Theory of Latin American Tropical Dance

CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
Course name: THEORY OF LATIN AMERICAN TROPICAL DANCE
Language of instruction: English
Course code: DNCE 2500
Total contact hours: 46 hours

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course explores the technique, rhythm and movement style of Latin American Tropical dance. History, anthropology, folklore videos and songs are part of this experiential course.
This course will provide students with a general overview and a better understanding of the folklore and history of Latin American dance. They should also be acquainted with some of the basic rhythms in various countries.

OBJECTIVES
1) Become acquainted with the concepts and issues addressed to Latin-American dances in general
2) Learn the characteristics of the Costa Rican way of dancing in particular, and become familiar with them.
3) Observe different dance areas like Discotheques and ?Salon de Baile?.
4) Understand the importance of movement and music and the harmony with human behavior

CONTENTS
Introduction to Folklore
Definition of Folklore, Popular Culture, Urban Folklore
Artisan and Art
Basic dance skills
Merengue
Salsa
Cumbia
Creole Swing (The Costa Rican Way)
Bolero
Classic Bolero
Bolero Son
African origin of Latin American music
Yorubas
The Africans Drums
Latin American countries and its music
Cuba
Danzon
ii. Charanga
iii. Rumba and Guaguanco
iv. Bolero
v. Son Cubano / Salsa
Puerto Rico
i. Plena and Bomba
ii. Salsa
iii...Reggaeton
iv?Bachata
c. República Dominicana
i. Merengue
ii. Bachata
d. Jamaica
Reggae
e?Colombia
i. Vallenato
ii?Cumbia
f?.Perú
i. Los Andes (Andean Music)
g?.Uruguay
i. Candombe
h?.Mexico
i. Mambo
ii Cha Cha Cha
iii Mariachis
iv Bolero
i?..Brazil
i?.Samba
ii Lambada
j?..Trinidad y Tobago
i. Calypso
k?..Argentina
i. Tango
l??Venezuela
i. Joropo
m?..Panama
i. Tamborito
ii. Reggaeton
n?..Honduras
i. Punta (Los Garifunas)
Costa Rica
i. Tambito
ii. Guanacaste and the Marimba
iii. Talamanca (Baile de los Diablitos
iv. Afrocaribbean
v. Creole Swing
Dancing Areas
Salon de Baile / Discotheque

ITINERARY
1. Lesson 6-8 pm Personal and Program Presentation
2. Lesson 6-8 pm Documental ?Se Prohibe Bailar Suin? & Creole Swing Explanation on teacher responsibility over this subject. Practice Costarrican Cumbia-Suin- dancing and Merengue.
3. Lesson 6-8 pm Definition of Folklore, Popular Culture, Urban Folklore
Artisan and Art. Teacher explanation and students comments Movie ?Dirty Dancing. (First part)
4. Lesson / 6-8 pm (Last part) Movie ?Dirty Dancing? Comments on the movie ?Dirty Dancing?. Teacher explanation on Costarrican Tambito, Guanacaste and the Marimba Folkloric Music and Dance, Tambito & Salsa Practice
5. Lesson / 6-8 pm Movie ?Take the Lead?
6. Lesson / 6-8 pm / 6-8 pm Comments on the movie ?Take the Lead? & Practice Teacher explanation on Bolero and students comments. Bolero (Classic / Son) & Merengue Practice
7. Lesson / 6-8 pm / 6-8 pm Documental ?Buena Vista Social Club?, comments on the documental & Programming Presentations
8. Lesson / NO CLASS 6-8 pm Discothèque CASTRO?S 9:30-11:30 pm
9. Lesson / 6-8 pm Comments on the field trip. Movie ?Dirty Dancing Havana Nights? & Programming Presentations.
10 Lesson / 6-8 pm FREE TIME TO WORK IN PRESENTATIONS
11. 12. 13. 14.Lessons / 6-8 pm Comments on the movie ?Dirty Dancing Havana Nights?. Presentations by the students on the different subjects or bibliographic project.
15. Lesson / 6-8 pm Movie ?Dance with Me?
16. Lesson /NO CLASS 6-8 pm Discoteca CASTRO?S 9:30-11:30 pm
17. Lesson / 6-8 pm Comments on the field trip and on the movie ?Dance with Me.? Movie ?Shall We Dance??
18. Lesson / 6-8 pm / 6-8 pm FREE TIME TO WORK IN PRESENTATIONS
19. 20. 21. 22. Lessons / 6-8 pm Comments on the movie ?Shall We Dance??. Presentations by the students on the different subjects or bibliographic project. Relationship on the differents genre studied, its origin, evolution, results and importance over the rest of the continent / world.
23. Lesson / 6-8 pm Movie ?El Cantante?
24 Lesson / 6-8 pm Comments on the movie ?El Cantante? and a relationship of all the movies studied in the course.
(The order of Lessons may change due to special activities such as the Crash Party, Costarrican or North American Holidays and decisions over student interests on subjects or movies)

METHODOLOGY

Audience
This course is structured for International Students attending the Study Abroad program at Universidad Veritas. However, courses are not exclusive to foreigners so a few native student could enroll in this course.
Attendance
The student's attendance to every class is mandatory, as well as the fieldtrips. If a student gets sick or has some other important problem, he/she has to bring a document justifying their absence.
After 2 unjustified absences, students will fail the course.
Electronic devices:
The use of cell phones, smart phones, or other mobile communication devices is disruptive, and is therefore prohibited during class. Please turn all devices OFF and put them away when class begins. Devices may be used ONLY when the professor assigns a specific activity and allows the use of devices for internet search or recording. Those who fail to comply with the rule must leave the classroom for the remainder of the class period.

Assignments
Individual Presentation
Students will have to make individuals presentations through the course.
The biographic presentation must be about any person, dance or music group concerning Latin America, approved by the professor. In other presentations, the professor will provide subjects and the student will choose, but can also suggest other subjects related
It must last at least 20 minutes, the date of presentation will be discuss in the class.
EVALUATION SYSTEM
Individual Presentations 50%
Class Participation 30%
Quizzes 20%

BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Encyclopedia Encarta.msn.com
2. Encyclopedia Wikipedia
http://www.wikipedia.org/
3. African Music
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Africa
4. Costa Rica ? Music
www.costaricatours.com/music/musi00.html
5. Acevedo, Jorge Luis. La música en Guanacaste Editorial de la Universidad de Costa Rica. Ciudad Universitaria Rodrigo Facio. San José Costa Rica
6. Restrepo Duque, Hernán. Lo que cuentan los Boleros. Centro Editorial de Estudios Musicales. Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia
FILMOGRAPHY
1. Se Prohibe Bailar Suin, (2003), Gabriela Hernandez, Costa Rica
2. Dirty Dancing, (1987), Emile Ardolino, U.S.A.
3. Take the Lead, (2006), Liz Friedlander, U.S.A. Canada
4. Buena Vista Social Club, (1998), Win Wenders, Cuba
5. Dirty Dancing Havanna Nights, (2004), Katya Nayberg, Puerto Rico
6. Dance with Me, (1998), Randa Haines, U.S.A. Dominican Republic
7. Shall we Dance?, (2004), Peter Chelson, U.S.A.
8. El Cantante, (2007), Jennifer Lopez, U.S.A.
9. Salsa, (1993), Joyce Sherman Buñuel, France, Spain
10. Strictly Ballroom, (1992), Baz Luhrmann, Australia