World History of Dance has been a
great addition to my course load this semester. From this class alone, I
have learned so much about how dance has impacted all aspects of life,
even from the very beginning starting in the Neolithic age. Another
takeaway from this course is how history is a web, and we are all
connected, yet so different from one another. History as a web shows us
how our world view is so different from one another, and this is how new
ideas form. Specifically with dance, ancient rituals, ballet,
contemporary dance, and renaissance dancing all have meanings, and the
people who have created these dances take inspiration from people before
them, the world, and even their environment. It has been very
interesting learning about all the different areas of the world as well
as the meanings behind these dances. For example: during the Paleolithic
age, rituals were used in the hope of good weather, food, and shelter,
among many other things. And for the Renaissance, those dances were used
to find suitors and to show off aristocracy.
Overall, I have felt good about this course. I have learned so many
things that I would have not gotten the chance to do in my regular
course load. I would eventually like to take more classes like this in
the future, but since I am approaching my last semester, I might not be
able to. However, there are many ways for me to continue to learn more
about dance and its impact on culture. I can read articles, and books,
and watch documentaries to teach me more about how dance has had an
impact on all of our lives.
I can apply what I have learned in the class by helping teach my
family and friends about these topics. The more people who learn about
this can have a better appreciation and understanding of how dance has
been a part of all of our lives, and they might not have even known it. I
can also apply this knowledge to my field of study by doing case
studies about dance. I am a business analytics major, and I can use my
knowledge from this class to potentially analyze physical data on how
dance has had an impact on individuals. Although I am in the business
field, I can use my skills in statistics and coding to help visualize
data pertaining to dance. This can be a way for me to stay connected to
what I have learned in dance as well as in my own major. This class has
been a lot of fun and has helped remind me there are bigger things out
there than what I am used to. I need to get out of my comfort zone,
learn something new, and share the new wealth of knowledge of dance with
friends and family.
4
I Wish our Culture was Still Like That
I have learned so much over the
course of the semester in your class. Learning how early societies used
dance as more than just a performance, but as community bonding,
religious purposes, and a way of life. Learning how dance has evolved
was fascinating for me. I had yet to learn how complex early dances were
and how early in human history dances were used (like how we found
dance history depicted in the ancient caves in France). I loved learning
that dance was not performed by a select few but was a community action
that everyone participated in, and I wish our culture was still like
that.
I always felt excited and ready to
learn when I stepped foot into your classroom. Your class has been a
nice break for me in my studies to learn about something I am interested
in that I can take with me for the rest of the day. I made incredible
friendships in your class while doing our activities, genuinely making
attending your class my day. I felt happy, inspired, and relaxed in your
course. I will miss your class next semester.
I am a political science major and
will attend law school in the Fall. Although dancing does not relate
much to law, I see how I can apply what I have learned in your class to
my field. Remembering how important it is to bond with my future law
community (like ancient people did through dance) will be essential when
I have my head stuck in a book all day reading cases. Remembering to
get up and dance every once in a while and trying to connect with my
peers will always be something I take from this class. After all, we as
humans have been doing it for generations.
5
Understanding Team Members Strengths and Weaknesses
Gabriela Silva
Taking this dance class was amazing. Some of the take-a ways
from this course was that I gained a lot of knowledge and I understand how
dance has evolved over time within different cultural contexts. This involved
exploring the historical significance of dance in various societies, including
its role in rituals, celebrations, and everyday life. Another take-away was the
evolution of different dance forms, such as modern dance, contemporary dance,
and much more. I learned a lot about the key figures, movements, and
innovations that shaped these styles.
In this class I felt very welcomed. In many of my classes my
professors do not even care to understand the students or even ask us for our
names. In this course on the first day, all of us students had to introduce
ourselves and get to know one another better, it didn’t feel like I was sitting
next to strangers. I felt very happy to be in this class, each class was
extremely interesting and different. I really enjoyed dancing in groups at the
end of class, it was a lot of fun.
In my own field of studies, which is business, I can apply a
lot of what I learned in this course to my own career. In a global business
environment, understanding different cultures is crucial. The knowledge of the
history of dance may enhance my cultural sensitivity, helping to navigate
diverse business settings and build relationships with people from various
backgrounds. Dance often involves collaboration and teamwork. Same as being on
a business team, in this class we learned how to work collaboratively, and
understanding team members strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, dance
communicates emotions, stories, and ideas without words. In business, effective
communication is essential. The knowledge of how dance communicates can help
enhance non-verbal and verbal communication skills, making me a more effective
communicator in a professional setting.
6
The Intersectionality
of Dance with Other Art Forms
The main takeaways I got from this course was the understanding of the
historical development and evolution of dance forms across different
eras and cultures. Appreciating how dance is influenced by and
influences cultural, social, and political contexts. I was able to identify major dance movements, styles, and influential choreographers.
We explored dance traditions from various regions and acknowledging the
diversity of global dance practices. Learned about the intersectionality
of dance with other art forms, such as music, rituals, metal making,
etc.
