SWARTHMORE COLLEGE - DEPARTMENT OF DANCE
Spring 2026 Course Syllabus
DANC053. Dance Technique: African II
Credit: .5 (credit/no credit) or 2 PE
(Subject to change)
Professor Jeannine Osayande (Mama / Ms Jeannine)
Accompaniment Musician: Terrell Johnson
Email: josayan1@swarthmore.edu
Office Hours made by appointment; Zoom or in person
Class Dates: Thursdays, 6:00-9:00 PM
Location: LPAC, Boyer Dance Lab
Course Description:
This African Diaspora dance technique Introduces students to a Level II
African Diaspora Dance knowledge of movement, rhythms, history and cultural context of selected dance traditions from the African Diaspora. The course will provide an active dancing experience with live drum accompaniment. Student will also have opportunities to drum, sing, and journal. In accordance with common African Diaspora practices, students will participate in full community engagement with their classmates and learn the cultural context of each dance and rhythm studied.
The African Diaspora Level II dance survey will include an introduction to the following African Diaspora dance traditions: Lamban/Dansa/Sandia (Senegal, Guinea, Mali), and Yanvalou (Haiti).
Teaching Methodology
Class sessions will focus on the principles of dance movement including
alignment, coordination, whole body and isolation, being grounded,
musicality, and understanding the language of the drum. Each class beings with a full body warm up and stretch to prepare/condition the dancer. Students will develop increased body awareness, flexibility, strength, and ease within the various African Diaspora dance movement vocabularies. Students will better understand the relationship of specific drum traditions and the significant role polyrhythms play within the structures of African Diaspora dance traditions.
Spring 2026 Course Syllabus
DANC053. Dance Technique: African II
Credit: .5 (credit/no credit) or 2 PE
(Subject to change)
Professor Jeannine Osayande (Mama / Ms Jeannine)
Accompaniment Musician: Terrell Johnson
Email: josayan1@swarthmore.edu
Office Hours made by appointment; Zoom or in person
Class Dates: Thursdays, 6:00-9:00 PM
Location: LPAC, Boyer Dance Lab
Course Description:
This African Diaspora dance technique Introduces students to a Level II
African Diaspora Dance knowledge of movement, rhythms, history and cultural context of selected dance traditions from the African Diaspora. The course will provide an active dancing experience with live drum accompaniment. Student will also have opportunities to drum, sing, and journal. In accordance with common African Diaspora practices, students will participate in full community engagement with their classmates and learn the cultural context of each dance and rhythm studied.
The African Diaspora Level II dance survey will include an introduction to the following African Diaspora dance traditions: Lamban/Dansa/Sandia (Senegal, Guinea, Mali), and Yanvalou (Haiti).
Teaching Methodology
Class sessions will focus on the principles of dance movement including
alignment, coordination, whole body and isolation, being grounded,
musicality, and understanding the language of the drum. Each class beings with a full body warm up and stretch to prepare/condition the dancer. Students will develop increased body awareness, flexibility, strength, and ease within the various African Diaspora dance movement vocabularies. Students will better understand the relationship of specific drum traditions and the significant role polyrhythms play within the structures of African Diaspora dance traditions.
- Teacher: Jeannine Osayande