Miriam Giguere, PhD, is the dance program director in the department of performing arts at Drexel University in Philadelphia. Giguere has been teaching modern dance in higher education for 22 years. Before teaching at the university level, Giguere danced professionally with three modern dance companies. As dance program director at Drexel, she created the curriculum for the dance major to include multiple styles of modern dance. Using her experience as a dance teacher in an academic setting, she developed 11 new courses and associated teaching materials. Giguere is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences on the topics of best practices in dance education and cognition during the creative process in dance. Her dissertation on the latter topic received the 2009 National Dissertation Award from the American Educational Research Association Arts and Learning Special Interest Group. She was the invited keynote speaker for Singapore's Dance Education Conference 2010. She holds a master's degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate in dance from Temple University. She is a member of the National Dance Educators Organization (NDEO) and the Congress on Research in Dance. Giguere also is a peer reviewer for the Journal of Dance Education and the Journal of Emerging Dance Scholarship. In her free time, Giguere enjoys practicing yoga and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Ralph, reside in Glenside, Pennsylvania.
Description
Chapter 1. Introduction to Modern Dance Defining Modern Dance Benefits of Studying Modern Dance Basics of Modern Dance Class Expectations and Etiquette for Students Structure of Modern Dance Class Unique Features of Modern Dance Appreciating Modern Dance As a Performing Art Summary Chapter 2. Preparing for Class Dressing for Class Carrying Dance Gear Preparing Yourself Mentally and Physically Summary Chapter 3. Safety and Health Studio Safety Personal Safety Basic Anatomy Basic Kinesiology Preventing and Treating Common Dance Injuries Flexibility and Stretching Achieving Optimal Fitness Nutrition, Hydration, and Rest Summary Chapter 4. Modern Dance Basics Elements of Dance Movement Preferences in Modern Dance Basic Positions Stage Directions Basic Movements Summary Chapter 5. Dance Composition Basics Creative Process in Dance Aesthetic Principles Meaning Making Choreographic Techniques Choreographic Structures Choreographic Forms Summary Chapter 6. Performing and Responding to Modern Dance Learning Movement for Performance Viewing and Responding to Modern Dance Performances Summary Chapter 7. History of Modern Dance Origins of Modern Dance Evolution of Modern Dance Dance in Higher Education Relevance of Modern Dance Today Summary Chapter 8. Five Major Styles of Modern Dance Humphrey-Limon Martha Graham Merce Cunningham Lester Horton Katherine Dunham Eclectic Approach Somatic Practices Identifying Your Instructor's Approach Summary