I truly enjoyed this course. I feel like i was able to learn a lot
from this course. There was a lot of history that i didn't know dance was
apart of. Every time I would come to class i was excited to learn
something knew. Professor Morejon always came to class with such amazing
energy and was always ready to spill all his knowledge to us. Overall,
it was an amazing experience and such an amazing way to end my last
semester.
I would be able to apply what I learned into the preschool education
field by using dance to tell simple stories or folktales. The children
can act out characters, events, and emotions through movement. Introduce
children to dances from different cultures by incorporating simple
movements and music. Letting the children explore dance by providing
costumes and props to represent different historical eras. Invite local
dancers or performers to showcase traditional dances.
7
Learn from Each Other through Dance
The
course World History of Dance has been extremely eye opening! First of
all, it is an honor to take a course with a professor who truly values
and appreciates the content they are teaching! I have learned more about
dance in this class than from my previous dance education experiences.
In high school, was when I was first introduced to world history of
dance, but we did not even touch half of the topics learned in this
course. I enjoyed how you incorporated the role of society in dance.
Oftentimes, teachers and professors explain dance as just a fun thing
that humans do, but in this class you explained the ritualistic
background of dance. It was also interesting learning about dance from the
beginning of human history. You showcased that dance is heavily
intertwined with the human timeline. Additionally, I enjoyed learning
about different cultures that aren't typically highlighted in Western
school systems. This class emphasizes the fact that no matter our
differences, we can all come together and learn from each other through
dance.
In
this course, I felt really good! When I came to class, I knew we were
about to have a fun experience. I enjoyed the combination of lectures
and physical dancing. It kept the class engaging. This class feels like a
mini family. I appreciate how we took the time, at the end of class, to
take deep breaths and really connect with each other! I also like the
chance to collaborate daily with my classmates.
As
I mentioned before, I took away a lot of information about the world
history of dance. This course further strengthened my previous dance
knowledge. I understand more about cultural dances. Not just the actual
movements, but the meanings and beginnings behind a dance. As a health
science major, this course reminds me of some of my studies in public
health. A lot of societies and demographics do things a certain way due
to their history. The same goes for dance. Many dances, as well as
public health tendencies, are passed from generation to generation. Overall, I enjoyed this course!
8
A Way to Connect with Your Emotions
Ana Raquel Chacin Vitale
World History of Dance has been one
of my most enjoyable courses at the University of Miami. Being an
elective course which means I decided to take this course and its a
major requirement has been one of the most fulfilling experiences I’ve had
since coming to UM. The class dynamic is a great way for introverts and
extroverts to feel seen because it has a variety of things we do in one
class which makes you get out of your comfort zone. History comes within
us and we have learned from Carnival dances to ballet to more classical
dances and how history affects us. By doing the various discussion
posts or the group dances at the end of class its a way to reflect on the
particular dance we are learning that day and also interact with our
peers. The discussion blog I feel its a great way to have an outline for
the class in which we have videos for people that are more visual
learners and also several questions that either we discuss with our
group and do a discussion post or create a dance. Moreover the last 5
minutes of the class we create a big circle, see each other in the
eye, grab hands and just breathe in and breathe out. At the beginning, I
found it very unusual but after time went on I began to enjoy it because it is also a way to connect with your emotions more profoundly and
debrief after the class and enjoy the rest of your day.
Even tough I study health management and
policy, I feel that DAN 250 has helped me in my internship right know. I
am a Quality Improvement Intern at Miami Jewish Health and I’ve seen
the patients events in which they do different dances and just the view
of everything. This class has made me enjoy the little things much more
and become less of an introvert because it forces you to get out of your
comfort zone. Talking with our peers for the dances, the discussion
post or even our group project forces you to talk and get out of your
shell which is an introvert's worse nightmare. But, they are also skills that
come in handy in the real world. Furthermore learning about different
cultures and dances makes me more aware of a person's background which is
always helpful if you are trying to make conversation or understand
better where they come from. Dan 250 has taught me more life skills than
a lot of my major classes, if I’ve been honest, and as surprising as it
is. It is also great for me because I get to use them everyday in my
other classes as well as in my internship.
We all have a history with dance in
someway or another. Thus, since I was little my mom enrolled me in
gymnastics, ballet and flamenco. All which I enjoyed but the one that
resonated the most was ballet in which I basically did ballet from 3 to
14. I did more classical ballet and more contemporary which now I know
the difference but at the time I just thought one professor was
more strict than the other. DAN 250 has taught me about the history of
ballet which is one of the styles of dance I enjoy the most. Ballet not
only helps with posture and technique but also with just being in sync
with your body. Dan 250 has made see the importance that ballet had in
my life growing up and how we should cherished our dance history because
its a part of us and even if I don't practice ballet know I still enjoy
it and watch recitals. Moreover, World History of Dance has been one
the most diverse and enjoyable classes I’ve had at the University of
Miami.
9
Dances Make Life a Lot Lighter
Lana alfadi
During this course I learnt a lot
about the core roots of many dances and the historical meaning
underlying each dance. Something that really stuck was the web in which
history is a bunch of things leading to one particular event and not
linear. I also took away that sometimes what we think is a fact of
history is us trying to mimick the images given and give it context in
order to understand the culture. I took away that societal hierarchy was a
great part of dance in history and many dances came from that. I really
truly enjoyed this class as I feel like it gave me a world view of
dance.
