In the realm of arts education, two theories address cultural diversity, social justice, and critical inquiry: Culturally Relevant Teaching by Gloria Ladson-Billings and Critical Dance Pedagogy developed by Nyama McCarthy-Brown. These theories offer educators methodologies to engage students in meaningful learning experiences that honor their cultural identities while fostering critical consciousness. Culturally Relevant Teaching and Critical Dance Pedagogy are both theories within arts education that aim to address social and cultural issues while promoting meaningful learning experiences. While both culturally relevant teaching and critical dance pedagogy share a commitment to social justice and critical consciousness, they differ in scope and application due to their specific focuses …show more content…
Unlike culturally relevant teaching, which applies broadly to all educational subjects, critical dance pedagogy focuses specifically on the unique opportunities and challenges within dance pedagogy. In the context of arts education, critical dance pedagogy encourages educators to engage students in critical reflection on the cultural and historical contexts of dance forms. An example of critical dance pedagogy is an approach that involves teaching students about the Hispanic roots of certain dance styles and examining how these forms have been appropriated or misrepresented in mainstream culture. Lastly, critical dance pedagogy challenges standards within dance education by centering on marginalized voices and perspectives. It advocates for the inclusion of diverse dance traditions and encourages students to create and perform dances that reflect their own cultural identities and experiences. This approach not only empowers students to reclaim and celebrate their cultural heritage, but also promotes social justice through artistic
“Who knows only his own generation remains always a child.” This quote from George Norlin echoes the edification that cultural exposure can offer. How does African dance relate to do modern dance? The two are so heterogeneous in their make-up that one would not think of them as having similarities. The truth, however, is that all dance forms are linked in some way or another; they all strengthen and sharpen each other. Modern dance has its roots in African dance with the emphasis placed on the connection of weight and gravity. Brenda Dixon Gottschild names five aesthetics that are present in African dance. A particular piece that draws attention to the relation of the five aesthetics to modern dance is “Split Sides”, choreographed by Merce Cunningham.
Learning about Dance: Dance as an Art Form and Entertainment provides visions into the many features of dance and inspires scholars to keep an open mind and think critically about the stimulating, bold, ever-changing and active world of dance. Learning about Dance is particularly useful for those who do not have a wide and diverse dance contextual, such as students in a preliminary level or survey dance course. This book consists of twelve chapters. Chapter one dance as an art form focuses on the basic structures of dance. Dance is displayed through the human body, it has the control to communicate and induce reactions. Dance can be found in many different places, it enables the participants and seekers to touch and knowledge the joy of movement. Dance is discovered as being one of the oldest art forms worldwide. Dance existed in early cultures was recognized in a sequence of rock paintings portrayed dance. Since this discovery of rock paintings, several other forms of art have been found that depict dance. People used rituals in order to worship the gods and believed that the rituals held magical and spiritual powers. During the ancient period civilizations sentient decisions began to be made with regard to dance. Other periods that had an impact on dance were the medieval period, the renaissance period, and the contemporary period. Chapter two the choreographer, the choreographer is a person who comes up with the movements created into a dance routine. The choreographer expresses themselves through choreography because this is their way of communicating with the audience. In order to be a choreographer you must have a passion for dance. Each choreographer has their own approaches and ways of making up a routine. Choreographers ...
Ballroom dancing in New York gives underprivileged children the opportunity to be exposed to the arts, which is usually a program that is cut from low-income schools. This program is a part of a fine arts curriculum with a focus on movement/dancing. A fine art curriculum approach integrates the different aspect of the arts to enhance the learning experiences of the students (Agrelo, 2005; “Dancing Classrooms- Mission”, 2015; Gorski
“The Dancer’s gift” is a love story between a young man and woman, Marcel and Samantha. But this novel was written not only to call feelings about love and passion; the main goal was to introduce students to sociological concepts. Overall, the book includes more than 180 sociological terms that flow with the story and closely connected to happening events. Marcel, a black man, arrives from Martinique (an island in the Caribbean Sea), and Samantha, a rich American girl, meet each other in college and fall in love. Both of them face obstacles in their lives: Marcel was grown up in a poor extended but a friendly family, while Samantha was a daughter of rich but divorced parents. Marcel comes to the U.S. to become a professional dancer, while Sam decided to become an attorney at law just like her father. Being lovers they decide to spend their Christmas holidays together and go to New York. Next holidays they go to Marcel’s homeland, Martinique, where they realize that there lives a woman who is pregnant by him. At that time all dreams of Sam just collapse due to this bitter disappointment, which becomes one of the reasons why they break up. Throughout the story, they both meet with numerous social issues such as education, marriage, gender issue, racism, deviance, divorce, religion, race and ethnicity. In this essay, the three main reasons why this novel is an effective tool for learning sociological concepts will be discussed.
New Dance is described as a developing art form; this dance was articulated in the early 20th century. According to Chapter 8 in History of Dance book, “the new dance emerged as a response to the ballet that populated the variety shows and music halls, which had a rigid formula of steps and poses” (Kassing). The New Dance was a product of several strands that interlaced together dancers’ studies and backgrounds; these strands and others were woven together in a historical, political, and societal framework. For instance, one strand of New Dance consisted of the concepts, techniques, costumes, and stage settings from around the world. These strands influenced major dancers and choreographers, such as, Isadora Duncan, Loie Fuller, Ruth St. Denis, and Ted Shawn.
