Dance Program
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Dance Department Instructor
Colleen Callahan-Russell

Mission Statement
The Dance Program at Southwest High School is committed to the development of students physically, intellectually and creatively as they journey through Dance as an Art Form. Students have the opportunity to:  
 
  • Study with local and national choreographers (Past guests: ToniPierce-Sands (Alvin Ailey Am. Dance Theater), Karla Grotting(Flying Foot Forum), Carl Flink(Black Label Movement), Eddie Oroyan, Laura Selle, Stephanie Fellner, Kenna Cottman, Aneka McMullen, Paricia Brown, Marieusz Olzewski, Lewis Whitlock, Baraka de Soleil, Ralph Lemon, Urban BushWomen, Bebe Miller, Tap Dogs, Judith Howard, Aparna Ramaswamy, Ananya Chatterjea, Melissa Brown, Patrick Scully, Julia Sutter,  April Sellers, Roxane Wallace, Brian Sostek and Megan McClellan).
  • Perform in two major concerts a year
  • Choreograph their own work
  • Gain a reverence, discipline and understanding of the body in motion
  • Meet and make lasting friendships.
 
Dance Course Descriptions
Dance at Southwest is offered in the form of these courses:
 
Beginning Dance (grades 9-12)
This course is open to any student and has a concentration on movement fundamentals through the dance elements of time, space and energy. The intent is to give students an awareness and reverence for the physical body and its athletic and expressive capabilities.  Students experience these elements through a variety of genres and techniques including modern dance, partnering techniques, dance omposition and introductory elements of performance.( Physical Education or Fine Arts Credit)

Dance Company 2 (grades 9-12, instructor permission; year-long course)
This course is for the student with more experience in dance and gives students more opportunity to create and perform. A deeper focus on dance technique, improvisation and composition is explored. National and local artists assist in exposing the student to the world of dance. Students perform in the school wide dance concerts.
*This course serves as a prerequisite to the Arts Standard(Arts and Literature: Create, Perform and Respond).
 
Dance Company 1 /Adv.  IB Dance  (grades 9-12, instructor permission; year-long course)
This class is for students with more experience in dance that want to work on their movement technique and develop their own artistic voice. This class gives students the opportunity to work with guest choreographers(both local and national) and perform in a range of dance work.  Modern dance is the basis for this class though other genres are included. Dance Composition and Improvisation as well as numerous performing opportunities make up the bulk of this course. The focus on Creating and Performing is strong and discipline and leadership are developed. The course can be taken for IB Standard or Higher level credit in the Arts.
*Fulfills Arts StandardCreate, Perform and Respond
 
New Moves (Physical Education credit)
This course is an elective physical education course that is an alternative to traditional competitive sports. Some units of study are canoeing/kayaking, rock climbing, pilates, yoga, tai chi, la crosse, swimming and dance.
 
For more information, email Colleen.Callahan-russell@mpls.k12.mn.us 
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PDF IB Modern Dance Intro.   --  Click here for slideshow