Mr. Rasso's Ballroom Dance Class

Final Exam - Fall 2011

2011-12-13T11:12:00.000-08:00

Everyone is to answer questions 1 – 7. After doing so, you may then pick any five questions from 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 that you would like to answer. Be as thorough as you can and as creative as you wish in providing a full and comprehensive response. You must use complete sentences and this must be computer generated. You may use your notebooks and you are encouraged to use other sources (such as websites, encyclopedias, etc. provided that you cite them properly). Assignment will be due on Friday, Dec 16. Total score of 50 points possible.

Please use Times New Roman font, size of 12. Put your name and period number at the top.

Answer each of these:

1. Describe several similarities and differences of Waltz and Rumba. Think about time signature, technique, footwork, travelling, turning, rhythm, music etc.
2. What technique makes Foxtrot unique from all other dances? Please clarify it fully and explain what is so unique about it. Cite your sources if necessary.
3. Please explain the differences between leading/following and choreography? For instance, leading and following is what you do when social dancing; choreography is what you do during the International Rumba routine. Also, please explain benefits or drawbacks of each (think of floorcraft, lead check, etc.).
4. If a song is in 4/4 time and has a competition speed of 132 beats per minute, please explain how to convert the speed to measures per minute and give the answer.
5. Think back to your research report. Whether you wrote a paper, created a Power Point, developed a website or something else – please tell me what you previously KNEW about your topic, tell me something new that you LEARNED while doing your research, and then tell me something that you still WANT to learn in the future about your dance.
6. In Mad Hot Ballroom, we witnessed a form of ballroom dance competition. Explain some benefits of competition dancing, and then compare them to the benefits of social dancing. Which one is better? Which one suits you the best? Why?
7. Please identify at least one positive aspect of ballroom dance class that you think should remain the same, and also identify at least one aspect of class that you think Mr. Rasso should change.

Pick five of these to answer:

8. Describe several similarities and differences of Salsa and Cha Cha. Think about time signature, technique, footwork, travelling, turning, rhythm, music, etc.
9. What made you want to enroll in ballroom dance class? How were your expectations not met, met, or exceeded? What would you tell a 6th grader thinking about enrolling?
10. If a song is in 3/4 time and has a competition speed of 36 measures per minute, please explain how to convert the speed to beats per minute and give the answer.
11. Which was your favorite dance? Which was your least favorite dance? Which dance would you like to learn more about? Explain why, for each of these.
12. Please explain why the elbow-to-elbow connection is the most important contact with your partner when leading or following.
13. Please describe what is unique, difficult, and fun about chase steps.
14. Pick your favorite dance and, in your own words, explain why it is your favorite, what makes it unique over all other dances, and why others should want to learn it.
15. Provide a description of how rise and fall works for dances like Waltz or Bolero.

EXAMPLE:

Question: What are the similarities and differences between International Rumba and American Rumba?

Answer: International Rumba differs from American Rumba in several ways, but primarily in timing. International Rumba begins on 2 (while American Rumba begins on 1). Both dances have a SQQSQQ count, however International Rumba is often slower than American Rumba and therefore the Cuban motion, balance, and poise are much more difficult to maintain. Some patterns can be lead in each dance (cross overs, open break and underarm turn, etc.). (www.ballroomdancers.com/learnthedances/internationalrumba/asdm_44.html).

Sources Used

www.ballroomdancers.com/learnthedances/internationalrumba/asdm_44.html. Retrieved on December 13, 2011

TIPS:

Similar to our previous assignment, be sure you answer EACH part of EVERY question. Use citations if you borrow some information from a source (internet or encyclopedia) and be sure to include a bibliography at the end of your paper. Make sure you provide a full and complete response to each question. Each question will be graded on conventions, presentation, research citations (if applicable), as well as depth, breadth, and fullness of response. Have at least two people proofread and give constructive criticism before Mr. Rasso saves it to his flash drive. Bring homework or a book to read in case you finish early.

FALL 2011 - DANCE RESEARCH PROJECT

2011-11-05T23:05:00.000-07:00

Pick one dance (could be your favorite, the one that is the most fun, or one that you want to learn more about). You will develop a project in the format of your choosing: research paper, Power Point, display board, web page, or whatever you like, just clear it with me. You WILL have to utilize several sources (either print or internet) and demonstrate citations of that information. A hard copy of your project must be turned in by the end of the school day on Wednesday, November 16, 2011. After it has been graded and returned, you will present your project to the class sometime the following week.

Here is what you need to do at the bare minimum:

* Introduction – Explain what dance you chose, why you chose it, what interests you about it, etc. Make a creative title, design, and scheme to give your project balance and flow from the start.

