This is a 30 hour course suitable for Youth Groups, Adult Community Dance Groups, BTec Performing Arts and BTec Sports and Leisure students or similar groups.

The course is monitored and taught by tutors approved by the Laban Guild and will lead to a certificate awarded by the Laban Guild, a National Governing Body of Sport England.

The course aims:
• to offer an enjoyable and meaningful experience of dance to all participants.
• to foster the ability to work creatively with others.
• to give value to dance as a vehicle for physical expression and communication, susceptible to rigorous training.
• to introduce participants to accepted ways of establishing dance motifs and building dances.
• to introduce participants to, or reinforce their understanding of Laban based community dance, and to help students make informed career choices.
• to introduce participants to Rudolf Laban’s contribution to movement analysis and its applications.

Entry to the course
This course is open to any groups interested in following the course, as the technical standards are set by the tutor to suit the participants.

Course Structure
This is a thirty hour course with a flexible structure to suit the clients, for example,
• 30 x 1 hour or 24 x 1 hour 15 minutes over a year
• 12 x 2 hours 30 minutes over a term
• 5 x 6 hours over a week
• or any other variation as convenient

Although the course is designed to fit into 30 hours, it may be spread over a longer period at the discretion of the tutor.

Fees
It is expected that the tutors will be delivering this course as part of their normal work, otherwise tutors will negotiate their own fees with the course facilitator or group involved. There will be a £15.00 per candidate registration fee payable to the Laban Guild.

Course content
A practical understanding that Laban work is based on analysis of human movement in terms of body, space, effort and relationships: the WHAT WHERE, HOW and WHO of dance.
• An understanding of the necessity for an effective warm up together with consideration of the needs of the individual.
• Five body actions, four body shapes and three levels.
• A variety of step and floor patterns in travelling .
• The dimensional scale, with its natural affinities of rising/sinking, opening/closing, advancing/retreating
• The value of “effort” in giving expression to movement
• The use of relationships in dance making
• The purpose and value of community dance.
• Some basic information on the background to, and work of, Rudolf Laban and the Laban Guild.

PARTICIPATION IN A VARIETY OF GROUP DANCE EXPERIENCES IS A VITAL PART OF THE COURSE

Requirements of the course:
Successful candidates are required to attend a minimum of 90% of the course and will be assessed on their ability to
• learn and perform a dance exercise.
• create and perform a dance motif.
• participate fully in a group dance session

They will also be expected to demonstrate the ability to
• work as part of a team in co-operation with, leadership of, decision making and sensitivity to others
• learn routine operations, obey instructions and fulfill tasks accurately.
• adapt, develop and take initiative in tasks.
• seek and take advice from others, together with the ability to observe and support others with constructive advice.

These achievements will all be itemised on the final certificate.

Head of Sports and Leisure Studies, Limavady College,
Les Mayers:
“The great majority of our students progress to higher education – many to train as teachers of physical education. Part of the University interview process requires them to perform a dance exercise or a dance motif. This physically and intellectually challenging dance course prepares students to excel in this aspect of the selection process.”