Dance and Cultural Diversity examines the art of dance within the context of different cultures. In doing so, the readings in the text connect dance to academic disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, psychology, and philosophy. Based on the core belief that dance is much more than a form of entertainment or artistic expression, the text demonstrates that dance also has the power to provoke intellectual thought, promote the communion of people from all social classes and walks of life, and reveal the undeniable commonalities of the human experience, while also serving as a valuable tool for expressing cultural diversity. The study of dance as presented in this text transcends music and movement and becomes a study of humanity. The chapters in Dance and Cultural Diversity explore the essence of dance, dance in American Indian culture, Polynesian culture, African culture, and South American culture, and the African influence on American dance. The book also covers dances of East Asia, India, and Bali, and the healing properties of dance. The chapters explores specific types of dances, historical and political aspects of geographical areas, and the effect that dance has on the members of each community. Dance and Cultural Diversity is appropriate for courses on dance, world traditions, and cultural diversity. It can also be used in cultural anthropology and global society courses.

Dance and Cultural Diversity examines the art of dance within the context of different cultures and demonstrates the connections between dance and academic disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, psychology, and philosophy. The text shows that dance has the power to provoke intellectual thought, promote the communion of people from all social classes and walks of life, and reveal the undeniable commonalities of the human experience, while also serving as a valuable tool for expressing cultural diversity. Dedicated chapters explore the essence of dance, dance in American Indian culture, Polynesian culture, African culture, and South American culture, and the African influence on American dance. The book also covers dances of East Asia, India, and Bali, and the healing properties of dance. The chapters explore specific types of dances, historical and political aspects of geographical areas, and the effect that dance has on the members of each community. The third edition incorporates new, diverse research, more robust coverage of specific dances to provide an expanded look at a region's cultural groups, and explanations as to why certain cultural dances have been selected for examination within the text. Language and references throughout the text have been updated to increase their timeliness, inclusivity, and cultural sensitivity. Dance and Cultural Diversity is exemplary for courses on dance, world traditions, and cultural diversity. It can also be used in cultural anthropology and global society courses.

As the global vicissitudes of migration unfold so does ethnic difference in the classroom, and this book offers a timely examination of teaching about culturally different dances. At a time when the world of dance is, on the one hand, seemingly becoming more like fusion cookery there is another faction promoting isolation and preservation of tradition. How, if at all, may these two worlds co-exist in dance education? Understanding teaching about culturally different dances from postmodern, postcolonial, pluralist and critical perspectives creates an urgent demand to develop relevant pedagogy in dance education. What is required to support dance educators into the next phase of dance education, so as to avoid teaching from within a Eurocentric, creative dance model alone? An ethnographic investigation with teachers in New Zealand lays a foundation for the examination of issues, challenges and opportunities associated with teaching about culturally different dances. Concerns and issues surrounding notions of tradition, innovation, appropriation, interculturalism, social justice and critical pedagogy emerge. Engaging with both practice and theory is a priority in this book, and a nexus model, in which the theoretical fields of critical cultural theory, semiotics, ethnography and anthropology can be activated as teachers teach, is proposed as informing approaches to teaching about culturally different dances. Even though some practical suggestions for teaching are presented, the main concern is to motivate further thinking and research into teaching about dancing with cultural difference. Cover photo: Photo credit: lester de Vere photography ltd. Dancing with Difference (2009). Directed and co-choreographed for AUT University Bachelor of Dance by Linda Ashley with Jonelle Kawana, Yoon-jee Lee, Keneti Muaiava, Aya Nakamura, Siauala Nili, Valance Smith, Sakura Stirling and dancers. Won first prize in the 2009, Viva Eclectika, Aotearoa’s Intercultural Dance and Music Biennial Challenge run by NZ-Asia Association Inc NZ and the NZ Diversity Action Programme.