* History and Culture – Describe where in the world this dance originates, important people involved with it, how it came to exist, what cultures helped shape it, other dances it is related to, and other interesting and unique facts about its origin. Dig, seek, and find something fresh like trivia that you would hear on Jeopardy, Cash Cab, or Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Here, you WILL have to use an encyclopedia, or online sources (like www.ballroomdancers.com ). You do NOT have to cite your notebook as a source, as that is considered common knowledge. For the sources you use, be sure to label the EXACT book title or web address you found your information on and cite it both in context and in the bibliography (see format below). This is the most important section of the assignment; the foundation for all other sections to be successful! I would recommend that you start here first and then determine how the other pieces will fit into place around it.

* Music – Elaborate on which kinds of music may be used in order to perform this dance. Name several musicians and identify popular songs used. What instruments are played to make this music unique? Describe any trends in how the music has changed over time. Talk about tempo, the different rhythms, lyrics, or other music theory that you feel is appropriate. Again, you will have to cite your sources.

* Persuasion – I would like you to make a declarative statement that demonstrates your opinion of the
dance and what you have learned about it in class. Think of this as persuasive. Explain what about this dance would make other people want to learn it. Sell your point fully. Think about the post cards that you made for Geography class and make this like those. This can be a solid, complete sentence full of dance adjectives, a wide-ranging bulleted list, or it may be a paragraph.

* Organization –If you’re writing a paper, doing a Power Point, or creating a web page, this can be in the form of a concluding paragraph that ties everything together in a logical manner. Regardless of format, please tie everything together in a theme with pictures, graphics, charts, colors, etc.

Remember… those were minimum requirements. You are expected to go above and beyond to exceed these standards. Please see the rubric below to see how you will be scored:

Target Area Score

Introduction / 10
History/Culture / 10
Music / 10
Persuasion / 10
Organization / 10
TOTAL / 50

0 No product submitted
1 Dearth of effort demonstrated
2 Undesirable effort demonstrated
3 Minimal effort demonstrated
4 Less than average effort demonstrated
5 Some criteria are met; citations are poor; creativity is nonexistent
6 Criteria are met; citations are fair; creativity is lacking
7 All criteria are met; citations are acceptable; creativity is haphazard
8 Some criteria are exceeded (the rest are met); citations are good; creativity is apparent
9 Criteria are exceeded (the rest are met); citations are excellent; creativity is obvious
10 All criteria clearly exceeded; citations are impeccable and accessible; creativity is evident

Sample:

Mr. Rasso
Period 1

Paso Doble

For my topic, I chose to write about Paso Doble. Paso Doble is my favorite dance because the music is very passionate and it is the dance of the matador. I wanted to learn this dance because I am very interested in matadors and bull-fighting because of my family’s heritage and the music is very fun to listen to.

Paso Doble is known as the dance of the bullfight. Symbolically, the man represents the matador and the woman should flowingly represent his cape. They should move as one (Webster’s Encyclopedia, 2007).

Paso Doble has roots planted firmly in Spain. The music for Paso Doble is often found to have castanets, great deals of percussion, and stringed instruments (Webster’s Encyclopedia). Every Paso Doble song traditionally has two very distinct “highlights” that are reminiscent of the music that is played in the stadium as matadors enter the bull ring (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paso_doble).

As I mentioned above, Paso Doble music is very rigid in structure. There is almost no deviation in the rhythm, though the melody and harmony may vary. The Gypsy Kings and Andres Segovia are important musicians when it comes to Paso Doble (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/662957/paso-doble).

I believe that everyone should take Mr. Rasso’s ballroom dance class strictly to learn the Paso Doble. It is a dance that forces the leader to have a strong dance frame while also compelling the follower to be as receptive to the pattern as possible. Learning this dance has made me a more confident dancer.

Sources Used

1. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/662957/paso-doble Retrieved on Nov 4, 2011
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paso_doble Retrieved on Nov 4, 2011. Webster’s Encyclopedia. 2007 Edition. Page 356.

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School printers only use black ink, so do not expect colors to show.

You must cite the exact address of the website that you find and use in your paper. If you cite it incorrectly, you will be marked down.

Please remember that academic dishonesty and plagiarism are things that will not be tolerated at Churchill Junior High School!

We will have three days in the computer lab (during class time), and I will also write you a pass to use computers during SUCCESS.

Turn projects in to me during class or during Advisory ONLY. Do not give them to another teacher to give to me or you will be marked down 10 points. If you’re creating a web-page, find me on the Churchill website and e-mail me a link. Once again, it is due on or before Wednesday, Nov 16.

Article

2010-11-17T05:40:00.000-08:00

I am still so proud of this article, even two years later! Check it out! The hyperlink feature was sending visitors to a different site, so you'll have to copy the URL address below and paste it yourself:

http://www.galesburg.com/education/x596333056/All-they-want-to-do-is-dance-dance-dance