During this course I feel like I would love coming to this class, it
gave me clarity and I ultimately wanted to learn a lot when I came. I
love learning about different origins and cultures which is why I feel
like this class really did speak to me and a big part of why I enjoyed
it. I also love dancing so it gave me a different perspective to dance. I
can see how patterns mirror dances and how dances make life a lot
lighter. I would 100% reccomend this course to friends due to the meet
fact that it teaches us history from a different light and too me in a
way that makes history stick.
I study finance and economics which is very different from dance
however I feel like this class has taught me to look at the whole
picture to understand the situation, rather than just look at the linear
line leading up. I feel like that correlates a lot to the stock market.
This class has also shown us that to different people different things
matter, which I feel like allows me to view the world-view (helping me
in the near future of my workplace). I also feel like in general dance
teaches you displine and in order to succeed in life I feel like one has
to have displine. Overall I think I will take the positive energy
coming from this class and spreading it to the world. Thank you for this amazing semester professor!!
10
Ritual Practices for Life, Death, and Everything in Between
I took Professor Morejon's
Education in the Arts class last fall and loved his teaching methods so I
decided to take this class to learn more about the history of dance.
Learning about the ways dance has evolved over decades and centuries
from being used as ritual practices for life, death, and everything in
between to being used as a form of expression and entertainment was
really interesting to me. I loved watching all the videos to back up the
information we learn from class to see how dance is put into practice.
Being able to also reenact the dances in group is the perfect fun way to
interact with our peers and teach others in the class about different
forms of dance. One of the greatest takeaways I learned in the class was
something as simple as learning about the Waltz dance and how it
started amongst a poor community whereas I had pictured the dance
originating from the middle/upper class people!
I have loved
getting to interact with my peers in the class through dancing with
different groups of people throughout the semester. This class has given
me the opportunity to connect with people in my community who I had not
connected with before. For example Caro Mojena and I went to high
school together but did not interact much until this class and its been
great getting to know her and having a local Miami native in my corner
during college! This class has also made me feel nostalgic reminiscing
on my past competitive dancing career. I used to compete in ballet,
jazz, modern dance, hip hop, tap and more so being able to see some of
these dance forms in class has been really cool to see. I recently went
to Spain and was able to go to a flamenco show which made me fall in
love with the culture and its form of dance and expression. Being able
to now present on flamenco has been really fruitful for me.
Dance
is something that has always been part of my life in one way or
another. Learning about the history of dance has helped me expand my
knowledge and I definitely plan on sharing my knowledge of what I have
learned in this course with other business professionals in the future. I
feel like being knowledgeable in topics outside of business is
important to be able to connect with many different people that come
from different cultures. Being able to share about the history of
different cultures for example flamenco is something unique i can bring
to my future career endeavors. After seeing a flamenco show in Spain
earlier this year, and knowing flamenco is a dying art form I hope to
try and share my passion for the art form with others who may have not
had exposure to the beauty of flamenco.
11
A Sense of Rhythm with Everything
Some things I took away from this
course was how much dance and music brings people together. Not having
gone to many countries but realizing that even today rituals are still
done and are still preserved. People from all different cultures still
commit to historic rituals that preserved its self so well thanks to the
devotion of these people. The practive of dance and music wether put
together or kept seperate keep communities together and help strengthen
relationships as well as, show different forms of expression through
different cultures. As an example I learned, african dance involves a
lot of hip movement and representing an almost possesion of the body
while dance and rituals are taking place.
I actually felt that this course was a stress reliever in a way. Not
having to sit down in class and start computing math problems but
instead, learning something different about cultures. Being that I have a
few friends from different countries, now I better understand their
cultures and have developed a level of respect for them through their
tradition's and values that are still preserved today. Although its
important to learn and master the skills of the path you choose, its
almost just as important to develop a strong sense of common knowledge,
wether you use it in every day life or not, its always good to have in
the back pocket.
I would probably apply the relaxation aspect of music to my own field
of studies. During times of immense stress and workload in school and
in actual work, to invest time in finding music that I may not listen to
daily but, a different genre of music that promotes relaxation or
stress relieving. Also with certain work that is repetitve, maybe
developing a sort of rhythm with it through a song or dance to make it
more seamless. A video I watched about African rhythm with anything they
do showed that even when preparing food, sharpening a tool or making
clothing, there was always a sense of rhythm with everything they did
and I feel like I can incorporate that in my life.
12
How dance and music can bring many people together
I
think this course is very eye-opening for many who have never learned
about dance or the history of different parts of the world. I think this
course shows how dance and music can bring many people together, no
matter the place. After watching many videos, it is evident that rituals
still take place today, daily, and in many cultures. It was also nice
to see interpretations of what people assumed dancing would be like
during certain time periods. It was also nice to learn the history of
some dance forms I had been able to learn previously.
