World History of the Dance / Spring 2024

     I Unit: Classic Period Elsewhere Theme: Mesoamerica, India & China   Introduction Often classical antiquity refers to a historical period spanning from the output of ancient Greek author Homer in the 8th century bce to the decline of the Roman Empire in the 5th century ce. Seldomly, do we refer to the classical period that took place in other parts of the world. Today's class focuses on the classical periods in Mesoamerica, India and China.    II Learning Objectives   Understand the importance of the classical period in other parts of the world Explain the meaning of the term "classical" and why it can be applied to the cultures of Mesoamerica, India and China Gain an awareness of the differences between these three classical cultures Realize the impact of the classical periods in these three areas of the world on their present cultures  Experience the main steps of the dances representative of these three cultures and their classic...

   I  Unit: Ancient Rome Theme: Pantomime Introduction In modern historiography, Ancient Rome refers to Roman civilization from the founding of the Italian city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic and Roman Empire until the fall of the western empire. Ancient Rome gave to the Performing Arts its pantomime. Pantomime is a dramatic entertainment, originating in Roman mime, in which performers express meaning through gestures accompanied by music.   II Learning Objectives    Understand the impact the the Roman Empire had on religion Explain why new comedy was important within the context of Ancient Rome Gain an awareness about the connection  between Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece Experience the use of pantomime to tell a story    III Main Lesson   1  Ancient Rome (5:36 min.) Question 1  What was a main cultural...

  I Unit: Ancient Greece Theme: The Athenian Chorus, the Phyrric Dances,   Introduction Ancient Greece was a northeastern Mediterranean civilization, existing from the Greek Dark Ages of the 12th–9th centuries BC to the end of classical antiquity, that comprised a loose collection of culturally and linguistically related city-states and other territories   II Learning Objectives   Understand the cultural aspects of Ancient Greece that relate to performance Explain the role of Ancient Greek theater as a community center Gain an awareness of the role of the Greek chorus in Ancient Greece Experience the choreography of an Ancient Greek chorus in the subjunctive mood.    III Main Lesson 1 Minoan Crete   (7000 BCE - 1500 BCE)   The Minoan palaces show evidence of destruction by earthquake c. 1700 BCE, after which they were rebuilt.  The palaces were well-appointed, monumental structures with large courts, colonnades, staircases, religious c...