This article identifies the student's perceptions regarding the lack of inhibition, spontaneity and codification of the tasks associated with corporeal expression. The aim was to identify the positive and negative feelings of the students regarding the expressive activities involved in the three phases of the exercise: exploration, expression and…

In 2016, professors representing Biology, Dance, Music, and Theatre and dance program students created "Dunes," a performance piece that depicts the ecological succession of Michigan's sand dunes. The process used to make this work is a direct representation of the steps that Team Hyena Puppet, a collective of teaching artists and…

It is clear that the relationship that dancers have with the mirror, the reflected image, and the accompanying perceptions (and often, distortions) is complicated. One area that is quite complex involves the development of a student's ability to sense movement, which directly connects to other issues involving body image, self-perception,…

Dancers are "artistic athletes." They must possess the strength, agility, power and flexibility of any athlete and perform with perfect musicality and emotion, demonstrating the artistry of the dance. As an art form dance continues to push the physical boundaries of the human body, increasing the inherent risks to the dancers. Most…

Validity is a key concept in qualitative educational research. Yet, it is often not addressed in methodological writing about dance. This essay explores validity in a postmodern world of diverse approaches to scholarship, by looking at the changing face of validity in educational qualitative research and at how new understandings of the concept…

This article is the result of an interview with Judith Nelson conducted by Madeline Cantor. Madeline is the Associate Director of the Dance Program at Bryn Mawr College and a colleague and friend of Judith Nelson. In this article, Judith offers her perspective as a dance educator who teaches students with disabilities, and as a parent of a child…

In this article, the author reflects on how somatic values, which are interrelated to yet distinct from somatic principles, direct her pedagogical approach to and the content of an eight-week module for postsecondary dance major students in the United States titled Applied Personal Movement Practices I. The prioritization of somatic values (the…

This paper questions whether are we able to foster uncertainty and ambiguity within higher education arts programmes, specifically alongside current institutional demands and embedded pedagogies. If not, then what effect does this have on current dance graduates? I attend to these questions through critical reflections upon my work as a pedagogue,…

The arts had a definite place in ancient Greek education and played an important part in children's physical, emotional, social, and intellectual growth. Education was based on the development of the whole person. Gymnastics, drawing, music, and poetry were used to increase physical strength, moral character, and a sense of the aesthetic. Music,…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the designed cultural ecology of a hip-hop and computational science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) camp and the ways in which that ecology contributed to culturally sustaining learning experiences for middle school youth. In using the principles of hip-hop as a CSP for design, the…

Namasia District, located in Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan, is home to many of the island's indigenous Bunun people. This place was one of the most damaged areas from typhoon Morakot in 2009. In the aftermath of the Morakot disaster, many of the children were traumatized physically and psychologically. I set out to design dance classes for…

In the United States dance competition culture and commercial dance are both highly visible. Although connections between the two distinct dance worlds are implicitly present, they remain largely unexamined. To begin a conversation about how commercial dance and dance competition culture relate and their influence on dance education, this article…

Dancers are continuing to dance longer due to changes in technique and increased awareness of the body and safe movement practices. Even after performing careers have ended, it is healthy both physically and emotionally for dancers to continue to take technique class, particularly if they are teaching dance classes. It can be a challenge, however,…

The B-baby Program is a hip-hop dance curriculum designed to prepare dance instructors to teach and lead toddlers in the safe and effective practice of "break dancing" (breakin'). In 2011, my twin sister and I founded a hip-hop organization called Child of This Culture. We have over 32 years of combined experience as competitive break…

This paper investigates the evolution of feminist consciousness in dance technique class as related to body image, the myth of the perfect body, and the development of feminist pedagogy. Western concert dance forms have often been taught in a manner where imitating the teacher is primary in the learning process. In this traditional scenario,…