From healing, fertility, and religious rituals, through theatrical entertainment, to death ceremonies and ancestor worship, the updated and revised second edition of World Dance Cultures introduces an extraordinary variety of dance forms and their cultures, which are practiced around the world. This highly illustrated textbook draws on wide-ranging historical documentation and first-hand accounts taking in India, Bali, Java, Cambodia, China, Japan, Hawai‘i, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Africa, Türkiye, Spain, Native America, South America, and the Caribbean, with this second edition adding new chapters on the Pacific Islands, Southern Africa, France, and Cuba. Each chapter covers a certain region’s distinctive dances, pinpoints key issues and trends from the form’s development to its modern iteration, and offers a wealth of study features including: • Spotlights zooming in on key details of a dance form’s cultural, historical, and religious contexts • Explorations—first-hand descriptions by famous dancers and ethnographers, excerpts from anthropological fieldwork, or historical writings on the form • Think About—provocations to encourage critical analysis of dance forms and the ways in which they’re understood • Discussion Questions—starting points for group work, classroom seminars, or individual study. Offering a comprehensive overview of each dance form covered with over 100 full color photos, World Dance Cultures is an essential introductory resource for students and instructors alike.

Dance is the quintessential language of the world. It has the power to break down barriers and bring people together. The Culture of Dance: The Power to Create, Connect, and Master serves to capture dance as it relates to the three universal elements of interaction. It provides insight into the ways dance has been used in culture throughout time to inspire creativity, enrich connections, and enhance mastery. The chapters of The Culture of Dance explore many categories of dance, including performance, competitive, political, community-building, commercial, fitness, and therapy. In addition to ballet and modern theater dance, The Culture of Dance also explores the broader perspective of dance as it has existed in cultures throughout history. The variety of authors and viewpoints enhance the wonderful world of dance in so many enriching ways. The Culture of Dance is a healthy, active, and informative journey. It is ideal for courses related to dance, health, fitness, and wellness. Dr. Wendy Guess has studied and taught healthy behavioral change through dance, fitness, and wellness since 1984. She has expertise in the promotion, communication, and marketing of wellness and fitness across a variety of settings. Currently, Dr. Guess teaches health and fitness marketing at Florida International University. She was the University Dance Educator of the Year from both the Southern District and the Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance in 2007.

"Dance is the quintessential language of the world. Dance has the power to break down barriers and bring people together. The Culture of Dance: The Power to Create, Connect, and Master serves to capture dance as it relates to the three universal elements of interaction. It provides a unique approach to education from the perspective of how dance has been used in culture throughout time to inspire Creativity, enrich Connections, and enhance Mastery. The chapters of The Culture of Dance explore many categories of dance, including performance, competitive, political, community-building, commercial, fitness, and therapy. In addition to ballet and modern theater dance, The Culture of Dance also explores the broader perspective of dance as it has existed in cultures throughout history. The variety of authors and viewpoints enhance the wonderful world of dance in so many enriching ways. The Culture of Dance is a healthy, active, and informative journey. " " Dr. Wendy Guess is a lecturer at the University of Texas at Arlington. Combining her Ph.D. in Health Education with her background in dance and anthropology, her academic focus is promoting the health benefits of social dances. She was the University Dance Educator of the Year for both the Southern District and Texas AHPERD in 2007. Dr. Guess also works with the internationally known Dancing Classrooms program."

"Dancing Across Borders presents formal and informal settings of dance education where initiatives in different countries transcend borders: cultural and national borders; subject borders; professional borders and socio-economic borders. It includes chapters featuring different theoretical perspectives on dance and cultural diversity, alongside case narratives that show these perspectives in a specific cultural setting. In this way, each section charts the processes, change, and transformation in the lives of young people through dance. Key themes include how student learning is enhanced by cultural diversity, experiential teaching and learning involving social, cross-cultural and personal dimensions. This conceptually aligns with the current UNESCO protocols that accent empathy, creativity, cooperation, collaboration alongside skills and knowledge -based learning in an endeavour to create civic mindedness and a more harmonious world. This volume is an invaluable resource for teachers, policy makers, artists and scholars interested in pedagogy, choreography, community dance practice, social and cultural studies, aesthetics, and inter-disciplinary arts. By understanding the impact of these cross-border collaborative initiatives, readers can better understand, promote and create new ways of thinking and working in the field of dance education for the benefit of new generations"--