Dance culture

Introduction.

your Individual Project, you will write an essay that dives into a specific figure/topic in dance that has significantly contributed to the society, either locally or globally, in the last 100 years. This thesis-driven Photo Essay should critically follow the development or emergence of your chosen topic up to the moment of impact, and consider, if possible, the continued ramifications and influences of their work and accomplishments. 

Your topic might be a person, a dance/music genre, a dance company, a show, or genre of shows, etc. The following list is not exhaustive but gives some examples of different areas. Before proposing a topic, please do some preliminary research to ensure that you will be able to use the topic. Remember, the best research starts wide, not narrow. You will be required to use at least 2 academic sources (excluding tertiary sources such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, theses or book reviews).

Choosing your topic

For your Individual Project, you will write an essay, accompanied by images, that dives into a specific figure/topic in dance that has significantly contributed to the society, either locally or globally.  This thesis-driven Photo Essay should critically follow the development or emergence of your chosen topic up to the moment of impact, and also consider, if possible, the continued ramifications and influences of their work and accomplishments. 

Your topic might be a person, a dance/music genre, a dance company, a show or genre of shows, etc. The following list is not exhaustive, but gives some examples of different areas. Before proposing a topic, please do some preliminary research to ensure that you will be able to use the topic. Remember, the best research starts wide, not narrow. You will be required to use at least 2  academic sources (excluding tertiary sources such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, conference proceedings, theses or book reviews).

Some examples include:

People:

· Gregory Hines (Tap-US)

· Johnny Clegg (South Africa)

· Mestre King (Raimundo Bispo dos Santos) (Brazil)

· Baba Chuck Davis (DanceAfrica)

· Rosângela Silvestre (Afro-Brazilian Dance)

· Lester Horton (American choreographer)

· Debbie Allen(Lifetime Achievement Award)

· Mestre Bimba (Brazilian Capoeira)

· Ebomi Cici (grassroots leader in Brazilian arts and dance) 

Dance Companies

· Ilê Ayê/Olodum

· First Negro Classic Ballet

· Dance Theater of Harlem

· Dancing Classrooms/other community dance programs

· Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

· Cirque de Soleil (and social circus)

· Alonzo King LINES Ballet

· Brooke Lynn Hytes (Canadian Drag Superstar)

· The Jefferson Dancers

· BodyWise Dance (and other inclusive dance companies)

· Ballez

Dance Applications

· Dance as cultural education

· Dance as fitness

· Dance therapy/dance for the disabled (ie: NDI DREAM Project)

· Dance as activism/protest

· Dance and feminism

· Dance and gender fluidity

· Dance as empowerment

· Dance and technology

Genres

· Disco

· Samba Reggae

· CaribFunk

· Contact Improv (Steve Paxton)

· Diasporic dance

· Drag/Vogueing

· Pole Dance/Burlesque

· Ice Dance/Figure skating

· Ananya Dance Company

· Street dance in a particular area (LA/NY/ATL, etc)

Shows

· Madonna Blond Ambition World Tour (1990)

· Rize (Documentary on Clowning/Krumping in Los Angeles) and other street dance documentaries

· Breaking Ballet by the Joburg Ballet

· "In the Heights" (2021)

· Lemonade (2016)

· "Breakin' Bricks" (2021)

The Thesis

Sample theses:

· Excellent:

· The poi dance, a unique spinning dance that has been passed down for generations and adapted for modern day use signifies Maoritanga, or cultural pride for Maoris. The cultural value of poi dance, poi spinning, and waiata music demonstrate this significance by allowing Maoris to keep their traditions and culture alive even in a modern age.

· Very Good:

· Asafo dance is significant because of its political, social, religious, and military origins. This dance style’s brisk movement, miming, flag-dancing, and robust music set it apart in Akan culture.

· Needs Work:

· The Sun dance is a religious practice that brought together many thousands of native American people even after it was outlawed. 

· The Siva Afi is a dance native to Samoa where dancers toss around knives lit on fire. It was initially created to teach warriors.