistic, academic, and technical excellence in dance in order to reclaim the arts as an expression of God’s love among the varied cultures of the world. Students learn about the art of dance in a Christian context with strong focus placed on technical and creative excellence as well as an understanding of choreography, exceptional performance styles, history, physiology, anatomy and nutrition.

Dance courses can be repeated for credit if promotion to next level is not granted by the instructor. 

DISTINCTIVE EXPERIENCE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Performance Opportunities

The Dance Arts Department features three fully-produced HS dance performances each year to the surrounding community and VCHS students, staff, and faculty. Our Fall dance performance, Emerge features original choreography by faculty and nationally recognized guest artists which are complemented by professional costuming and production design, often also featuring live accompaniment for select repertoire. Our Spring dance performances, Emotions feature original student choreography mentored by VCHS amazing faculty. This unique platform offers students the chance to collaborate with their peers in the dance community while also opening an avenue to individual expression and creativity. Finally, our premier Senior Dance Concert showcases original choreography, solos, and ensemble pieces created and directed by our most advanced senior students.  There are additional performance opportunities available to VCHS Dance Arts students, such as chapel and rally spotlights and virtual projects for the Conservatory of the Arts .

Community Building and Membership

National Dance Honors Society is the premiere groundbreaking honor society that recognizes students, educators and professionals for their achievements in dance- encompassing performance, choreography, scholarship, and technology through the National Dance Association. NHSDA is a lifetime honor society with chapters in high schools, colleges and universities throughout the United States.  The purpose of our chapter is to promote dance education, community service and a healthy lifestyle within a Christian context.  

VIVID DANCE TEAM

Advanced students may audition for our award-winning, nationally ranked competitive dance team. Vivid is a high-level performance team that will perform, compete, travel, and use dance as their ministry throughout the school year. This team strives to provide the highest quality and most well-rounded, pre-professional dance training with exposure to competitive opportunities on the west coast as well as national competition on the east coast. Vivid aims to train each individual to become an ambassador for Christ in the dance world.

Dance Technique I

This beginning class is designed to increase flexibility, tone the body, improve circulation, teach proper breathing and relaxation, and create basic understanding of what is necessary for good physical and mental health. The class is suited for students who are wanting to learn strategies for relaxation, manage physical and emotional stress through movement & connect to God through prayerful stretch and meditation. Throughout this course students will develop an artistic outlet to improve overall wellness. By actively participating the student may gain health benefits such as increased cardiovascular endurance, improved body composition, increased flexibility, increased muscular endurance and increased muscular strength. Physical daily participation is mandatory.

Additional Expectations: Students in all courses will be graded daily on their physical participation in class. Excessive absences will impact your grade in this course. 

Dance Technique II

This intermediate, repeatable dance class progresses as an extension of the introductory class. Dance II begins with the demarcation of various dance styles: jazz, lyric, modern and contemporary. Intermediate level turns, jumps, and leaps are introduced as they continue the fundamental jazz skills learned in the previous level with further focus on proper technique including alignment, balance, and complexity. This course provides an opportunity to explore the processes of composing and producing beginning-level choreography. This course is for students who have mastered the basics of beginning dance fundamentals and mechanics, with previous dance training. This course also includes instruction in Dance theory in which we will discuss history and concert works with a more critical point of view. 

Additional Expectations:  Students in all courses will be graded daily on their physical participation in class. Excessive absences will impact your grade in this course. 

Dance Technique III

This intermediate/advanced, repeatable dance class progresses as an extension from the intermediate class. A further focus on proper technique while performing more complex combinations and exploring different rhythms and styles. This class is for dancers who like physically complicated choreography, and self-expression. Dancers will utilize their intermediate/ advanced technique while learning choreography and developing their own personal style which will enhance their overall performance. Elements of improvisation are also explored and perfected. This intermediate/advanced dance class offers the opportunity for students to create a personal movement style while exploring a variation of styles: jazz, contemporary, lyrical and modern given through combinations and choreographic projects. 

This course provides an opportunity to explore the processes of composing and producing intermediate level choreography. Students will identify and integrate the contributions of contemporary choreographers for the purpose of expanding their choreography skills. An emphasis on smaller compositions, for example, solos, duos, and trios will be included along with the roles of lighting and costume design.

Additional Expectations: Students in all courses will be graded daily on their physical participation in class. Excessive absences will impact your grade in this course.   Dancers are expected to take two consecutive years of Dance Technique III before progressing into Dance Technique III (H). Instructional focus and student development will be geared to application of advanced artistry, technical execution and self-choreographic growth.

Dance Technique III Honors

This honors/advanced repeatable dance class progresses as an extension from the Dance Technique III class. A further focus on proper technique while performing more complex combinations and exploring different rhythms and styles. This class is for advanced dancers who like physical complicated choreography, and self-expression. Dancers will utilize their advanced technique while learning choreography and developing their own personal style which will enhance their overall performance. Elements of improvisation are also explored and perfected. This advanced dance class offers the opportunity for students to create a personal movement style while exploring a variation of styles: jazz, contemporary, lyrical and modern given through combinations and choreographic projects. 

This course provides an opportunity to explore the processes of composing and producing advanced level choreography. Students will identify and integrate the contributions of contemporary choreographers for the purpose of expanding their choreography skills. An emphasis on larger compositions are expected.

Additional Expectations: Students in all courses will be graded daily on their physical participation in class. Excessive absences will impact your grade in this course. Dancers in the class are expected to audition choreography for the Emotions Spring Dance Show (April). Seniors are expected to be part of the Senior Showcase Dance Show in May. 

Hip Hop I

Hip Hop II

This intermediate, repeatable course covers the deepens students' understanding of hip hop movement mechanics. Hip Hop II expands on the students' exposure to hip hop history, culture, and various dance forms, while increasing their aptitude in technique, performance, and choreography. Combination's will become more complex, with the stress on clean technique, exploration of new skills and repetitions. Students will work towards refining faster and varied tempos, and textures. Students focus is on teacher generated material and refinement of craft. Student projects will include a self reflection and goal setting quarterly assessment and dance critique. Physical daily participation is mandatory.

Additional Expectations: Students in all courses will be graded daily on their physical participation in class. Excessive absences will impact your grade in this course. 

Hip Hop III