Part I: What is Dance?
Introduction
1 Purposes of Dance
What is Dance?
Ceremonial Dance
Political Dance
Social Dance
Therapeutic Dance
Competitive Dance
Promotional Dance
Theatrical Dance
Chapter Summary
2 Viewing Dance Through a Cultural Lens
Bharatanatyam: A Dance of Devotion
Kabuki: From Commoners to Cultural Treasure
Dama: Sacred Rites
Lindy Hop: Breaking Cultural Boundaries
Chapter Summary
3 Crafting the Dance
Choreographic Craft
Elements of Dance
Form
Additional Considerations
Production Elements
Dance Notation
Choreography Copyrights
The Dancer’s Role
Chapter Summary
4 Perceiving Dance
Lens of Perception
The Role of the Audience
Writing About Dance
Chapter Summary
Part II: Exploration of Western Theatrical Dance Forms
Introduction
5 Ballet
Ballet as a Dance Form
The Historical Development of Ballet
American Ballet Companies
Ballet Commercialized
Contemporary Issues Within the Field
Chapter Summary
6 Modern Dance
Modern as a Dance Form
Recurring Themes in Modern Dance
Current Approaches
Contemporary Dance
Chapter Summary
7 Tap Dance
Tap as a Dance Form
Tap Dance Roots
American Dance Onstage
Selected Tap Dance Styles
Tap Highlights
Chapter Summary
8 Jazz Dance
Jazz as a Dance Form
Jazz Dance in Show Business
Codification of Jazz Dance
Styles of Jazz Dance
Chapter Summary
9 Hip-Hop Dance
A Culture of Expression
Hip-Hop as a Dance Form
Commercialization of the Art Form
Types of Hip-Hop Dance
Chapter Summary
10 American Social Dance
Social Dance as a Form of Dance
Key Influence on Social Dance Evolution
Chapter Summary
Part III: Behind the Scenes
Introduction
11 Dance Media and Technology
Technology in Live Performances
Dance on Camera
Screen Dance
Digital Technology
Chapter Summary
12 Training and Education
Training Opportunities in Dance
Dance in Education
Inclusion and Accessibility
Chapter Summary
13 The Dancer
The Journey to Professional Dancer
Chapter Summary
14 Dance Health
Dance Injuries
Nutrition
Mental and Emotional Health
Dance Medicine and Science
Chapter Summary
15 Careers in Dance
Performance
Choreography
Teaching
Science and Therapy
Writing and Preservation
Administration
Production
Technology
Chapter Summary
Biography
Amanda Clark is a Professor at Western Kentucky University, USA, where she teaches all levels of jazz and tap dance technique, along with dance theory coursework. She received an MFA in Dance from the University of Oklahoma and a BPA in Dance Performance from Oklahoma City University. She has taught dance and presented choreography nationally and internationally. Her primary research interests lie in the history and pedagogy of jazz and tap dance as reflected in her text Dance Pedagogy (Routledge, 2024).
Sara Pecina is the Director of Dance at Berry College, USA. She received her MFA in Dance from the University of Oklahoma and graduated with a BA in Dance from Western Kentucky University. She has presented research on the history and pedagogy of jazz and tap dance both nationally and internationally at various dance conferences, including both the National Dance Education Organization and the Dance Studies Association annual conferences. Sara is a certified mat Pilates instructor and has also trained to teach Dance for Parkinson’s Disease with Mark Morris Dance Group and is in the American Tap Dance Foundation’s Rhythm Tap Teacher Program.
Praise for the first edition
"A wonderful combination of readable, user-friendly and important information, without oversimplification."
Karen Reedy, George Mason University, USA
"This book is an outstanding resource for dance appreciation. It simultaneously covers the history of each form of dance, while discussing the aesthetics of the form, to the practicalities of what that form look like in the studio while taking a class. There is a very thorough discussion of the origins of dance, which also help us understand the relevance of dance in society in the 21st century. Additionally, the movement prompts help the student to understand the concepts presented in their own bodies. I highly recommend this text, it has everything needed to appreciate dance from all perspectives."
Jennifer Mizenko, University of Mississippi, USA
