DAN 720-N / Embodied Movement Practices / Spring 2026

  I Unit: Breath Theme: Duncan Explorations   Introduction Today we will address breath. As said by Bradley (2016), at the most basic level, dancers should use inhalation to emphasize growing movements, and exhalation to extend shrinking movements. This use of breath provides a greater fluidity of movement, musicality, and often creates an enduring quality that fosters enjoyment of movement.   II Learning Objectives   Understand the way in which breath can enhance the quality of expressive movement  Explain how breath connectivity can be increased during performance Gain awareness of breath capacity and connectivity Experience breath connectivity through Duncan style moves   III Warm Up   IV Main Lesson   1 Breath Connectivity Breath Connectivity Question 1 After experiencing breath connectivity in the way it is explained in the video, describe what you felt during and after breathing? 2 Athletes breathing versus diaphragmatic breathing....

  I   Unit: Elements of Dance   Theme: Time    Introduction   Time refers to the movement of dancers through time, and specifically within relationship to the music, tempo, meter, or rhythm.     --------------------- II   Warm Up    In this class we do an isolation warm up to make sure every joint and muscle group is properly conditioned before moving.      ------------------------ III   Learning Objectives       ------------------- IV Main Lesson 1   TIME Speed or Tempo:  fast, medium or  slow FAST Traveling Phrases:  Use weight shifts to your advantage (pushing off from where you came from).  Turns:  Push-off for quick traveling turns. . Jumps : keep your weight toward the front of the foot. Caution with your heels when landing. Identify whether the accent of each jump is up or down.     2  Condition With Quickness in Mind:  Core: ...

        I   Unit: Elements of Movement Theme: Focus   Introduction    Focus is one of the most important elements of dance. It provides a sense of direction to the movement of the body beyond its own directionality. It anchors the movement choice to a specific point in space. Without a sense of focus the movement will always feel random.  --------- II   Warm Up    The isolation's warm-up provides the body with the opportunity to connect itself to its flow of energy muscle group by muscle group, joint by joint, bringing the needed synovial fluid to lubricate every articulation. This, in turn, would avoid dancers from injuring themselves. -------- III  Learning Objectives   Understand the importance of focus in dance Explain the different ways focus works Gain awareness of the role of focus in a well connected dance proposition Experience focus, first hand, by adding that element to today's solo phrase IV ...