Syllabus for Varsity Dance/Drill Teams in Texas Schools
Compiled by Joyce E. Pennington
Contributors: Denise Karpelania & Tracy DeRossi; Spring ISD, Texas

The following has been compiled to offer a course outline for dance/drill team to receive physical education credit in the fall and convert to Dance I-IV for the spring semester so that students may receive credit for Fine Arts. Multi-level instruction will be presented so that all four levels are taught in the same classroom. Freshman will receive credit for Dance I (half unit), Sophomores will receive credit for Dance II (half unit), Juniors will receive credit for Dance III (half unit), and Seniors will receive credit for Dance IV (half unit). It is understood that the teacher must be Fine Arts or Dance certified either by degree or taking the Dance Exit Test. This syllabus could be used as a guideline for school districts in the state of Texas to utilize in creating an alternative program for dance/drill teams to follow the Essential Elements of Dance as specified in the Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 75, Subchapter D as issued by the Texas education Agency.

Objectives:
 Fall Semester/Physical Education
1) The dance/drill team class should include training and conditioning, work on flexibility, anaerobic and aerobic activity, cardio vascular endurance and strength. These goals will be achieved through training and precision dance in preparation for football halftime performances.
2) Beginning choreography and terminology is addressed through projects for football halftimes, pep rally performances, junior dance clinics, and community performances.

 Spring Semester/Dance I-IV
 1) Cover dance vocabulary to introduce the principles, concepts, skills and techniques of dance.
2) To introduce the processes of perception and exploration of creative movement.
3) To explore the elements of choreography and composition as a process of creative dance.
4) To introduce the cultural and historical dimension of dance.
5) To introduce the exploration of artistic judgment.

Course of Study
Fall Semester/Physical Education
During the fall semester the class will work primarily on kinesthetic movement in both locomotor and axial forms, as they apply to precision dance performance and training.

1st six weeks: conditioning and strength, endurance, flexibility, basic dance through dance vocabulary.
 2nd six weeks: continuing work as covered in first six weeks on an intermediate to advanced level; begin covering essential elements of choreography and creative movement.
 3rd six weeks: advanced level conditioning; circuit training on dance technique; initiate choreography assignments.

 Spring Semester/Dance I-IV
 Class will explore one or more areas of dance (including modern, ballet, folk/ethnic, jazz or tap) through vocabulary, skills and technique, creative choreography and artistic judgment.
 
 4th six weeks: development of proper technique through choreography assignments and performance opportunities.
 5th six weeks: a continuation of the 4th six weeks activities on an intermediate to advanced level; dance production activities that may incorporate movement for the stage or other exhibition dance performances will be introduced.
 6th six weeks: review and evaluation of written and performance skills in dance (tryouts, stage show, final exam, competition and choreography assignments).

 Grading
The following criteria can be used to determine each student's six weeks grade:
 Daily Participation..............................50%
(dressing out in proper attire each day and participating in daily activities)
 Skills and written exams.....................40%
(skills and written tests on dance vocabulary, dance history and choreography)
 Other assignments...............................10%
(written assignments, performance assignments)

In order to fulfill the daily participation requirement, the student should be dressed in appropriate attire for activities and participate in all assigned activities. If the student cannot fulfill the daily participation due to approved extenuating circumstances (illness, injury, etc), they must complete an alternate assignment for each day of class missed (suggested: three pages of written research from library).

 Activities
In addition to daily class participation, activities in selected dance activities may include:
Summer Training
Summer Dance/Drill Team Camp
Pep Rally performances
Football halftime performances
Basketball halftime performances ( & other sporting events)
Dance/Drill Team competitions
Spring Show
Community & invitational performances
One Day Clinics/Master Classes in dance

This syllabus was written in general terms to offer a general guideline for dance/drill teams to present curriculum for physical education for the fall and dance for the spring. It will be imperative to follow the essential elements of dance and physical education (for fine arts programs). Daily lesson plans as well as written and practical exams should be prepared for this curriculum.

 
   

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