Modern-Contemporary Dance Technique 3 is an intermediate-level class, which will build on students' previous study of modern dance technique. The studio will be our laboratory for a semester-long exploration of a wide range of modern dance concepts with a focus on sensation, initiation, expansive use of space, connectivity and increasingly complex phrase work. Along the way we will give continued attention to alignment, spatial clarity, breath, increasing range of motion and the development of strength and stamina.

American Strings: Old Time and Bluegrass: This course focuses on American southern old-time string band music, bluegrass, and early country song. We will draw on cultural theory to explore the growth of these musics throughout the 20th century as well as the influences of gender, music revivalism, and African-American musical expression. We will consider old time and bluegrass both from an historical perspective and as vital forms in communities today. There will be an off-campus fieldwork, weekly reading and listening assignments, and regular written assignments.

Group Improvisation: Introduction to Creative Dance: Dance Pioneer Barbara Mettler said, "To create means to make up something new." In this course students explore the elements of dance through a series of creative problems solved in improvisations by individuals and groups. Directed exercises are used to heighten awareness of the body and its movement potential. Studies using the sounds of voice, hands and feet develop skills in accompaniment.

Meditation, vision, conversion, mysticism, devotion, ecstasy, prayer: these are just some of the forms through which people of faith around the world have conceived of religious or spiritual meaning. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the study of world religions through a consideration of several modalities of religious experience as represented in texts variously drawn from Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, and Native American sources.

This is an interdisciplinary seminar that introduces the diverse concerns of contemporary literature, criticism and theory written by a selection of black women throughout the African Diaspora. Students in this course will learn to think and write about meanings, which have become naturalized in practice and ideology as narrative events and how our texts think through/beyond those taxonomies of power, coercion and abridgment in order to neutralize them.

Dancing Modern 1 is a beginning level modern dance technique course, which will introduce students to "modern" and "contemporary" dance practices. Establishing the studio as a kind of the laboratory, students will be invited to embody a wide variety of movement sequences designed to bring attention to the body's capacity for articulation, spatial awareness, musicality, interpretation and personal expression. How does this capacity change throughout the semester-long process? What might the refinement of these skills prepare us for?

Images dominate our imaginations with such intensity cultural theorists describe their affect in pathological terms: "the hypertrophy of visual stimulation" (Martin Jay), "a topographical amnesia" (Paul Virilio), "excremental culture" (Arthur and Mary Louise Kroker), "our narcotic modernity" (Avital Ronell). Visual culture is so influential we risk remaining "forever trapped inside the image" (Jacques Ranciere).

Fundamentals of Music [formerly Musical Beginnings]: This course focuses on the broad fundamentals of western music and music theory, including music literacy (how to read western music notation). We will learn theoretical concepts such as pitch, rhythm, timbral nuances, texture, intervals, chords (triads and sevenths), harmony, etc. We will also develop our sense of aural music cognition through ear training.

Students will gain experience in the fundamentals of painting, including color, composition, materials and technical considerations. We will explore a range of painting surfaces, sizes, materials and artistic approaches. Assignments will include color mixing, landscape, self-portrait, figure painting, conceptual painting, narrative painting, and work inspired by street art and graffiti. Assigned readings, artist research, individual critique, group discussions, slide presentations and film screenings will round out the experience.

The chorus is a performing ensemble in which students will learn skills of choral singing and sight-singing. They will be exposed to a wide variety of choral literature through rehearsal and performance, including a cappella and accompanied music, medieval through 20th century, ethnic, world music and folk. Several performances are given throughout the year. While this course is open to all and the ability to read music is not required, students are expected to have reasonable proficiency in aural learning (e.g. ability to sing on pitch).