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Back to School Night Dance Clip.mp4The Dr. Susan S. McKinney Department of Dance provides students with a diverse, holistic dance education. Participants partake in a rigorous four-year program that offers opportunities to explore the numerous facets of the medium— resulting in well-rounded graduates that are ready to pursue a professional career in dance. Throughout their time at McKinney, students will participate in several dance performances & musicals highlighting teacher work, guest artist work and the work of the students in the dance department. The purpose of this course is to foster the movement, artistry, and inquiry skills of each student, and to provide a safe space for self-expression.
Our series of courses allow students to experiment with several genres of dance including Modern, Ballet, Jazz, West African and Hip-Hop. And with academic topics ranging from Anatomy and Dance History to Choreography and Composition, students graduate with skills that will enable them to find success in the performing arts and other fields. For each genre, they will learn about the movement vocabulary, historical context, and various pioneers surrounding the style and the classes will progress in rigor as they move on to higher grades.
Curriculum
Curriculum
Dance Technique
Students receive 5 semesters of Modern Dance, specifically the Horton & Dunham Technique, 3 semesters of Ballet, 2 semesters of Jazz & West African, and 1 semester of Hip Hop.
Choreography
Students will also be introduced to the fundamentals of choreography and composition and will receive several opportunities to engage in a creative and explorative process. Students will be able to use various styles of dance to create original solo and group works. They will have the opportunity to engage in improv exercises, and dance games to encourage collaboration, spark creativity, and cultivate their performance skills.
Dance History
Students study important historical facts and learn about significant pioneers for each genre of dance. Students research the impact of politics, significant world events, economics, visual art, theater, and music on dance.
Anatomy
Students learn how different parts of the body work collectively and independently. Students also study proper use of muscles in order to prevent injury. Proper nutrition and healthy eating are also covered.
Dance Beyond High School
Students will learn about the various careers in the field of dance. Students will also learn professional skills such as creating resumes, performance reels, and headshots. Students will be exposed to dance companies, and dance centers in NYC, and will build skills in auditioning for professional gigs and/or training programs.
Partnerships with:
Eden Arts Inc., Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation, Hunter College, & Exploring the Arts
Audition requirements:
Audition requirements:
Audition Requirements are centralized through the DOE- please submit through your MySchools account.
For audition information, SEE BELOW or click the link below.
https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enroll-grade-by-grade/high-school/high-school-auditions
Here is a video that will help with Dance audition requirements.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EAayOBz7N23CnAex563VICvQo-JTwZbu/view
Audition rubric here
Dance piece 1
Learn and perform one of the pre-recorded solos of Ballet, Jazz, Modern, or West African dance from the video library below. This dance video will be used to assess the following dance components: replication of dance steps, following direction, musicality, coordination, flexibility, expression. Record so that your full body and movement is shown. You can access the pre-recorded dances and music to the dances
Dance piece 2
Perform a one-minute solo in any style or combination of styles of dance with which you feel most comfortable. This dance video is to assess the following dance components: creativity, musicality, coordination, flexibility, and expression. Record so that your full body and movement is shown. You may consider including the following:
different levels (low, medium, and high)
different speeds of movement (slow and fast)
a jump
a pause
a turn
a balance
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