High School Course Catalog

Fine Arts

Course Descriptions

CREDITS REQUIRED: 2

An education in the arts (theatre, music, dance, and visual art) provides students with skills, knowledge,
and understanding of the arts as powerful tools for communicating ideas and messages, solving
problems, and reflecting our history and culture. An arts education builds the foundation for critical and
abstract thinking, reasoning, analysis, interpretation and cognitive demonstration. These higher-order
thinking skills are essential for success in college, career, and beyond. Instruction that is developmentally
appropriate begins with a sequential curriculum based on a scope and sequence for arts learning. The
CPS Arts Education Plan, approved by the Chicago Board of Education in November of 2012, sets a
standard expectation for quality arts instruction across the district, one that is equitable and accessible
for all students. The Arts Education Plan expands high school graduation requirements in the Fine Arts:
2 Fine Arts credits are required; one credit in arts discipline and one credit in another arts discipline.
Students may select from: Visual Art/Drafting, Music, Dance and Theatre/Drama. More details and many
resources can be found by visiting the Department of Arts Education Page

ARTS – DANCE Dance Performance I

Dance Performance I Course Number: 901001H / 901002H

Course Number: 901001R / 901002R Course Level: Honors
Course Level: Regular
Prerequisites: none Prerequisites: Teacher Recommendation
Number of Credits Earned: 1.0
Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance; Number of Credits Earned: 1.0
Career Ed; Elective
Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance;
Teacher Certification Required: Dance Career Ed; Elective

COURSE DESCRIPTION Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters
This course uses beginning level dance technique as a
foundation for performances opportunities. Students Teacher Certification Required: Dance
are expected to spend additional time preparing for
these opportunities, including outside rehearsal time as COURSE DESCRIPTION
established by the instructor. Students will engage in similar This course uses beginning level dance technique as a
learning objectives to Dance I but with an emphasis on foundation for performances opportunities. Students
performance. are expected to spend additional time preparing for
these opportunities, including outside rehearsal time as
established by the instructor. Students will engage in similar
learning objectives to Dance I but with an emphasis on
performance. As an honors credit, this course increases
the number of related assignments and responsibilities.
Students are expected to dedicate additional time outside
of the classroom to their study of dance.

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Fine Arts

Course Descriptions

Dance Performance II similar learning objectives to Dance II but with an emphasis
on performance. This course should also begin to explore
Course Number: 901201R / 901202R topics related to the creation of dance productions. As an
Course Level: Regular honors credit, this course increases the number of related
Prerequisites: Dance I, Dance Performance I or Teacher assignments and responsibilities. Students are expected to
Recommendation dedicate additional time outside of the classroom to their
Number of Credits Earned: 1.0 study of dance.
Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance;
Career Ed; Elective Dance Performance III
Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters
Teacher Certification Required: Dance Course Number: 901301R / 901302R
Course Level: Regular
COURSE DESCRIPTION Prerequisites: Dance II, Dance Performance II or Teacher
This course uses beginning to intermediate level dance Recommendation
technique as a foundation for performance opportunities. Number of Credits Earned: 1.0
Students are expected to spend additional time preparing Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance;
for these opportunities, including outside rehearsal time as Career Ed; Elective
established by the instructor. Students will engage in similar Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters
learning objectives to Dance II but with an emphasis on Teacher Certification Required: Dance
performance.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Dance Performance II This course uses intermediate level dance technique as
a foundation for performance opportunities. Students
Course Number: 901201H / 901202H are expected to spend additional time preparing for
Course Level: Honors these opportunities, including outside rehearsal time as
Prerequisites: Dance Performance I Honors or Teacher established by the instructor. Students will engage in similar
Recommendation learning objectives to Dance III but with an emphasis on
Number of Credits Earned: 1.0 performance and the creation of dance productions.
Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance;
Career Ed; Elective Dance Performance III
Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters
Teacher Certification Required: Dance Course Number: 901301H / 901302H
Course Level: Honors
COURSE DESCRIPTION Prerequisites: Dance Performance II Honors or Teacher
This course uses beginning to intermediate level dance Recommendation
technique as a foundation for performance opportunities. Number of Credits Earned: 1.0
Students are expected to spend additional time preparing Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance;
for these opportunities, including outside rehearsal time Career Ed; Elective
as established by the instructor. Students will engage in Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters
Teacher Certification Required: Dance

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Fine Arts

Course Descriptions

COURSE DESCRIPTION Honors or Teacher Recommendation
This course uses intermediate level dance technique as
a foundation for performance opportunities. Students Number of Credits Earned: 1.0
are expected to spend additional time preparing for
these opportunities, including outside rehearsal time as Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance;
established by the instructor. Students will engage in similar Career Ed; Elective
learning objectives to Dance III but with an emphasis on
performance and the creation of dance productions. As an Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters
honors credit, this course increases the number of related
assignments and responsibilities. Students are expected to Teacher Certification Required: Dance
dedicate additional time outside of the classroom to their
study of dance. COURSE DESCRIPTION

