In this yearlong course, students learn beginning dance techniques in the areas of Jazz, Tap, and Ballet. This class is recommended for students with little or no formal dance training and who are interested in studying dance as an art form.

In the Jazz/Ballet portion of the class, students learn:

• Correct body alignment
• Rhythm/counting
• Dance Terminology (plié, relevé, tendu, battement, retiré, coupé)

• Basic Dance Steps (chassé, pivot, pas de bourrée, kick ball-change, lindy, jazz square, back-side-front)
• Basic Dance Technique (spotting, setting a turn, single pirouettes, chainé turns
• Stage Terminology (upstage, downstage, stage right and left, procenium)

In the Tap portion of class, students learn:

• Beginning Tap Moves (shuffle, flap, stamp, stomp, brush step)
• Basic Tap Steps (carry over, carry back, waltz clog, rhythm roll, single time steps

All students enrolled in Beginning Dance perform in the Spring Dance Concert, “Mateo Motion”. This class fulfills the Fine Arts graduation requirement and satisfies the Visual and Performing Arts requirement for the University of California and California State University systems.

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This class emphasizes more advanced dance techniques. Students learn:

• Dance Terms (développé, attitude, dégagé, rond de jambe, jeté)
• Basic Choreographic Concepts (energy, force, suspend, sustain)
• Dance History (famous dancers and choreographers)

In Tap, the students will continue to refine their basic skills and also learn:

• Intermediate Tap Terms (Flap Change, Riff, Slam)
• Intermediate Tap Steps (double buffalo, traveling cramp roll, stomp time steps, scissors, tap chassé, breakout, triple back, paddle)

Students enrolled in the Intermediate Dance class are encouraged to audition for San Mateo High School's musical theatre productions.

This course satisfies both the Fine Arts Graduation requirement and the Visual and Performing Arts requirement for the University of California and State University systems. Advanced dance MAY be repeated for credit.

Prerequisite: C or higher in Beginning Dance or Permission of Instructor (Contact Mrs. Tribuzi)
Grades: 9-12 (Visual and Performing Arts credit)

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In this yearlong course, students study advanced choreographic techniques in Traditional Jazz, Latin Jazz, Contemporary Lyrical, Tap, Hip Hop and Musical Theatre. Students are required to learn a wide variety of choreographic styles and are also asked to incorporate these styles into the creation of their own performance piece for the Spring Dance Concert. In the Advanced class, dance performance is emphasized. Students perform at various school and community events throughout the school year.

In the Advanced Class, students continue to improve their dance technique and also learn:

• Advanced Jazz/Ballet Terms and Techniques (saut de basque, pas de chat, cabriole, triple pirouettes, tour jeté, assemblé, rond de jambe)
• Advanced Tap Steps (grace taps, grace tap changes, cramp roll time steps, pull backs)
• An Advanced Tap Warm-Up (The Bill Robinson Routine: “Donin’ the New Low Down)
• Choreographic Principles and Staging

Students enrolled in the Advanced Dance class are encouraged to audition for San Mateo High School’s musical theatre productions.

This course satisfies both the Fine Arts Graduation requirement and the Visual and Performing Arts requirement for the University of California and State University systems. Advanced dance MAY be repeated for credit.

Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor (Auditions held in April, Contact Mrs. Tribuzi)
Grades: 9-12 (Visual and Performing Arts credit)

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Dance Syllabus

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