Humanities Arts Cultural Stu 0253 - Embodied Community Dancing

This course is designed for students interested in merging social activism, performing and literary arts and teaching. It teaches students to use movement arts and literary arts in settings such as senior centers, residential treatment centers for incarcerated youth, and youth recreation centers. In studio sessions, students will learn how to construct classes and dance and movement exchanges or events for community sites. Students will reflect on movement practices that help inform the body as a site for community-based learning in dance, or CBLD, as well as the body as a wellspring for personal and cultural narrative, a source for healing trauma, and develop theoretical bridges between community concerns, needs, and assets and the university's role in this work. Much time will be spent together off-site in various locations throughout the Pioneer Valley, where students themselves will facilitate movement/theatre experiences. Some outside of class lab time is necessary to organize and develop the classes and possible performances. Selected videos and readings will provide a context for discussion and assist in the development of an individual student's research and teaching methods. Friday morning screenings/discussions, site visits (possible), and reflections will take place ordinarily twice per month unless otherwise notified; the exact schedule to be determined.

Multiple Cultural Perspectives Writing and Research Field trip fees: $20. In this course, students are expected to spend an addition 6-8 hours on work and preparation outside of class time.