I
felt great in this course! I knew we would be having a great time in
class as I arrived. I liked how the lectures and actual dances were
combined. It made the lesson interesting. It seems like there is a small
family in this class. I like how we took some time to really connect
with each other and take deep breaths at the end of class! I really
enjoy having the opportunity to work with my fellow students every day.
As
an exercise physiology major, movement is extremely correlated in the
day to day lives of any patient I will see. Making forms of
rehabilitation through dance, may be more beneficial than any other form
of recovery and I would love to research it. Being able to learn and
research other rituals may further my study of rehabilitation methods.
In addition, being able to learn more about the dance forms I have
performed could also help me contribute to physical therapy exercises.
What I have learned could also help me with my research and how I look
at different dance forms.
13
Dance was a lot more
ritualistic
Jenny Rivas
I am not going to lie, when I first heard that I needed to
take a class called “World History of the Dance,” I was not excited. I am in no
way a history buff, nor do I find history interesting in any way. This class,
however, has changed my view on it all. I have learned about the valuable
connections we can make to specific historical events/time periods and how they
have shaped what we know now as Dance! My main takeaway from this course is
that without the series of events that came before us, there wouldn’t be a
present. If it wasn’t for the development of dexterous fingers, we probably
wouldn’t have what we know today as modern. It is things like this that make
this class special.
Like I previously mentioned, I had low expectations for this
class (not because of the professor ha! More because of the subject). Right
from the first lesson, I knew this class was going to be very interactive and
different from other “standard” history classes. While lectures are almost
never pleasant for a student, it was awesome having an interactive activity to
look forward to after. My learning experience was a great mix of collaborative
and informative. While I might not remember everything I learned as well, I
will always remember the different styles of dance and the ways in which we
learned them.
While this
may not be directly connected to the field of Psychology, it can be interesting
to make the connection between how the homosapiens used to process emotion and
movement back then, compared to now. We can see this generational change
clearly in things like social media, but in dance it would be cool to see the
development of the mind and how we think of dance now versus how we processed
it then. As we have been seeing all course, we notice that dance was a lot more
ritualistic back then, versus now how it can be used for a variety of purposes.
Granted, this isn’t to say that dance isn’t used for rituals today, but it can
be used for entertainment, competition, and as art—a form of expression. The
human mind has changed over the last couple of centuries, and we have been able
to see how with that, comes the development of dance as an art form, as a
sport, as a way of life.
14
How much more
meaningful it makes dance
Since
the beginning of the semester, I have grown to appreciate dance in more
ways that I would’ve imagined because of this course. Growing up, I
have always had dance play a major role in my identity but learning
about the history has allowed me to expand that identity. Some takeaways
from this course have been that I now understand where specific styles
of dance have generated from and how the development has created room
for other styles. In addition to that, I now realize how important it is
to fully know the history of something because of how much more
meaningful it makes dance seem to me. While learning the roots, I
connect it to my family, friends, etc.
Throughout
the semester, I had a lot of STEM heavy courses being that I am a
nursing major but this class acted as a breather between that. Coming into
each class took weight off my shoulders when I needed it the most. I
also appreciate how welcoming and open this class was for not only me
but for everyne. Students would come in the class and because of the
material and activities, would leave the room with a better attitude and
outlook on the day. Having this type of energy during the week is truly
something needed and something that has left a positive impact on me.
Dance
is something that is used everywhere and can be incorporated into
almost any type of profession. In Nursing, dance and music can play a
major role in the healing process when it comes to patients. While
connecting the history of dance to the development of dance as a whole,
I’m always reminded of it when explaining the benefits of movement to
patients. The connection between a nurse and a patient is crucial in the
healthcare world. Combining my learnings from this semester with my
field will allow for the best quality care that will open doors
transform the profession as a whole.
15
The importance of rituals and religious ceremonies
I really enjoyed this course, and learned way more than I thought I
would. I thought the course was way more in depth than I expected! I
learned the importance of history and our ancestors. I also did not
realize how linked everything is from the past, to modern day society. I
thought learning about human evolution at the beginning of the course
helped me understand how we move, and what has shaped us into who we are
today. Also, the importance of rituals and religious ceremonies really
stood out to me. Overall, the importance of dance in everyone's lives
was my biggest take away.
I felt great in this course. I've always had a good understanding of
dance, however knew barely anything about the history of dance. I found
everything we learned very intriguing. I loved how many videos we
watched. It made it a lot easier to demonstrate what we were learning,
after having a visual representation of it. I also really liked working
in groups a lot. It made it easier to interact with classmates who you
didn't know and otherwise wouldn't have gotten the chance to meet. I
think the course was really effective, and the professor did a great job
teaching it!
In my own field of studies, I will definitely apply what I have
learned. I find myself thinking about the history of my movements as I
am doing them already after learning about it. Also, the final projects
were really eye opening. I had never explored any of the dances we had
learned about. I am very interested to learn more about them, and maybe
try different dance classes going forward. I think learning the
importance of our history is something I will use in many different
aspects. It's easy to get caught up in the now, and not look into the
past. Overall, I loved this course!
16
Discovering new perspectives on the subject
Ava Caruso
I have gained valuable insights into
the deeper world of dance, discovering new perspectives on the subject.
