SWARTHMORE COLLEGE - DEPARTMENT OF DANCE
Spring 2026 Course Syllabus
DANC 049C 01, PE Dance Perf: Repertory - African
Credit: .5 (credit/no credit) or 2 PE
Professor Jeannine Osayande (Mama Jeannine) and Professor (Baba) Wesley Rast
Email: josayan1@swarthmore.edu - Office Hours made by appointment
Class Day/Time: Thursdays 6:00-9:00 PM
Location: LPAC 003/002 TROY and BOYER DANCE STUDIOS
Course Description
DANC 049C. Dance Performance Repertory: African Diaspora Traditions
In this course, students will take part in weekly rehearsals as active members of a collaborative creative process resulting in choreography that will be performed in the Spring Dance Concert on the LPAC concert stage. Students will be expected to attend additional ensemble rehearsals. Live drumming will accompany this course with some opportunity to drum within the dance choreography. Students may be expected to conduct outside research for the development of the piece, keep a weekly journal and write a reflective analysis about the development of the work. The course is geared toward intermediate/advanced dancers with considerable performance experience. May be taken more than once for credit.
Prerequisite: DANC 043 or permission of the professor
Co-requisite: DANC 053 or permission of the instructor to take DANC 043
African Dance Ensemble 2026 Title: Last Will and Testament
Students will help develop a dance story based on the essential question: What kind of Ancestor do you want to be?
The African Diaspora Rep. dance survey will include an intermediate/advanced level of dance traditions from the Mende/Melenke/Bamana/Babarara peoples. Dance traditions include Lamban/Jelidon/Dansa (Mali Empire)
S2026 DANC 049C African Rep Assignment Folder
DANC 049C 01, PE Dance Perf: Repertory - African
Credit: .5 (credit/no credit) or 2 PE
Professor Jeannine Osayande (Mama Jeannine) and Professor (Baba) Wesley Rast
Email: josayan1@swarthmore.edu - Office Hours made by appointment
Class Day/Time: Thursdays 6:00-9:00 PM
Location: LPAC 003/002 TROY and BOYER DANCE STUDIOS
Course Description
DANC 049C. Dance Performance Repertory: African Diaspora Traditions
In this course, students will take part in weekly rehearsals as active members of a collaborative creative process resulting in choreography that will be performed in the Spring Dance Concert on the LPAC concert stage. Students will be expected to attend additional ensemble rehearsals. Live drumming will accompany this course with some opportunity to drum within the dance choreography. Students may be expected to conduct outside research for the development of the piece, keep a weekly journal and write a reflective analysis about the development of the work. The course is geared toward intermediate/advanced dancers with considerable performance experience. May be taken more than once for credit.
Prerequisite: DANC 043 or permission of the professor
Co-requisite: DANC 053 or permission of the instructor to take DANC 043
African Dance Ensemble 2026 Title: Last Will and Testament
Students will help develop a dance story based on the essential question: What kind of Ancestor do you want to be?
The African Diaspora Rep. dance survey will include an intermediate/advanced level of dance traditions from the Mende/Melenke/Bamana/Babarara peoples. Dance traditions include Lamban/Jelidon/Dansa (Mali Empire)
S2026 DANC 049C African Rep Assignment Folder
- Teacher: Jeannine Osayande