Dance Arts

DESCRIPTION OF EXCELLENCE

Our mission is to equip students with spiritual, artistic, academic, and technical excellence in dance 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 a 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. 

New students to VCS or the Dance Arts program need to submit an Audition Here for placement.

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 is 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 our 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. This honor society encompasses 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. Our Chapter of the NHSDA meets the first Thursday of every month during Warrior Time.

VIVID DANCE TEAM

Advanced students may audition for placement on our award-winning, nationally ranked competitive dance team. Vivid is a high-level performance team that will perform, compete, travel, and use dance as a ministry throughout the school year. The Vivid Dance Team represents the highest of our Dance Technique Honors level courses. This team strives to provide the best quality and most comprehensive pre-professional dance training, with exposure to competitive opportunities on the West Coast and national competitions on the East Coast. Vivid aims to train each individual to become an ambassador for Christ in the realm of the Dance Team.

This beginning, repeatable course is fun and engaging to get your body moving. It covers the basic techniques in hip-hop fundamentals, jazz, musical theatre, tap, and cultural dance. Hip-Hop I introduce students to hip-hop history, culture, and dance forms while increasing their aptitude in technique, performance, and choreography. Dance history, stage terminology, theater etiquette, and dance terminology will also be discussed. Beginning combinations will be kept simple, stressing clean technique and repetitions. Students will start slowly and then progress to faster and more varied tempos. 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. 

This intermediate/advanced, repeatable course. Hip hop III increases the students' abilities in all areas of technique, performance, and choreography but does not introduce new units. Combinations will become more complex, emphasizing clean techniques, exploration of new skills, and creation of materials and freestyle. Students will work towards refining faster and more varied tempos and textures. Students' focus is on teacher-developed material and refinement of craft.  Higher levels of proficiency are expected and encouraged. Student focus is on the innovation of the signature movement and peer-to-peer teaching opportunities. Physical daily participation and Participation in the Emerge (Fall) Dance Show 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. 

This is not an annual progression class. The instructional focus and student development will be geared toward the application of advanced artistry, technical execution, and self-choreographic growth.

 Hip Hop III Honors refine students' mastery of abilities in all areas of technique, performance, and choreography but do not introduce new units. Combinations will become more complex, emphasizing clean techniques, exploration of new skills, and creation of materials and freestyle. Students will work towards refining faster and more varied tempos and textures. Students will practice creating materials and refining crafts. Student focus is on the innovation of movement signature and peer-to-peer teaching opportunities. Higher levels of proficiency are expected and encouraged. 

This course explores the processes of composing and producing advanced-level choreography. Students will identify and integrate the contributions of contemporary choreographers to expand their choreography skills. An emphasis on larger compositions is expected.

Physical daily participation is required, and Hip Hop III(H) students must perform in one unique-themed dance concert each semester.

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 for choreography for the Emotions Spring Dance Show (April). Seniors are expected to be part of the Senior Showcase Dance Show in May.