Dance Division: Motion, Mind, Heart. Citizens in a moving world
Dance Division Information
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CURRICULUM AND PHILOSOPHY
Dance Division offers a comprehensive modern dance-based curriculum integrated with a variety of other dance styles including ballet, jazz, hip hop, musical theater, and world dance forms (Scope and Sequence). Students experience dance through technique, improvisation, composition, and performance. Multiple levels of dance are offered to accommodate the developmental needs of all students from novice to the highly skilled dancer. Courses in dance share the essential understandings of the Kinetic Wellness department and contribute to personal wellness.
Problem-solving, cooperative learning, critical thinking, and self-expression are the cornerstones of the Dance Division's educational philosophy. The Dance Division regards the creative process to be of equal importance to technical training or finished products. In the end, we hope to give our students another means to interpret the world around them and develop an appreciation for all the visual and performing arts. New Trier's entire Performing Arts Division is committed to offering students robust learning and performing experiences that emphasize creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and connection to community.
All courses in the Dance Division satisfy the Kinetic Wellness graduation requirement. (Sophomores must fulfill one semester of health education.)
Students have a variety of opportunities to participate in co-curricular and extracurricular performances and dance events throughout the year (see below). -
COURSE OFFERINGS
Except for Kinetic Wellness 1/Dance, Menz Dance, and Dance 2, level placement classes are required for registration. Students currently enrolled in dance will be assessed for placement in class. Please contact the Dance Coordinator if you are new to New Trier dance and need to be placed. Courses may be repeated with permission of the instructor. All classes are sequentially arranged by ability level as follows:
- Kinetic Wellness 1/Dance - Full year on the Northfield Campus (Fulfills KW requirement, no level placement is required- open to any students who would like to dance).
- Kinetic Wellness 1/ Freshman Dance 2- Full year on the Northfield Campus, Students in this class are the only freshmen allowed to perform in Dance Theater New Trier and audition for Kinesis. (Fulfills KW requirement, level placement class is required)
- Menz Dance - Full year or one semester (No level placement is required, Sophomores must fulfill one semester of Health)
- Dance 2 - Full year or one semester (No level placement is required, sophomores must fulfill one semester of Health)
- Dance 3 - Full year or one semester (Sophomores must fulfill one semester of Health)
- Dance 4 - Full year (Sophomores must fulfill one semester of Health during summer school or during the school year)
- Dance at Dawn - Full year, Jr./Sr. only, early bird class, No athletic waiver
- Dance Lab (4-level course) - Full year, Jr./Sr. only, No athletic waiver (Recommendation from current dance teacher is required. Seniors wishing to go on Senior Project must choose abbreviated project.)
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PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES & DANCE EVENTS
- Kinesis Car Wash: (Saturday, September 25th; 10-1) Proceeds benefit a new cause each year; Parking lot at Essex and Trevian Way
- Northfield Dance Ensemble Information Meetings: See the links on the left for information
- Dance Day Northfield: (Thursday, December 16th; Periods 5b, 6b, 7a, 7c, 8b; Cornog Auditorium) A beloved annual celebration of student work, including a culmination of in-class choreographic projects created by freshmen through senior students.
- Northfield Dance Ensemble Showcase: (Thursday, December 16th; 7:00 pm; Cornog Auditorium) NDE is open to all New Trier students and presents original student choreographed dances.
- Level Placement Classes: (Thursday, January 20th and Friday, January 28th; 4:00-5:15; Northfield Dance Studio; F Building) Rising freshmen have an opportunity to be placed in our highest level dance class- Kinetic Wellness 1/Freshman Dance 2. Students in this class are the only freshmen allowed to perform in Dance Theater New Trier and audition for Kinesis. (Only attend one, no registration necessary, contact Dance Coordinator with questions)
- Kinesis Dance Company Concert: (Thursday and Friday, February 10th and 11th at 7:00; Saturday, February 12th at 2:00 Children's Matinee; Cornog Auditorium ) Kinesis is comprised of advanced junior and senior dancers selected through an audition process. Kinesis Dance Company presents original choreography created by its members and a guest artist.
- Dance Day Independent Auditions and Callbacks (Wednesday, February 16th and Wednesday, March 9th at 3:45; Winnetka Dance Studios) More information to come…
- Dance Day Winnetka: (Wednesday, March 23rd periods 1b, 2b, 2c, 3b, 4b and Thursday, March 24th periods 5b, 6b, 6c, 7b, 8b; Gaffney Auditorium) A beloved annual celebration of student work, including a culmination of in-class choreographic projects created by sophomore through senior students.
- Dance Theater New Trier Concert: (Thursday, May 5th and Friday, May 6th; 7:00 pm; Cornog Auditorium) A formal concert by Dance Division's advanced and intermediate students. Original choreography is created by the students, faculty, and a guest artist.
- Menz Showcase: (TBA) A high-octane performance of dance, music, and general mayhem.
- Dance Lab Showcase: (Wednesday, May 25th at 7:00; Dance Studio G014) A culminating performance of our capstone Dance Lab course in which students present sophisticated in-class choreographic studies and projects.
- Kinesis Audition: (TBA) An audition at the Winnetka Campus open to rising juniors and seniors. All students who are chosen for this ensemble are required to register for Dance Lab. However, all students are invited and encouraged to attend this audition simply for the experience and practice of auditioning.
- Dance Lab Performance at Ruth Page Center for the Arts in Chicago (Thursday, June 2nd) More information to come…
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SCOPE AND SEQUENCE
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KINESIS
Congratulations, Kinesis 2021-22
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RISING FRESHMEN
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DANCE THEATER NEW TRIER
Coming later
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DANCE ATTIRE
Click here to download 2021-22 Dance Attire
Dance Division Contact Information
- Winnetka Campus
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