ARTS

Dance

Dance Guard (IKB)

The Notre Dame Dance Guard is the visual performance unit that is part of the Irish Knight Band.

The IKB Dance Guard performs at football games during halftime shows, at band reviews and parades as the marching band’s auxiliary unit, and as a dance unit at concert band performances. They also compete at indoor dance competitions in the Spring semester. Dance Guard members are enrolled in the Dance Prop Production class, in which students are trained in classical dance technique (ballet) as a foundation for the other dance genres, flag, rifle, saber, and other equipment technique, and choreography.

Dance Team (Spirit)

The Notre Dame Spirit Program helps keep the school spirit alive at Notre Dame year-round. The Spirit Squads foremost purpose is to support Notre Dame Athletics by enhancing game excitement and crowd involvement. The teams also have the opportunity of performing at various rallies and school events throughout the year.

The Spirit Program consists of six teams: JV Cheer, Varsity Cheer, Competition Cheer, JV Dance, Varsity Dance and Competition Dance. You must first make either JV or Varsity Cheer in order to be considered for Competition Cheer. You must first make either JV or Varsity Dance in order to be considered for Competition Dance. 
 
Our mission is to create a positive and safe environment for dancers and cheerleaders to develop their self-image and confidence in a competitive environment. Spirit team members have personal goals of high academic achievement, increasing their technical abilities, learning effective time management, and forming strong relationships. We are first and foremost a family comprised of talented individuals who love our school and the Holy Cross tradition. We aim to bring this spirit of support and perseverance out into our community and daily lives. 

Faculty

Leticia Alcuran was born and raised in Los Angeles County where she began dancing at the early age of five. She has danced professionally for Disney and in the circus show RIPTIDE, at Sea World (San Antonio, TX). She was also the female lead performer of the Tony and Emmy Award-Winning Broadway Show BLAST! – in the Anaheim Cast and on the North America and Japan Tours. Leticia’s technical training in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Polynesian, and Color Guard makes her unique choreographic style stand on its own. She has choreographed and taught all over Southern California, including summer workshops for W.G.A.S.C. and Riverside Community College. She performed with Santa Clara Vanguard, Blue Devils, and Fantasia Winter Guard. Leticia completed a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography from the California Institute of the Arts. She was awarded a full scholarship from the Limon Dance Company New York Summer Intensive where she studied under Risa Steinberg, Artistic Director at Julliard. Leticia is the Color Guard Instructor for Notre Dame High School and has her judges’ certification for W.G.A.S.C.

Courses Offered

List of 4 items.

  • Dance I: Foundations

    Primary skills of Ballet are taught to lay a foundation that will solidify knowledge of dance to ensure opportunities of progression in various styles and levels of dance and/or other art mediums beyond their years at Notre Dame. Skills will be learned through barre and centre technique to develop full-body awareness and proper muscular development. During the progression of the course, physicality will be increased through primary traveling across the floor and visual learning will be exercised through short phrase combinations. Universal ballet terms, proper stretch, injury prevention& care, and performance education are covered throughout this course. Students will learn the history of dance through the development of modern from ballet, world dance, various genres and techniques within. During the latter part of the course, some basic styles of dance including jazz, hip-hop, country line and street dance will be explored through combinations. Students will learn how to write a research and critique paper on an artistic work through the lens of the history of dance. 

    Prerequisites/Comments - This VPA elective course is open to all students. (UC “f” VPA) 
  • Dance II/III: Performance

    In this second level of Dance, students will learn a greater level of coordination, flexibility, and center strength through longer phrased technical training of ballet skills. Skills will be physically demonstrated with higher velocity movements at an intermediate level developing a broader knowledge of terms and execution. Developing basic skills of musicality that coincide with quality of movement for a higher level of performance. Overview of basics of partnering coursework encompasses partnering concepts, classical & contemporary partnering, ballroom dance, and contact improvisation. Range and variety of skills will be enhanced through studies of dynamics of weight, time, space, and flow. Introduction to modern styles and study of various techniques developed by such 20th-century masters as Graham, Limon, Taylor, Horton, and Cunningham to assist in this constantly developing art form. Training in Pilates and yoga will be explored to enhance technical support. More in-depth concepts of composition and choreography will be developed throughout the course. Students will learn dance scoring tools to aid in creating original pieces. Students will learn to utilize various styles to create choreography while learning to critique through a more artistic lens. Depending on course enrollment, students may be combined with the Dance 3 course. 

    Prerequisites/Comments - Completion of Dance I or audition/instructor’s approval. (UC “f” VPA) 
  • Dance II/III: Advanced Performance

    The curriculum is designed to promote full awareness of technical skill during performance geared towards college or company audition preparation. More in-depth techniques and a broader range of dynamics of advanced modern and contemporary ballet are taught. Utilization of advanced floorwork, weight sharing in partners & groups, longer phrases, and challenging choreography are covered. Students will study musicality through dynamic range, form responsibility within staging, quality of movement and choreography development at a high level. Coursework will cover a deeper understanding of the values and diversity of the dance community and tools necessary for building a fulfilling career not only as an artist but an advocate for the arts thru small group discussions and large group activities. The latter part of the course will include in-depth studies of site-specific works, video for dance, dance prop production and the professional dance industry. Students will put a dance portfolio together, develop skills for audition preparation and fulfilling college application requirements, create original works with greater complexity and depth, re-create previous works, problem-solving during collaboration and develop a piece with full production value. Depending on course enrollment, students may be combined with the Dance 2 course. 

    Prerequisites/Comments - Completion of Dance II or audition/instructor’s approval. (UC “f” VPA Pending) 
  • Dance Prop Production

    Dance Flags/Dance Guard Team associated with the Irish Knight Marching Band. The course involves student participation in various aspects of movement and equipment techniques. The student will obtain aesthetic perception and valuing, creative expression, and will study the heritage and history of dance. These goals will be accomplished by various activities and performance throughout the course. Expression of movement style, equipment techniques, and forms will take place through creative development of space, time, and dexterity. Students will learn technical proficiency through ballet barre technique as well as styles of modern, jazz and hip hop. The students will also focus on the ability to work in a group situation while developing performance and composition skills. Students will work with a dance/flag/prop teacher during class hours and at required evening rehearsals. Students will perform dance, prop, and routines with the marching and concert bands. They will also participate in additional competitions as an independent unit. This course may be repeated for credit. 

    Prerequisites/Comments - This is a performance course open to grades 9 through 12. New members must pass an audition in the spring. (UC “f” VPA) 
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