Dance Performance IV This course uses intermediate level dance technique as
a foundation for performance opportunities. Students
Course Number: 901401R / 901402R are expected to spend additional time preparing for
these opportunities, including outside rehearsal time as
Course Level: Regular established by the instructor. Students will engage in similar
learning objectives to Dance III but with an emphasis on
Prerequisites: Dance III, Dance III Honors, Dance performance and the creation of dance productions. As an
Performance III or Teacher Recommendation honors credit, this course increases the number of related
assignments and responsibilities. Students are expected to
Number of Credits Earned: 1.0 dedicate additional time outside of the classroom to their
study of dance.
Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance;
Career Ed; Elective Culture Through Movement

Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters Course Number: 902101R / 902102R

Teacher Certification Required: Dance Course Level: Regular

COURSE DESCRIPTION Prerequisites: Dance I or Teacher Recommendation
This course uses advanced level dance technique as a
foundation for performance opportunities. Students Number of Credits Earned: 1.0
are expected to spend additional time preparing for
these opportunities, including outside rehearsal time as Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance;
established by the instructor. Students will engage in similar Career Ed; Elective
learning objectives to Dance IV but with an emphasis on
performance and the creation of dance productions. May Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters
be repeated for credit with instructor approval.
Teacher Certification Required: Dance
Dance Performance IV
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Course Number: 901401H / 901402H
This course builds students’ knowledge of dance as an art
Course Level: Honors form while exploring and demonstrating the dance styles
of selected cultures or historical periods. Students will
Prerequisites: Dance III Honors, Dance Performance III analyze, evaluate and perform dance of different genres
representing cultures or time periods and works of dance
innovators from various time periods.

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Fine Arts

Course Descriptions

Dance I vocabulary and is appropriate for students with little
to no formal dance training. As an honors credit, this
Course Number: 920101R / 920102R course increases the number of related assignments
and responsibilities. Students are expected to dedicate
Course Level: Regular additional time outside the classroom to their study of
dance.
Prerequisites: None
Dance II
Number of Credits Earned: 1.0
Course Number: 920201R / 920202R
Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance; Course Level: Regular
Career Ed; Elective Prerequisites: Dance I or Teacher Recommendation
Number of Credits Earned: 1.0
Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance;
Career Ed; Elective
Teacher Certification Required: Dance Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters
Teacher Certification Required: Dance
COURSE DESCRIPTION
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Dance I is an introductory course to the study of dance. Dance II follows Dance I and emphasizes students’
Student learning includes opportunities to develop acquisition of beginning to intermediate movement skills
kinesthetic awareness, proper body alignment, strength, and refined motor control through the study of dance
flexibility, general dance principles and dance history/ technique(s) such as ballet, jazz or modern. Student
connections. This course focuses on the development of learning includes opportunities to develop kinesthetic
a basic understanding of dance as an art and of dance awareness, proper body alignment, strength, flexibility,
vocabulary and is appropriate for students with little to no dance principles and dance history/connections. This
formal dance training. course should be taken by students who have built at least
a basic understanding of beginning dance vocabulary.
Dance I
Dance II
Course Number: 920101H / 920102H
Course Number: 920201H / 920202H
Course Level: Honors Course Level: Honors
Prerequisites: Dance I with Teacher Recommendation or
Prerequisites: None Teacher Recommendation
Number of Credits Earned: 1.0
Number of Credits Earned: 1.0 Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance;
Career Ed; Elective
Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance; Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters
Career Ed; Elective Teacher Certification Required: Dance

Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters

Teacher Certification Required: Dance

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Dance I is an introductory course to the study of dance.
Student learning includes opportunities to develop
kinesthetic awareness, proper body alignment, strength,
flexibility, general dance principles and dance history/
connections. This course focuses on the development of
a basic understanding of dance as an art and of dance

