Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2021 - CA 129 D100

Movement Fundamentals (3)

Class Number: 7243

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 8 – Dec 7, 2021: Mon, Wed, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    GOLDCORP

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

This studio/theory course incorporates techniques of body awareness, centering, and structural realignment. The emphasis is on body conditioning and body connectedness. This course will be of interest to dancers, actors, kinesiologists, and athletes. This is one of four courses required for entry into the dance major and extended minor program. Students with credit for FPA 129 may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

Movement Fundamentals explores the functional and expressive capacities of the moving body and cultivates embodied literacy through movement practice and theoretical engagement– with a dance- based orientation. All classes take place in the studio and take the form of “body labs” in which we will explore a variety of somatic practices for body awareness, function/expression and conditioning through experiential work, readings/short writing assignments and discussion. The course is grounded in the framework of Laban Movement Analysis and includes study of developmental movement patterns, perceptual practices, experiential anatomy, Bartenieff FundamentalsSM and 3-D WorkoutTM.

Classes will focus on promoting:

  • Somatic awareness
  • Dynamic alignment
  • Function/expression
  • Movement patterning
  • Body-mind connectivity
  • Embodied literacy: practice, perception, reflection, articulation.
Short weekly written assignments and a final project/assignment will be required.

We will work through CANVAS.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Upon completion of the course, students should be able to integrate theory and practice in:

  1. Using somatic awareness to understand and optimize function/expression in movement practice.
  2. Understanding basic functional anatomy and applying principles of dynamic alignment.
  3. Analyzing and refining personal movement habits and patterns.
  4. Developing body-mind connectivity.
  5. Building a personal bodywork/conditioning practice.
  6. Cultivating embodied literacy.

Grading

  • Studio Practice 40%
  • Participation/Engagement 20%
  • Written Assignments 20%
  • Final Project 20%

NOTES:

Studio Practice 40%

Evaluation will be ongoing throughout the semester and will focus on enhanced:

• Somatic awareness
• Dynamic alignment
• Function/expression
• Movement patterning
• Body-mind connectivity
• Embodied literacy: practice, perception, reflection, articulation.

Participation/Engagement 20%

  • 12% available to be earned for each class fully attended (.5/class) (1 absence permitted without impact)
  • 8% available to be earned for participation/engagement
    • Low engagement, limited participation 1-3
    • Moderate engagement, inconsistent participation 4-6
    • High engagement, consistent participation 7-8

Written Assignments 20%

Short weekly reflections (approximating 10)  

Final Project 20%

Details to be provided in class.

Materials

RECOMMENDED READING:

Kapit, Wynn and Lawrence M. Elson. Anatomy Colouring Book

Calais-Germain, Blandine. Anatomy of Movement

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2021

Teaching at SFU in fall 2021 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with approximately 70 to 80 per cent of classes in person/on campus, with safety plans in place.  Whether your course will be in-person or through remote methods will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes.  You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).

Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required.  You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the fall 2021 term.