I have always been fascinated by the many arts. Around September of last year, I discovered a show that had to do with dancing and singing, which caused me to have a slight interest in the former. In November, my best friend showed me a band that is talented in dancing, and this group has fueled my curiosity. Furthermore, I have already taken a few steps towards learning their dances. I aspire to accomplish the ability to dance because of this group, I am trying to learn the choreography to their songs, and I want to perform in front of people who enjoy watching others dance.
...dance education is to continue growing throughout public schools and colleges in the United States, students, parents, and the rest of the community will need to stand behind their dance educators. Dance has always served a form of great exercise that allows people to express themselves through movement, and will continue to do so into the future. Dance education in the elementary level is a place that may need some help in child development, and the way to solve this problem is by getting classroom teachers who are skilled in dance and creative movement instruction. Dance education in the secondary level also needs to get highly skilled teachers who are also certified in dance themselves. It would also help attract more students if dance was presented in a different department other than physical education. Dance education in the college level is taught by certified dance instructors, therefore dancers in this level are able to explore movements, while being critiqued by someone who knows what is happening. Dance education has played a major role in the development of children of all ages, and will continue to do so, as long as dance educators and dancers have the proper support.
Research Question How can dance therapy be utilized for children that struggle with self-expression and emotional instability? Methodology By applying an ethnographic approach, the study will consist of mini interview, brief written narratives, video files, and participant observation .
Overby, L. (1992). Status of dance in education (Report No. ED348368). Washington, DC: Eric Clearinghouse on Teacher Education. Discusses the status of dance as a part of the elementary school curriculum. This Digest examines the rationale for dance in education, the status of dance education, and selected issues in dance education.
Why are proteins so important? What should I eat as a pre-class snack? How can I become more flexible? These are just a few questions I will answer as you read on. Being a healthy dancer who makes good decisions is the key to becoming a successful dancer. The state of health you are in will affect your overall performance, so taking care of yourself is vital for a good outcome. Sometimes dancers push themselves too far trying to meet their goals faster, but if you are patient and work hard, the results will be stunning.
Head up, shoulders back, strong arms, stomach in, straight back, turn out, pointed toes, breathe: this was my mantra for one and a half hours a day, three days a week, for nine years. Ballet has been one of the most important teachers in my life in multiple aspects, and self discipline, both body and mind, was a major one. I realized important connections between self discipline, habits, and personal growth. I found myself applying the life skills I learned at the dance studio to life beyond. This was influential in creating the type of dancer, student, and individual I am today.
Contemporary dance first originated from ballet, however changed when Isadora Duncan decided that she didn’t want to dance ballet. She disregarded the refined technical Classical ballet and thus the concept of Contemporary dance was born. This style incorporates movements where the body moves freely and doesn’t have restrictions, embodying raw human emotion. Pioneers of contemporary dance comprise of the internationally known Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham (The Conversation, 2014, online) + (Bibliography, 2012, online). These three dancers helped to revolutionise contemporary dance and express their interpretation of it, all unique but added layers to the genre. A range of movements that originated from these dancers are
“Dance has no language”- it is often said at the concerts and festivals. Indeed, in order to understand the beauty of the dance and what dancers want to express you do not need to know particular language, so Kazakhs, Russians, Koreans, Germans, Chinese etc. will perceive dance performance in the same way. Traditional dance involves not only dance performance, but traditional national music, costumes and attributes as well. So, through the traditional folk dances people can get acquainted with one or another’s culture. However, according to Bridget Rose Nolan (2008, 8) the nature of the traditional dances are very complex, and the question about to what extent such dances are traditional is arguable. She states that “dance is arguably one of the hardest forms of cultural expression to pass from one person to another unchanged, let alone from one generation to another through hundreds of years”. As Brennan (1999, 15)said “dance is, by its nature, ephemeral”. Brennan points that traditional dance itself underwent the process of evolution. Nevertheless, culture is learnt, so it can be changed and it changes slightly from one generation to another, and traditional dance as a part of culture changes as well. This will not be the eradication of culture. Therefore modern traditional dances can be regarded as part of culture and they can be considered as the way to understand particular culture. This paper is focused on this way, to be precisely, how traditional dances affect the understanding of culture. Firstly, the research problem will be described. Then essay will proceed to the description of the practical part, particularly, of the fieldwork, methods and expectations of the participant observation. Furthermore, there will be an an...
“Dance, the art of precise, expressive, and graceful human movement, traditionally, but not necessarily, performed in accord with musical accompaniment. Dancing developed as a natural expression of united feeling and action.”
Every society has social dances that are interconnected into each culture. However, each culture has a different way of portraying these social dances. In America, as well as other countries, social dances incorporate traditions, power, milestone events, etc. I observed dance in a non-traditional performing environment during a musical festival in urban downtown Austin, Texas. The atmosphere was filled with joy and happiness despite the gloomy morning. This particular day of the music festival, which is South by Southwest, was geared more towards the middle and upper age groups. As I observed my surroundings, the individuals primarily dancing were close to the stage and interacting with the bands. I noticed that these dancers were mixed with