Dance Pedagogy for a Diverse World

Issues of race, class, gender and religion permeate the study of contemporary dance, resulting in cultural clashes in classrooms and studios. The first of its kind, this book provides dance educators with tools to refocus teaching methods to celebrate the pluralism of the United States. The contributors discuss how to diversify ballet technique classes and dance history courses in higher education, choreographing dance about socially charged contemporary issues, and incorporating Native American dances into the curriculum, among other topics. The application of relevant pedagogy in the dance classroom enables instructors to teach methods that reflect students’ culture and affirm their experiences.

Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Nyama McCarthy-Brown is an associate professor of dance pedagogy through community engagement, at The Ohio State University. She has been writing and developing teaching strategies in dance education for well over a decade. Her research is focused on dance as a vehicle for social justice.

Nyama McCarthy-Brown

Foreword by Takiyah Nur Amin

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 244
Bibliographic Info: 10 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2017
pISBN: 978-0-7864-9702-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2607-9
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments ix

Foreword by Takiyah Nur Amin 1

Preface 6

Part I: How to Create a Culturally Relevant Classroom

One—What Is Culturally Relevant Teaching? 13

Two—Toolkit for Teaching Culturally Relevant Pedagogy 35

Three—Nuts and Bolts: How to Develop a Culturally Relevant Class Culture 51

Part II: Culturally Relevant Teaching and Critical Dance Pedagogy for Classes Pertaining to the Dancing Body

Four—Culturally Relevant Ballet 65

Five—Culture, Music and Composition Class 85

Six—Critical Dance Pedagogy for Repertory: Two Case Studies by Selene Carter and Nyama ­McCarthy-Brown 103

Part III: Critical Dance Pedagogy and Diversifying Content and Approaches to Dance Education

Seven—Reshaping Dance History by Deconstructing Whiteness by Julie ­Kerr-Berry 127

Eight—Native American Dance History and Powwow Styles by Kelly Fayard 154

Nine–World Dance: Retire the Term 169

Ten—From Conservatory Training to Teaching Dance in Public Schools: A Cultural Shift by Corrine Nagata 190

Epilogue 204

Chapter Notes 209

Bibliography 219

About the Contributors 227

Index 229