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Fine Arts

Course Descriptions

COURSE DESCRIPTION Prerequisites: Dance II with Teacher Recommendation or
Dance II follows Dance I and emphasizes students’ Teacher Recommendation
acquisition of beginning to intermediate movement skills
and refined motor control through the study of dance Number of Credits Earned: 1.0
technique(s) such as ballet, jazz or modern. Student
learning includes opportunities to develop kinesthetic Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance;
awareness, proper body alignment, strength, flexibility, Career Ed; Elective
dance principles and dance history/connections.This
course should be taken by student who have built at least a Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters
basic understanding of beginning dance vocabulary. As an
honors credit, this course increases the number of related Teacher Certification Required: Dance
assignments and responsibilities. Students are expected to
dedicate additional time outside of the classroom to their COURSE DESCRIPTION
study of dance.
Dance III follows Dance II and emphasizes students’
Dance III acquisition of intermediate movement skills and refined
motor control through the study of dance technique(s)
Course Number: 920301R / 920302R such as ballet, jazz or modern. Student learning includes
opportunities to develop kinesthetic awareness, proper
Course Level: Regular body alignment, strength, flexibility, dance principles and
dance history/connections. Students in this course should
Prerequisites: Dance II or Teacher Recommendation participate in performances or demonstrations. As an
honors credit, this course increases the number of related
Number of Credits Earned: 1.0 assignments and responsibilities. Students are expected to
dedicate additional time outside of the classroom to their
Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance; study of dance.
Career Ed; Elective
Dance IV
Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters
Course Number: 920401R / 920402R
Teacher Certification Required: Dance
Course Level: Regular
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Dance III follows Dance II and emphasizes students’ Prerequisites: Dance III or Teacher Recommendation
acquisition of intermediate movement skills and refined
motor control through the study of dance technique(s) Number of Credits Earned: 1.0
such as ballet, jazz or modern. Student learning includes
opportunities to develop kinesthetic awareness, proper Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance;
body alignment, strength, flexibility, dance principles and Career Ed; Elective
dance history/connections. Students in this course should
participate in performances or demonstrations. Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters

Dance III Teacher Certification Required: Dance

Course Number: 920301H / 920302H COURSE DESCRIPTION

Course Level: Honors Dance IV follows Dance III and emphasizes students’
acquisition of intermediate to advanced movement skills
and refined motor control through the study of dance
technique(s) such as ballet, jazz or modern. Student
learning includes opportunities to develop kinesthetic
awareness, proper body alignment, strength, flexibility,
dance principles and dance history/connections. Students

Course Catalog Page 213

Fine Arts Physical Education I; Physical Education II; Career Ed;
Elective
Course Descriptions Recommended Course Duration: 1 semester
Teacher Certification Required: Physical Education or
in this course should participate in performances Dance
or demonstrations and begin to develop their own COURSE DESCRIPTION
choreography. May be repeated for credit with instructor Dance-PE is an introductory course to the study of dance
approval. as a lifetime physical activity choice. Student learning
includes opportunities to develop and maintain kinesthetic
Dance IV awareness, proper body alignment, strength, flexibility,
general dance principles and dance history/connections.
Course Number: 920401H / 920402H This course focuses on the development of a basic
Course Level: Honors understanding of dance as an art, dance vocabulary, and
Prerequisites: Dance II with Teacher Recommendation or basic dance movement skills. Students will participate in
Teacher Recommendation dance-movement activities that are moderate to vigorous
Number of Credits Earned: 1.0 in intensity an average of at least 50% of the class period.
Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance; This course is appropriate for students with little to no
Career Ed; Elective formal dance training.
Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters
Teacher Certification Required: Dance Honors Dance I- G37 Advanced Arts

COURSE DESCRIPTION Course Number: 968131H / 968132H
Dance IV follows Dance III and emphasizes students’ Course Level: Honors
acquisition of intermediate to advanced movement skills Prerequisites: Audition, teacher recommendation, and
and refined motor control through the study of dance counselor approval.
technique(s) such as ballet, jazz or modern. Student Number of Credits Earned: 2.0
learning includes opportunities to develop kinesthetic Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance;
awareness, proper body alignment, strength, flexibility, Career Ed; Elective
dance principles and dance history/connections. Students Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters
in this course should participate in performances Teacher Certification Required: Dance
or demonstrations and begin to develop their own
choreography. As an honors credit, this course increases COURSE DESCRIPTION
the number of related assignments and responsibilities. Students will become disciplined and versatile dancers by
Students are expected to dedicate additional time outside acquiring the basic technique, coordination, and musical
of the classroom to their study of dance. May be repeated interpretation that are essentials of a classical training.
for credit with instructor approval. They will study Modern and Jazz dance and ballet to learn
proper posture and body placement.
Dance – PE
Honors Dance II- G37 Advanced Arts
Course Number: 920901R / 920902R
Course Level: Regular Course Number: 968231H / 968232H
Prerequisites: None
Number of Credits Earned: .5
Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts- Dance;

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Fine Arts

Course Descriptions

Course Level: Honors create, participate in, and reflect upon dance forms and
styles from a range of cultures and traditions, both familiar
Prerequisites: Audition, teacher recommendation, and and unfamiliar. External assessment consists of a) the
counselor approval. 2.0 Dance credits from the G37 submission (on DVD) of dance works composed by the
Advanced Arts Program required. student, and b) a formal written report which analyses
the similarities and differences between two dance styles
Number of Credits Earned: 2.0 drawn from different dance cultures and/or traditions.
Internal assessment consists of the submission (on DVD)
Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance; of the student’s performance of various styles of dances,
Career Ed; Elective presented at an open showing.

