Beginning Musical Theatre Dance Ebook With HKPropel Access

Beginning Musical Theatre Dance With HKPropel Access introduces students to basic musical theatre dance techniques from a variety of genres, forms, and styles and explains how to put them into practice for performance on stage. It teaches students what they need to know about auditions, rehearsals, performing, and caring for themselves so they can have a successful experience in a musical theatre dance course.

Designed for students enrolled in introductory musical theatre dance courses, the text contains photos and descriptions of basic warm-up exercises, center work, steps from a variety of dance genres used in musical theatre dance, partnering, and lifts. For those new to dance, the text provides an orientation to the structure of a musical theatre dance class and includes information on meeting class expectations, dressing appropriately, preparing mentally and physically, maintaining proper nutrition and hydration, and avoiding injury.   

Related online tools delivered via HKPropel offer more than 60 instructional video clips to help students practice and review musical theatre dance forms, techniques, and adaptations. A glossary builds students’ fluency in the vocabulary of musical theatre dance terminology, adaptations of steps, and styles. Plus, each chapter contains learning features to support students’ knowledge, including experiences, e-journal assignments, web links, and interactive quizzes. 

To dance on the musical theatre stage, students need to know how the world of musical theatre works; the expectations they must meet; and how to audition, rehearse, perform, and care for themselves. Beginning Musical Theatre Dance will arm them with the practical information as well as the historical background they need for success. 

Beginning Musical Theatre Dance is part of Human Kinetics’ Interactive Dance Series. The series incudes resources for ballet, modern, tap, jazz, musical theatre, and hip-hop dance that support introductory dance technique courses taught through dance, physical education, and fine arts departments. Each student-friendly text has related online learning tools including video clips of dance instruction, assignments, and activities. The Interactive Dance Series offers students a collection of guides to learning, performing, and viewing dance.

Note: A code for accessing HKPropel is included with this ebook.

 

Audience

Audiences: A textbook for college and university dance and general education students. Also applicable for high schools offering beginning musical theatre dance courses.

Chapter 1. Introduction to Musical Theatre Dance
Defining Musical Theatre Dance
Unique Features of Musical Theatre Dance 
Types of Musical Theatre 
Benefits of Studying Musical Theatre Dance
Basics of Musical Theatre Dance Class
Expectations for Students
Structure of Musical Theatre Dance Class
Summary

Chapter 2. Preparing for Class
Dressing for Class
Shoes for Musical Theatre Dance
Foot Care and Personal Hygiene
Carrying Dance Gear
Preparing Yourself Physically and Mentally
Summary

Chapter 3. Safety and Health
Studio Safety
Personal Safety
Basic Anatomy
Preventing Injuries
Treating Common Dance Injuries
Training Versus Fitness
Nutrition, Hydration, and Rest
Summary

Chapter 4. Learning and Performing Musical Theatre Dance 
Language of Musical Theatre Dance
Learning Steps, Phrases, and Dances
Understanding Musicality
Understanding Artistry and Artistic Development
Summary

Chapter 5. Basics of Musical Theatre Dance Technique
Warm-Up Exercises 
Foot Positions on the Floor
Port de Bras and Arm Positions
Stationary Exercises 
Center Work
Partnering and Lifting
Combinations
Summary

Chapter 6. From the Audition to the Stage
The Audition Process
Theatre Protocols, Etiquette, and Safety 
Theatre Staff and Hierarchy 
Preparing to Take the Stage
Summary

Chapter 7. History of Musical Theatre Dance
Origins of Musical Theatre Dance
Dance Director Era
Choreographer Era
Integration Musical Era
Concept Musicals and Director–Choreographers
Tap Musicals, Revivals, and Dance Musicals
Musical Theatre in the 21st Century
Summary

 

Diana Dart Harris has more than 24 years of experience teaching dance to students of all ages. She is a professor and musical theatre choreographer at the University of New Haven. She is trained in ballet, modern, jazz, and tap dance and has performed in musicals. Harris was artistic director of New Haven Ballet’s Nutcracker and assistant director of a musical theatre organization. She is a board member of the Connecticut Dance Alliance. Harris earned a bachelor of arts degree in dance education from Goucher College and a master of science degree in exercise physiology from Southern Connecticut State University.