dance dissertation ideas

153 Dance Topics & Essay Examples

Whether you’re writing about the importance of dance, modern choreography, or weight loss benefits of dancing as a hobby, we can help. In this article, our team came up with some ideas of what to cover in your paper.

🏆 Best Dance Topic Ideas & Essay Examples

✅ most interesting dance topics to write about, 📑 good research topics about dance, ⭐ dance topics to talk about in your paper, 📌 simple & easy dance titles for essay, ❓ dance essay topics and questions.

• What Is Dance: Definition and Genres Jazz dancing is a unique dance as it consists of dancers interpreting steps as well as moves in their own way.
• Exploring Relationship in Raymond Carver’s “Why Don’t You Dance?” In the story, the author juxtaposes the young couple with the man to highlight the solitary existence of the latter. In contrast to the man, the boy and the girl feel as the people around […]
• History and Development of Dance The art of dancing was connected by Greeks to the idea of harmony and perfection of human body: therefore, dancing ultimately had to be graceful in order to emphasize and not to destroy the natural […]
• Garba Dance, Its History and Specifics: A Traditional Indian Dance The inhabitants of the state believe that the dance dates back to the ancient times of Krishna. I have seen the live performance of Garba at a Navratri festival; both the dance and music were […]
• Dance and Mathematics Relationship Choreographers, in teaching dance techniques, can use knowledge of mathematics, the knowledge is also used to arrange dancers on the stage and control their movements.
• Dance Analysis: Social and Cultural Context A study of dance involves connection of ideas between the past and the present with an aim of improving the quality of performance in regards to other social practices that arise from cultural beliefs.
• “Dance of the Dead” by Richard Matheson Although the story mostly belongs to the science fiction genre, its central scene is focused on horror, and more specifically, the horror of the unknown that is emblematic of the dark fantasy genre according to […]
• “The Dance Class” Painting by Edgar Degas In addition to properly chosen techniques and materials, the artist was able to create a story with the past, the present, and the future.
• Dance Elements in “Swan Lake” and “Night Journey” Ballets One of the most famous ballet scenes in Swan Lake is the dance of little swans. In terms of choreography and music, it is a good example of art, since each of the three central […]
• Traditional Chinese Lion Dance and Its Styles The first performer adorns the head of the lion and the other moves the body of the lion. The Japanese Lion Dance is used in traditional and religious festivals.
• “Shall We Dance”: Movie Analysis This leads a person to hide their actions and lead a life of secrecy which is uncomfortable to the individual and people that are around.
• The Shiva as Lord of Dance (Nataraja) Sculpture In the sculpture, Shiva is dancing within a halo of flame, in his right hand holding the damaru, which is a hand drum that made the first sounds of creation, and the agni in his […]
• History of Samba in Brazilian Society: A Traditional Brazilian Dance The word samba is derived from the Angolan word “semba” which means the movement of the body which is described as the act of thrusting forward the body and which requires the contact of the […]
• Contemporary Dance: Continuity and Inimitability The study is based on observation of literature sources devoted to contemporary dance and our observation of works of contemporary dance, live and on the video.
• Poi Dance as Cultural Performance The theme of this dance is the traditional culture of the Maori people, in particular the expression of joy and gratitude.
• The Ritual Dance Important Elements On the outside, the ritual dance has all the same elements the other types do: the costumes, the music, the patterns are generally recognizable.
• Indian Culture: Dances of Rajasthan Diwali is one of the major festivals in the country. Ghoomar dance is also common in the region.
• Hip Hop Dance The TV shows such as the Wild style, Soul Train and Breakin, Beat Street also contributed in showcasing hip hop dance styles during the early periods of hip hop hype.
• Impact of the Dance as Education The importance is great for every human being to acquire the vital skills which one will be able to carry through one’s entire life, the skills which will enrich the person’s life and will add […]
• Dance Writing in Creative and Studying Processes Eventually, the writing did not only feed the creative process but later on was used as an element of the performance, enhancing the experience of spectators, possibly developing more new treatments for the dance and […]
• The Cosmic Dance of Siva Conclusively, the aspect on sex as an element, which contributed to the extinction of dinosaurs lacks enough support to qualify as a fact. Therefore, due to the lack of tangible evidence and a testable hypothesis […]
• Lord of Dance This paper looks at the relevance of the image of Shiva to the Hindu culture, and the disparity between its presence in a temple and display in a museum of art, away from the culture […]
• A Generational Dance: How Parents and Kids Relate In summation, it is vital to note that the well-being and development of a child depend on the wholesome relations with their parents.
• African Dance Taught by Rujeko Dumbutshena In this dance class, from a series by the Kennedy Center Education Digital Learning, Rujeko Dumbutshena teaches how to use the concept of dancing on the clock to learn African Dance.
• Space in Dance Theatre Employing space, a choreographer has an opportunity to establish a connection between the spectators and the performers, thus influencing the perception of the show and emphasizing the core ideas.
• Ballet and Jazz Dance: Styles Description The form and line used in ballet dance underline the stage performance and make sure that the main and secondary performers each have their place. The forms and rhythm in jazz dance reflect the people’s […]
• The Salsa: Music and Dance Review In the dance perspective, it refers to a dance that tries to communicate the beats found in the salsa music. All these are in an effort to spice up the salsa dance and music.
• Role of Advertising in Launching a New Dance School In order to launch a new dance school in the US, it would be necessary to analyze the market. Since its establishment in 1905, the institution has managed to offer training services to over 800 […]