Despite a lifelong involvement in dance and rigorous training, I had
not previously explored its historical background. I fully grasped it’s
origins in rituals as a means for people to connect over life, death,
celebrations, and traditions was particularly fascinating. My
understanding deepened not only through reading but also through
immersive video experiences that brought the historical roots of dance
to life. These videos showcased the evolution of dance and its
contemporary practice, shedding light on how various dance forms are
preserved. When our class proceeded to recreate these dances, I found
the application of this knowledge to be enriching, allowing me to fully
appreciate the nuances of different dance styles. It was so interesting
to learn about diverse dance traditions, ranging from African dances
with expansive movements rooted in hunting all the way to practices like
the refined waltz.
This course was overall extremely exciting and provided a platform
for showcasing creativity. The first time we were asked to interact with
other classmates and create a dance, it felt a little awkward and
uncomfortable. However, by the end, I was very comfortable expressing my
creative side. It was also enjoyable to interact with a small group of
students and observe how each person had grown in their own way within
the realm of dance. Despite initially stepping out of my comfort zone,
by the end of the class, I eagerly anticipated creating dances with my
classmates and watching what they had also created.
As a business major, it's crucial to be well-versed in various topics
for effective communication and personal differentiation. My unique
contribution lies in sharing insights into the history of different
cultures, a skill I believe will be valuable in my future career. As a
passionate dancer on the Miami Hurricanes team, I often get asked about
my experiences, making it particularly useful to have background
knowledge in something so integral to my life. Expanding my knowledge
will enhance my appreciation for diverse dance performances, such as
ballet, flamenco, and contemporary shows. Understanding the traditions
and hardships behind these styles, like the challenges in establishing
samba schools, has been eye-opening. Dance, to me, is a powerful way for
people to unite, overcome challenges, and feel connected. I believe
this universal aspect of dance should be recognized and embraced by a
broader audience.
17
Why exactly you move and
dance a certain way
Caro Mojena
I
had many amazing takeaways from this course taught by Dr. Jorge
Morejon. I realized that this whole time I have been thinking so shallow
and not realizing that there is so much more into dance that is not
just “jazz, lyrical, and ballet” but so much more. I learned that dance
has evolved so much. Ballet didn't start off as ballet but as another
form of expressing and moving, then with time it evolved to be known as
ballet. This course taught me a lot about time. In different times there
were different “ways” of moving and expressing yourself. Which we know
has evolved to similar styles we may still be doing, and or teaching in
my case like flamenco and modern which dates back years and years ago.
I
really enjoyed this course. It allowed me to better understand and love
the form of dance. I was able to learn about the many different dance
styles and how they first began. Whether it was to show how affluent you
were like in the renaissance era or cave dancing to communicate in the
neolithic era it was nice to see how our forms of dance evolved. I was
also able to broaden my knowledge of all styles. I benefit from this
since I teach dance so now I can share that with my students and educate
them on this as well. I was also able to bond with my classmates and
get to know them better. I am grateful for this class because I made
life-time friends.
Like
mentioned in the previous paragraph, I teach dance. This class really
allowed me to grow in knowledge and be able to educate others on dance.
To be exact not commercial or “studio” dance but historical dance and
its timeline. I feel like this new generation is close-minded and not
educated on where dance came from but what it is now. Although that is
important, it's more important to understand why exactly you move and
dance a certain way to really encompass and express yourself fully. This
class was amazing and so blessed I got to spend another semester with
the amazing Dr. Jorge Morejon and my peers.
18
Everything, including dance, has a history, background,
and deeper meaning
When I first started World History of the Dance, I did not understand the
extent of the influence of dance. I grew up performing ballet, tap,
jazz, and Indian dances like Bhangra and Bharatanatyam, and I used to
assume the sole purpose of dance was for entertainment. I took great
pleasure from performing and dancing for fun, but I never considered the
history or cultural components behind dance. So, my main takeaway from
this course is how dance has contributed to multiple factors of life.
This includes agriculture and nutrition, tool building, rituals, and
community building. It was so interesting to learn about dance in
different historical periods, ranging from the neolithic period to the
Renaissance. Dance serves not only as a form of societal, cultural, and
technological advancement, but also in some cases as a means of survival
for some.
One
of my favorite aspects of this course was how it brought the students
together. I appreciate the group discussion posts and all the group
dances we took part in together. It was a great way for me to get me
know my classmates and to ensure we all felt comfortable with each
other. This, specifically, is very important to me in my classes. I
never felt awkward or nervous to speak up and perform in class because
of how supportive Professor Morejon and my classmates were. In addition
to what is being learned and absorbed, the environment of a learning
space is so important. I felt comfortable and always left class with
more knowledge than I had before coming in that day. It was great to
learn about the components of dance that many people (including myself
previously) overlook.
