This page includes summaries of the major course assignments; detailed guidelines are linked after each heading. Some sample responses by students to the above assignments are also presented. All work is courtesy the students named, and used with their permission.
Paper 1 (PDF)
View the half-hour dance Revelations, and write a paper of 7-10 pages length which addresses this question: How does the dance Revelations (Ailey, 1960) convey concepts of religion and social order?
"Religion and Social Order in Alvin Ailey's Revelations," Gloria Chao. (PDF)
"Themes in Revelations," Anila Sinha. (PDF)
Paper 2 (PDF)
View the half-hour dance Fall River Legend and write a paper of 7-10 pages length that addresses this question: How does the dance Fall River Legend (De Mille, 1950) convey concepts of cultural mores and cultural identity?
"Fall River Legend: Conveying Cultural Mores and Cultural Identity," Gloria Chao. (PDF)
"Victorian Society in Fall River Legend," Anila Sinha. (PDF)
Oral Presentations (PDF)
View repeatedly, and with great care, the Balanchine ballet or excerpt you have chosen. Prepare a curatorial overview of the dance to share with us in class, including the following information: history, historical analysis, interpretation, and other details. Presentations must be no more than 10 minutes long.
Final Paper (PDF)
View the hour-long dance The Catherine Wheel and write a paper of 7-10 pages length that addresses this question: How does the "gold section" of The Catherine Wheel (Tharp, 1981) describe issues of gender and individuality?
"Gender and Individuality in the 'Gold Section' of Twyla Tharp's The Catherine Wheel," Gloria Chao. (PDF)
"Gender and Individuality in The Catherine Wheel," Anila Sinha. (PDF)