- Year of study: One semester, autumn or spring
- Final assessment: Performance
- Language of tuition: Norwegian/English
Course description
The course provides an introduction to 19th-century dance and dance music, with particular emphasis on the relationship between dance forms and art music. Students work on the character, tempo, and stylistic features of different dances as a basis for musical interpretation.
Course coordinator: Piano, Accompaniment, Guitar and Accordion Department
Learning objectives
The course aims to give students insight into the relationship between music and dance, and to develop a deeper understanding of musical phrasing and articulation.
Upon completion of the course, the student is expected to:
- demonstrate basic skills in 19th-century dances, including general movement expression, basic steps, and technical execution
- have knowledge of, and be able to realise and communicate, how art music relates to 19th-century dance forms
- be able to accompany dance with an understanding of the interaction between musician and dancer
Overview
The course includes practical work with learning basic steps and simple forms of dances such as the minuet, ländler, waltz, polonaise, polka, and mazurka. Students rehearse suitable dance music, experiment with performance, and practise accompaniment.
Students both dance themselves and play for dancers. Through this, they develop a physical understanding of the relationship between dance and music in the relevant period, and learn to let bodily experience inform their musical interpretation.Structure
The course is taught weekly in group sessions over one semester. Both live music performed by students and recordings are used. Students are also expected to work independently outside of scheduled classes.
Course requirements
Active participation in the course is compulsory. Absence of more than 20% will normally result in the student failing the course.
Final assessment
All course requirements must be approved in order for the student to receive a final assessment. The student is assessed in relation to the course’s learning objectives.
The final assessment is based on an internal showing at the end of the semester (in groups, including both dance and performance). The assessment is expressed as pass/fail and is determined by two internal examiners.
Reassessment:
For reassessment, the same arrangements apply as for the ordinary assessment.