Although
I am a student in the Business School and am set to have a career path
in Finance, I definitely think there are ways I can apply what I’ve
learned in this class to my field of studies. Firstly, this class has
taught me that everything, including dance, has a history, background,
and deeper meaning to it. It has taught me to explore the deeper meaning
of everything around me, including my work and how it can affect
others. The different cultural impacts on different forms of dance we
witnessed served as a reminder for me to always keep an open mind when
working with others and to embrace gaining knowledge from others. It has
also taught me to remember that sometimes unconventional methods can be
the best way to achieve your goals and innovate. There is so much to be
learned in this course, and I truly believe that everyone can benefit
from it. I am so happy I got to have another semester with Professor
Morejon and expand my knowledge of the Arts.
19
I can foster further cultural sensitivity.
Lana Fell
Taking
this Dance History course has been delightful. It has broadened my
understanding of dance and provided further insight into the cultural,
spiritual, and historical dimensions of this art form. Several key
takeaways stand out as I reflect upon the diverse topics covered
throughout the course. I now recognize and appreciate dance as a human
experience across time and geography. I really enjoyed exploring dance
in the context of first humans and the Paleolithic period as it revealed
its important role in ceremonial practices. Dance served as a conduit
for spiritual expression and communal bonding and I know it still does
play this role to this day. Understanding the role of dance in the
context of the Apis bull ritual highlighted similarities in the
spiritual and transformative aspects for me. It blurred the lines for me
between earthly rulers and spiritual leaders. The connection between
dance and storytelling was evident while learning about The Myth of
Hathor in Ancient Egypt.
This storytelling element illuminated the
performative nature of dance and showed its physicality to convey both
the narratives and emotions. Learning more about Ancient Rome and the pantomime showed me the evolution of dance as a form of entertainment,
blending mime, gesture, and movement to communicate stories. While
learning about the Early Modern Period, specifically the Renaissance,
this lesson taught me about the revival of interest in the arts and the
emergence of new dance forms that continue to influence contemporary
practices today! In conclusion, this Dance History course has provided
me with further knowledge of dance forms from the origin to today. I
enjoyed learning more about human history, spirituality, and cultural
exchange through the lens of dance. My appreciation for dance has become
greater after this course as it profoundly reflects on the human
experience, where we all came from, and how we all got to where we are
as humans and as a culture today.
My
journey through this Dance History course has been an enriching
experience. I have connected my own history with dance with the broader
cultural narratives explored in the course. As I said, dance has been an
integral part of my life from my earliest moments. The anticipation of
understanding the evolution of dance across cultures and time stems from
a genuine interest in uncovering the roots of my own enjoyment of
movement. I aimed to expand my understanding of the world's diverse
cultures and various dance forms. Internally, I now understand why
specific movements resonate with me personally. As I progressed through
the course, I felt very happy. I was lucky to meet such amazing people
in this class with whom I will maintain friendships outside school. My
worldview on dance evolved into a belief that it serves as a unifying
force, bringing people, cultures, and places together as I experienced
these feelings in this class.
I
study criminology, which yes, is a very different topic from dance.
However, the knowledge I have gained from the dance history course can
be applied to my studies in criminology because by learning about dance
as a cultural expression, I can foster further cultural sensitivity.
Understanding and respecting diverse cultures is vital for effective
community engagement in criminology. This expanded knowledge I have
learned can contribute to developing crime prevention and intervention
strategies that are culturally sensitive and community-focused. Also,
after learning about storytelling through dance and that many dance
forms are deeply rooted in storytelling and symbolism, I can apply this
to criminology in terms of analyzing criminal narratives.
By
understanding the symbolic nature of criminal activities and decoding
the cultural meanings embedded in criminal behavior, I am able to
approach my field of study with a more worldview perspective. Lastly, I
learned from these traditional practices that dance often embodies
conflict resolution strategies. Studying these can provide insights into
alternative conflict resolution approaches that inform criminology
discussions about restorative justice and community-based interventions.
Thank you for another fantastic class, Jorge! It truly was the
highlight of my Tuesdays and Thursdays attending your class, and I am
already missing it very much!!
20
Understanding different cultures and
religions is an important part of providing care
Ashley Truffer
This class has allowed me to gain a
completely new perspective on dance. I danced at a studio when I was
younger for many years, and because of this, I had always thought about
dance as something that had to be perfected. It was often stressful to
memorize so many dances and perform them in front of so many people and I
ended up losing enjoyment in something that was once my favorite thing
to do. I learned from this class that in many cultures, dance is
something that brings people together as a community and allows them to
share emotion and feelings whether as a ritual or cultural celebration.
In many of the videos we watched, the dance was not perfect either,
instead it was people gathering together and joining in movement. In the
Paleolithic period, dance represented cave art and their nature of
hunting and gathering and in the Neolithic period to celebrate the
beginning of settlements. This course has expanded my world view and
allowed me to appreciate how important dance is to history.
This class made me feel welcomed. The professor is clearly passionate
about dance history which made learning about it more fun. I would
always look forward to coming to this class because of the positive
environment. My favorite part was getting to create our own versions of
the dances we learned about. I liked that at the end of every class we
held hands and connected with each other because it actually helped me
feel grounded and less stressed.
