Course Orbit
What instructors receive
- Temporary, full-course review access at no cost or obligation
- Complete lessons, media, activities, and assessment components
- Flexible adoption options with implementation assistance
- Setup and implementation support
2nd edition · Lower-division undergraduate
Dance Appreciation
A flexible survey of dance as a performing art, spanning world, social, and Western concert dance forms.
Course at a glance
- Intended use
- Arts-and-humanities general education and introductory dance appreciation
- Student level
- Lower-division undergraduate
- Edition
- 2nd edition
- Authors
- Beth Megill, David Massey
- Structure
- 16 lessons
- Format
- Digital access code; complete online course with no separate physical textbook
- Student price
- $49.99 USD
- ISBN
- 978-1-7350385-0-6
Dance Appreciation develops observation skills and dance literacy from the audience's perspective. Sixteen flexible modules use interactive media and behind-the-scenes perspectives from choreographers, dancers, audiences, and production teams, with an additional Movement Literacy Study Guide.
Learning outcomes
- Identify elements of dance and apply observation and movement-literacy concepts.
- Compare selected world, social, ballet, modern, contemporary, tap, and jazz forms.
- Analyze relationships among choreographers, performers, audiences, media, and production.
- Write an evidence-based dance critique using observation and analysis.
Course design
Complete online lessons combine readings, multimedia, activities, and assessments in a sequenced course foundation.
- Flexible modules that instructors may reorder
- Interactive media and observation-centered activities
- Movement Literacy Study Guide with Language of Dance concepts
Table of contents
- Introduction to Dance Appreciation
- Dance Issues
- Elements of Dance
- Dance Today
- World Dance I: Indigenous and Folk Dances
- World Dance II: Classical Forms
- Social Dance and Ballroom
- Ballet I: Early Ballet through the Classical Era
- Ballet II: Modern and Contemporary Ballet
- Modern Dance
- Contemporary Dance
- Tap Dance
- Jazz and Musical Theater Styles
- Dance Writing and Criticism
- Dance on Camera / Current Trends
- Dance Production
- Movement Literacy Study Guide
What students receive
- Access to all assigned course readings, media, activities, and assessments
- One digital access product; no separate physical textbook
- Technical and accessibility support for Course Orbit materials
Assessments and instructor control
Observation and reflection activities, media-based exercises, written critique work, and instructor-configured assignments and grading.
Modules may be reordered, and instructors may adjust pacing, due dates, grading, policies, supplementary materials, and permitted LMS settings.
Delivery, accessibility, and requirements
Delivery choices
- Import into an institution's supported LMS using a standard course cartridge
- Choose a supported adoption path when institutional LMS delivery is not preferred
Course cartridges are intended for cartridge-compatible LMS environments. Course Orbit confirms the institution's version and setup during implementation rather than guaranteeing every configuration.
Accessibility
Course content is developed toward WCAG 2.1 AA. Accommodation questions and issue reports are routed to [email protected]. Read the accessibility statement.
Technical requirements
- A current browser with JavaScript, cookies, audio, and video enabled as required by course media
- Reliable internet access and institution-supported LMS credentials when delivered through an institutional LMS
- Speakers or headphones for listening-based activities
Support
Instructors receive implementation support; students receive Course Orbit material and access support. Institutions remain responsible for institutional credentials, rosters, policies, and LMS administration. View instructor resources.
Authors
Beth Megill
Beth Megill develops dance-appreciation course materials focused on observation, movement literacy, and dance as a performing art.
Additional academic credentials and current affiliations are pending publisher verification and are not presented as endorsements.
David Massey
David Massey develops dance-appreciation course materials spanning world, social, and Western concert dance forms.
Additional academic credentials and current affiliations are pending publisher verification and are not presented as endorsements.
Related evaluation resources
- Digital Textbook Versus Complete Digital Course — Understand the practical differences among eBooks, homework platforms, complete digital courses, and flexible course adoption.
- How to Evaluate a Complete Digital Course — A practical checklist for reviewing content, assessments, accessibility, delivery, instructor control, student cost, and support before adoption.
- What to Ask About LMS Integration — Questions for evaluating course import, grades, student access, support responsibilities, accessibility, and adoption options.
Review Dance Appreciation before you decide.
Instructor review access is free and temporary during evaluation. The adoptions team follows up within one business day with access and implementation details.