Recommended Course Duration: Double period, 2 IB HL Dance I
semesters
Course Number: 974111A / 974112A
Teacher Certification Required: Dance
Course Level: Advanced
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Prerequisites: None
Students will engage in similar learning objectives to Dance
I but with an emphasis on performance and the creation Number of Credits Earned: 1.0
of dance. Students will become disciplined and versatile
dancers by acquiring the basic technique, coordination, Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance;
and musical interpretation that are essentials of a classical Career Ed; Elective
training. They will study Modern and Jazz dance and
ballet to learn proper posture and body placement. This Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters
course increases the number of related assignments and
responsibilities. Teacher Certification Required: Dance

IB SL Dance I Links: Click here for a link with more detailed information
about the course
Course Number: 974101A / 974102A
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Course Level: Advanced The course focuses on the composition, performance and
analysis of dance, or “expressive movement,” which is
Prerequisites: None practiced amongst peoples of various backgrounds, and
for a variety of purposes, throughout the planet. Students
Number of Credits Earned: 1.0 create, participate in, and reflect upon dance forms and
styles from a range of cultures and traditions, both familiar
Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance; and unfamiliar. External assessment consists of a) the
Career Ed; Elective submission (on DVD) of dance works composed by the
student, and b) a formal written report which analyses
Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters the similarities and differences between two dance styles
drawn from different dance cultures and/or traditions.
Teacher Certification Required: Dance Internal assessment consists of the submission (on DVD)
of the student’s performance of various styles of dances,
Links: Click here for a link with more detailed information presented at an open showing.
about the course

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course focuses on the composition, performance and
analysis of dance, or “expressive movement,” which is
practiced amongst peoples of various backgrounds, and
for a variety of purposes, throughout the planet. Students

Course Catalog Page 215

Fine Arts

Course Descriptions

IB MYP Dance I COURSE DESCRIPTION
The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme
Course Number: 974101H / 974102H (MYP) is a philosophy of teaching and an approach to
instruction. Students in the MYP explore significant content,
Course Level: Honors develop skills, and deepen conceptual understanding
Prerequisites: None through their engagement with global contexts. Teachers
will plan using the MYP objectives and assess using the
Number of Credits Earned: 1.0 MYP criteria. IB MYP Dance Performance I uses beginning
level dance technique as a foundation for performance
Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance; opportunities. Students are expected to spend additional
Career Ed; Elective time preparing for these opportunities, including outside
rehearsal time as established by the instructor. Students
Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters will engage in similar learning objectives to Dance I but
with an emphasis on performance. . As an honors credit,
Teacher Certification Required: Dance students in this course will have more assignments and
responsibilities than students in a regular course.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme IB MYP Dance I
(MYP) is a philosophy of teaching and an approach to
instruction. Students in the MYP explore significant content, Course Number: 974101R / 974102R
develop skills, and deepen conceptual understanding
through their engagement with global contexts. Teachers Course Level: Regular
will plan using the MYP objectives and assess using the MYP
criteria. Dance I is an introductory course to the study of Prerequisites: None
dance. Student learning includes opportunities to develop
kinesthetic awareness, proper body alignment, strength, Number of Credits Earned: 1.0
flexibility, general dance principles and dance history/
connections. This course focuses on the development of Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance;
a basic understanding of dance as an art and of dance Career Ed; Elective
vocabulary and is appropriate for students with little to no
formal dance training. As an honors credit, students in this Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters
course will have more assignments and responsibilities than
students in a regular course. Teacher Certification Required: Dance

IB MYP Dance Performance I COURSE DESCRIPTION
The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme
Course Number: 901011H / 901012H (MYP) is a philosophy of teaching and an approach to
instruction. Students in the MYP explore significant content,
Course Level: Honors develop skills, and deepen conceptual understanding
through their engagement with global contexts. Teachers
Prerequisites: None will plan using the MYP objectives and assess using the MYP
criteria. Dance I is an introductory course to the study of
Number of Credits Earned: 1.0 dance. Student learning includes opportunities to develop
kinesthetic awareness, proper body alignment, strength,
Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Fine Arts – Dance; flexibility, general dance principles and dance history/
Career Ed; Elective connections. This course focuses on the development of
a basic understanding of dance as an art and of dance
Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters vocabulary and is appropriate for students with little to no
formal dance training.
Teacher Certification Required: Dance

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