It seems as though nursing and dance history are completely different
from each other but there are many similarities when it comes to caring
for patients. As a nursing major, understanding different cultures and
religions is an important part of providing care in order to care for
the patient holistically. Also, dance correlates to body movements
showing emotion and expression of thoughts. Being aware of body language
through learning about dance expression can also help me become a
better nurse and empathize with my future patients. I look forward to
showcasing these skills I learned in this class in my future career in
nursing.
21
Knowing our mistakes from the past, so we won’t do them
again
Sheamus Yuwen
It has been a great semester,
my biggest takeaway from this course is that my understanding of dance has
evolved. I learned the history of dance from the copper age all the way
to Tang dynasty, I was able to learn different dance ritual from
different people that have different backgrounds, and how their
background affects their way of dancing and culture. I know that history
often got affected by the opinion of the people writing it, but this
class always shows a lot facts and different information about it. In my
other dance classes my takeaways are usually related to my body, for
example, how I was able to express myself through body movement, but this course
shows me how people in the past expressed themselves and why expressing
it, this benefits me when I’m thinking about movement and creating it
myself.
Although dance history classes might not seem related to economic
and music business, I believe this course has improved my
understanding of history and world culture. No matter what job you do,
it often involve people, we will face different people with different
culture than us, so it is good to learn about it first. Also knowing the
history is like knowing our mistakes from the past, so we won’t do them
again.
I feel really great about this course, it is a extremely fun
experience, especially at the end of our class when we look it back. I
felt we learned so much in this course with fun, we learned history
knowledge and learned dances. Compared with my other classes this
semester, this class is the only one not stressing me out. In conclusion, I had a wonderful learning experience in this
course. The knowledge I learned from this course and all my experiences
in the dance program, are going to benefit me for a lifetime.
22
Taking deeper looks into
things and learning things for myself
This course was a highlight of my
semester and made me aware of all of the many steps that have led humans
to dance in our society today. In this course, I mainly learned that
dancing is something that has been slowly developed over time rather
than set in stone by one single person. Many people dance for different
reasons, and many forms of dance come from rituals that are still
important to incorporate into our lives today. Dancing does a variety of
things for people, and there are different versions of dance found all
over the world. Although many dances come from specific regions and
cultures, dancing is a way for all different types of people to come
together and be in the moment.
In this course, I felt confused at the beginning as to why we needed
to look all the way back to ancestral humans to learn about the roots
of dance. However, this changed as I understood why each step of the
human timeline paved the way for dance to come about. I was very excited
to see what we would do in each class, and I never felt like each class
was the same. I loved how our professor made it clear that he wanted us
to take away things in the class rather than just throwing constant
assignments and tests at us like most professors do. The learning style
in this class was highly beneficial to me because it allowed me to truly
think about what we were learning in each class rather than just typing
it in my notes to memorize for a future exam. Most classes need to be
taught like this one because it truly allowed me to learn instead of
regurgitating information and forgetting it immediately after.
I will apply the many things I learned in this class to marketing and
music business, along with my normal life, by taking deeper looks into
things and learning things for myself. I feel as though this class was a
refreshing way to learn and encouraged me to analyze whatever I am
learning in a deeper way. I will also apply rituals to my studies and
future life to allow myself to disconnect from reality and focus my
energy on one specific thing. Looking as far back into the history of
dance as we did teaches me that although it might seem as though there
is a starting point to every topic, it is the things that lead up to
them being that are truly important. I am excited to apply this by
taking a deeper look into my fields of study & general life to find
out how things truly came to be.
23
With
an open minded view
Victoria Howell
My main takaways from this course is
that dance originated in so many different forms and it is something
that has brought people together for years before it was a competition
form. For example dance has taken many forms and it is prominent in
rituals through different cultures. Though it is not what most people
will see as dance it is choreographed and is passed down from generation
to generation. And then seeing how dance through rituals brought
communities together in the past was a great takeaway from the class.
Also seeing how dance evolved from rituals to a form of a status symbol to a
competition style but still holding a community together, though a
smaller community, is still a common thread throughout history.
I loved this class; it was not at all what I was expecting when I was
entering this class, however, it was a pleasant surprise. I was
constantly surprised in the class with the topics that we were learning
and I had a lot of fun. Learning about the dance then making our own interpretations of what we learned was not only helpful but something I
was excited to do in class everyday. This class honestly was one of my
favorites not only because of my classmates who I now call my friends,
but the professor who has quickly become one of my favorite teachers.
The class made me happy and I felt good in it.
This class made me think deeper when evaluating a topic that I am
learning. Never before have I thought that dance took so many forms and
can be seen in so many "everyday" "pedestrian" things. So through the
things I learned in the class I can take that idea and apply it to my field of learning. The way we looked at the different types of dance
through the ages like the iron age's rituals to the Greek theater with
an open minded view is another thing I will take from this class and
apply to my field of study and future career. The lessons I learned in
this class from the dances we studied and the interactive portions of
the class are things I can take into my studies. I loved this class and
would recommend it to even non-dance minors.
24
Studying can be relaxing and enjoyable
In the class, I learned a lot about
the history of dance and various forms of dance expression. Through
discussion and sharing with classmates in class, we integrated and
summarized what we learned. In addition, at the end of every class, we
always knew and perform dances together. Various forms of dance express
the meaning and cultural attributes of multiple dances. In addition, I
also profoundly felt how body language connects us all and makes us more
united, and we communicate and further convey our feelings in this way.
