This course is an introduction to the history of dance. Topics will include style as a reflection of the society, culture and era; the various approaches to choreography; and, how dance has functioned as part of political power. Students will view film, video and live performances to come to understand the rich lineage of dance.

Dance history explores the artistic developments in the field of Western concert dance from the 17th century to the present time. The course focuses on the cultural, social and political topics of Ballet and Modern Dance, with a strong underpinning of social vernacular/ Jazz Dance and other forms influenced by the African Diaspora. Through readings, lectures, discussions, and extensive viewing of film/video and live performance, students come to understand the rich lineage of these dance forms.

This course is an introduction to modern dance techniques and skills, and the experience and appreciation of modern dance as an art form. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Modern.

The course builds on techniques and skills learned in Modern I. Emphasis will be placed on the refinement of technique, the introduction of new movement, and the development of heightened technical skills. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Modern.

The course builds on techniques and skills learned in Modern I and II. Emphasis will be placed on the refinement of technique, the introduction of new movement, and the development of heightened technical skills. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Modern.

The course builds on techniques and skills learned in Modern I, II, and III. Emphasis will be placed on the refinement of technique, the introduction of new movement, and the development of advanced technical skills. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Modern.

This course teaches the basic skills of traditional tap dance steps and sequences. The emphasis is on the mastery of basic steps and rhythmic styles. It includes a brief history of tap dance in American culture and its relation to other dance and art genres. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Tap.

This course builds on techniques and skills learned in Tap I. Emphasis will be placed on the refinement of technique, the introduction of new movement, and the development of heightened technical skills. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Tap.

This course builds on techniques and skills learned in Tap I and II. Emphasis will be placed on the refinement of technique, the introduction of new movement, and the development of technical skills to intermediate/advanced level. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Tap.

This course builds on techniques and skills learned in Tap I, II, and III. Emphasis will be placed on the refinement of technique, the introduction of new movement, and the development of technical skills at an advanced level. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Tap.

This course teaches the fundamentals of multiple movement techniques for students in the theatre and related arts. The course focuses on the development of the student’s individual movement expression. Through practice of organizing and reorganizing the body in multiple ways the student becomes aware of how to respond to the emotional and physical needs of a character. Flexibility, relaxation, control, and creative expression will be developed.

This course teaches the fundamental theory and practice of ballet technique and ballet as an art form. The emphasis is on placement, correct body alignment, muscular control, and the development of basic ballet positions, steps, and combinations. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Ballet.

The course builds on techniques and skills learned in Ballet I. Emphasis will be placed on the refinement of technique, the introduction of new movement, and the development of heightened technical skills. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Ballet.

The course builds on techniques and skills learned in Ballet II. Emphasis will be placed on the refinement of technique, the introduction of new movement, and the development of technical ballet skills at an intermediate/advanced level. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Ballet.

The course builds on techniques and skills learned in Ballet III. Emphasis will be placed on the refinement of technique, the introduction of new movement, and the development of technical ballet skills at an advanced level. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Ballet.

This course introduces the history, music and fundamental practices of ballroom dancing. Students will learn the basic steps, variations, and styling techniques of classical ballroom dances such as salsa, fox trot, swing, rumba, waltz, and tango. Students will develop flexibility, strength, control, coordination, endurance, style, and an understanding and appreciation of ballroom dance and its cultural significance.

This course introduces the fundamentals of street dance, including dances such as hip-hop, pop and lock, hip-hop funk, freestyling, and break dancing, as well as an examination of the music, syncopations, and rhythms utilized in commercial street dance venues. Students will develop flexibility, strength, control, coordination, endurance, style, and an understanding and appreciation of street dance and its cultural significance and history.

This course introduces basic jazz dance techniques from various styles. It includes a brief history and appreciation of jazz dance as a performing art form. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Jazz.

The course builds on techniques and skills learned in Jazz I. Emphasis will be placed on the refinement of technique, the introduction of new movement, the development of heightened technical skills, and the analysis of jazz dance as an art form, both in cultural and historical contexts. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Jazz.

The course builds on techniques and skills learned in Jazz II. Emphasis will be placed on the refinement of technique, the introduction of new movement, the development of heightened technical skills, and the analysis of jazz as an art form, both in cultural and historical contexts. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Jazz.

The course builds on techniques and skills learned in Jazz III. Emphasis will be placed on the refinement of technique, the introduction of new movement, the development of heightened technical skills, and the analysis of jazz as an art form, both in cultural and historical contexts. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Jazz.

This course supplies students with the opportunity to develop professional performance skills. All students will engage in the rehearsal and choreographic collaborative process to develop their ensemble and performance skills to create new and traditional repertoire. During the semester the students will have the opportunity to perform in multiple venues. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Dance Performance.

This course supplies students with the opportunity to develop professional performance skills at an intermediate level. All students will engage in the rehearsal and choreographic collaborative process to develop their ensemble and performance skills to create new and traditional repertoire. During the semester the students will have the opportunity to perform in multiple venues. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Dance Performance.

This course supplies students with the opportunity to develop professional performance skills at an intermediate/advanced level. All students will engage in the rehearsal and choreographic collaborative process to develop their ensemble and performance skills to create new and traditional repertoire. During the semester students will have the opportunity to perform in multiple venues. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Dance Performance.

This course supplies students with the opportunity to develop professional performance skills at an advanced level. All students will engage in the rehearsal and choreographic collaborative process to develop their ensemble and performance skills to create new and traditional repertoire. During the semester the students will have the opportunity to perform in multiple venues. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Dance Performance.

This course is an introduction to multiple processes and tools that have been used in creating choreography for western concert dance. Students will learn basic choreographic structures, the use of improvisation to create movement, clarity of intention, and an introductory understanding of the relationship between music/sound and dance. Students will be asked to create short solo and small group work based on historical choreographic styles. Topics will include movement intention, the relationship between music/sound and dance, spatial clarity, and energy. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Composition.

This course builds on techniques and skills learned in Composition I. Emphasis will be placed on combining a variety of choreographic processes, the refinement of movement development, and the musical and choreographic collaborative process. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Composition.

This course builds on skills learned in Composition II. Emphasis will be placed on developing group work for the stage and site-specific choreography. Through improvisation the student will examine a variety of environments to develop movement, and set works in relationship to the space. Topics will include experimenting with time, dynamics, shaping, and multiple performance techniques, and how they relate to the environment, other bodies in the space, and the audience. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Composition.

This course builds on skills learned in Composition III. It will focus on creating hybrid choreographic processes. Students will create three short studies and one fully realized ten minute work that will be performed in the dance performance concert. Class time will be spent working on choreography, viewing and examining how identity, multiple dance genres, space, music, technology, theatricality, narrative, and text are combined in contemporary performances. Topics will include improvisation as a source for movement invention, mixing of multiple dance styles, text, music/sound design, props, and theatrical conventions. Ventura College faculty have designated this course as part of a course family titled Composition.

This course offers specialized study opportunities for students who wish to pursue projects not included in the regular curriculum. Students are accepted only by a written project proposal approved by the discipline prior to enrollment.