I really enjoyed the process of being part of a group and discovering
together. We represented ourselves and, in turn, integrated into and
contributed to the collective.
This class also gave me a new perspective on history. Before this, I
always felt that studying history was inevitably boring. But the format
of this class made things interesting, from exploring the primitive
period of society to modern times. We went from cavemen and tribal
dances to a wide variety of cotillion and performance dances, all of
which were recreated in depth based on the performances themselves. This
class has very much sparked my interest in dance and history. Each
dance has its value in and of itself. Especially in early classes when
we were talking about neolithic people, we were creating their dance
through our understanding to their history and cultures. I really like
the process of digging the meaning in depth。
Lastly, In dance history, as we are learning, history is not linear
but reticulated. This has inspired me in finance, where again economic
cycles don't simply repeat themselves but I will connect them from
different perspectives. Besides, as a finance and accounting major I
usually have countless tests and assignments. Sometimes I feel like
studying is a stressful thing, but this class has made me feel like
studying can be relaxing and enjoyable. I really like the positive
attitude of the teacher and my classmates. Each of us is happy to share
the joy. It also makes me feel that college life can be fun. This class
made me deeply understand that studying is not competition but
cooperation. Each of us showed our pure and happy side in this class
without hesitation. I hope each of my classmates and my professor in
this class had enjoyed this course and keep their positive motivations
at their own field.
25
Learning about the
connectedness of world history
Georgia Burtt
If
I could only recommend one class to take at UM, it would be this one.
Not only is Prof. Morejon super engaging and a joy to work with, he
genuinely cares about the content of the class and the students he
teaches. I knew from the first class that this wasn’t just a
class, but an experience. I hope that I will be able to work with Prof.
Morejon again in the future, whether in class, at UM, or in my career.
Throughout
the semester, the class changed from a normal classroom, to a family… a
community. Each class, we demonstrated the dances we learned about the
day, and the switch from awkward strangers to acquaintances to friends
was obvious. At the end of every class, before being released to the
rest of our days, we would all join hands in a circle, making eye
contact with each one of our peers, and, finally, lifting our arms up
before letting go. The content was very interesting, learning about the
connectedness of world history to the history of dance and, my
specialty, the history of music.
I
can use what I learned in this class to influence how I perform, teach,
and experience my own music. I’ve already started applying some of the
Baroque dance forms into my Bach performances as a way to make it as
accurate as I can in our modern time. Even though I already had a love
for dance, I will use the content of this class to potentially compose
music with dance in the future. Overall, this class is one, if not my
favorite, class since I’ve started here a t UM. Thank you, Professor
Morejon!
26
Dance as an art form in itself
Ashna Vaidyanath
Throughout my time in this class I
thoroughly enjoyed learning about how significantly older periods still
engaged in teaching numerous types of dance forms. This class has shown
me how universal dance really is and how important it can be to our
development as humans. Learning about how the first dexterous humans
showed forms of dancing or seeing how the art of dance was initially
ritualistic as opposed to performative really expands my understanding
of dance as an art form in itself.
I found myself learning more and more
every class and this was honestly the one class this semester I would
look forward to. I've made incredible friends in this class and I also felt as though
our professor made an effort to make us feel so welcome and supported.
The classroom environment was non judgemental, fun, and incredibly
encouraging. I wish the semester didn't come to a close so quickly.
Thank you so much professor for all of your support throughout this semester!
27
New understanding of what history means
Erin Hufer
The main take away I have received from this course is the
importance of learning about history and different cultures. I have gained an entirely
new understanding of what history means. History is not lineal and it’s not a straightforward
progression of events. Having this new understanding of what history means allowed me to absorb the
information of the course in a different way. Rather than just learning about different
dances around the world, I learned how each of these dances represents a culture and its historical
progression.
I am studying advertising and marketing and I believe this
course has taught me things that are necessary for my professional future. Throughout
the course we learned about many different cultures and the progression of these cultures
through dance. This taught me the importance of understanding new and unfamiliar cultures. In
the advertising/marketing field,culture is an extremely important factor that always needs
to be considered. This course has also taught me to push myself out of my comfort zone. I decided
to take this course with no background in dance. Even though the first 2 classes when we
did demonstrations, I felt nervous and out of my comfort zone, these demonstrations then lead
to becoming my favorite part of the course. I think this is important for me to keep in mind
throughout my studies and professional future because I will have to face moments where I am out of
my comfort zone to reach my goals.
I originally signed up for this course because a friend had
recommended for me to take it.Going into it I had no idea what to expect especially since
I have no background in dance. This course has now turned out to be one of my favorite classes I
have ever taken. I think the structure of the course kept me interested throughout the entire class
time. My favorite part of the course was the group demonstrations we did at the end of each
class. I found that this was an extremely fun way to learn more about the dance and culture we were
learning about that day. Overall, I really enjoyed this course and I learned a lot about the
history of dance.
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