• Beauty: When the Other Dancer Is the Self With the help of her essay, Walker is able to write her own autobiography of her early years of life. Towards the end of her essay, it is evident that she is a successful woman […]
• Modern Dance in the United States At the beginning of the XX century, American choreographers and dancers contributed to the development of modern dance by adding their ideas and techniques.
• Nostalgic Feeling Among Asylee Immigrants: The Role of Dance The broad phenomenon of acculturation as a process of adjusting one’s values, beliefs, and habits according to the socio-cultural environment of an individual is an extremely complex social issue.
• Argentine Tango Dance for Cancer Survivors: A Feasibility Study Hence, over the course of this study, the authors evaluated the effect of the adapted Argentine Tango on the cancer patient’s neurological function.
• The “Bellyache” Dance by Billie Eilish The most identified element of the dance is space and energy, while time is the minor element the audience can recognize. One of the components of dance is time, which dance choreography and performance both […]
• Performance Art: Dance Concept It is recommended to resort to performance art to make the gallery attractive to people and demonstrate its relevance in the modern world.
• Creative Destruction and the Virtual Studio of Sydney Dance Company From his perspective, industrial mutations occur in the form of the revolutionization of economic structures, the destruction of older ways of doing things, and the emergence of the replacing practices or products.
• Interpretive Dance and Costume Design in Enhancing Music and Plays The ballet dancer’s frequent moves increase the intensity of the song’s message with every rhyme and beat as the song proceeds.
• “Shiva as Lord of Dance” (ca. 11th Century): Norton Simon Museum It is evident that the emphasis in the sculpture is put on Shiva, acting as a focal point of the piece. The sculpture of “Shiva as Lord of Dance” emphasizes the complexity of layers the […]
• The Ghost Dance Movement and Its Emergence To conclude, the Ghost Dance was a movement that accumulated the various aspects of American Indians living in the 19th century and delivered their cry for justice and salvation.
• Flamingo or Flamenco Dance This is a very expressive dance in nature and it involves movement of the whole body but more specifically the hands in such a way that the audience can follow and understand the whole dance.
• Case Analysis Article “Shall We Dance?” They both agree on the idea of targeting the boomers because of the role they play in the economy of Canada.
• Flamenco Music and Dance History: Spanish Carte-De-Visite Born in Andalusia The dance is much spread in the world and is considered to be a part of human civilization’s heritage by UNESCO.
• Loïe Fuller: An American Dancer and Actor Fuller recalls that she invented her serpentine dance during her rehearsal for the part in the play. Even when Fuller came to Paris, she met there a young woman who copied her style, and she […]
• “And the Soul Shall Dance” by Wakako Yamauchi and “Silent Dancing” by Judith Ortiz Cofer: Significance of Dancing as Theme There is only one “dancing” character in Yamauchi’s literary work and though the woman is not the protagonist of the short story, the theme of dancing becomes a central one due to the strength and […]
• Dance in the African Diaspora: History and Effects The dances the slaves performed were distinct in that they were against the culture of the slave owners and yet they were blended in with the culture of the slave owners.
• Classical Dance: Term Definition In Plutarch’s work, when Theseus and the other Athenian youths escape from the Minotaur, they participate in a dance of celebration.”The dances of the ancient times are characterized as dances of war or dances of […]
• History of Capoeira in the Brazilian Community: Social Dance and Form of Martial Arts Some of the historical implications of the capoeira include: originally this art was practiced by the underclasses in the Brazilian community. The middle class accepted the art and this led to the unification of the […]
• Jazz Social Dance and Impact on American Culture Jazz is one of the common music genres that define the culture and racial history of the United States. Additionally, the nature of jazz dance was a new opportunity for African Americans to describe the […]
• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Its History Alvin Ailey is an American dancer and choreographer, the founder of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, who made a significant contribution to the popularization of modern dance and the emergence of black dancers on […]
• Artists in Jazz Music and Dance Development The core areas in this study will include; the presentation, the ensemble, the musical instruments, and the memories of the events.
• Art, Dance, Nutrition Studies and Their Benefits For architectures to come up with great masterpieces they have to combine the mechanics of construction and the creativity of Art.
• Flamenco Dance and History of Passion Whenever people think of Spain and the Spanish culture, the first thing that comes to their mind is flamenco the dance of passion and the only way to express the nature of a Spaniard, the […]
• “The Power of Myth” and “Lord of the Dance” Films The setting of the dance when the movie starts is a church and the dancing troupe is led by a clergy this gives the dance a religious association.
• “The World of Dance” Event As we have already stated, the World of Dance is a unique event in the sphere of art that tries to attract the attention of people across the world.
• Ballet Pas De Deux: Dance and Architecture Exhibition The theory of choreology is concerned with the elaboration of the connection between the conscious expression of movement patterns in dance and the principles that guide those movements.
• Dance and Architecture in “Ballet Pas de Deux” Exhibition Therefore, dance and architecture are related due to the fact that both of them utilize space as a ground in which creativity is embodied.
• Beyond Description: Writing Beneath the Surface According to Jowitt, in order to describe a dance properly the writer is to possess a variety of different skills allowing them to select appropriate metaphors, apply correct judgment, draw clever comparisons, and present dance […]
• The Royal Ballet Dance in Covent Garden The event was staged by the house of Royal Oprah with mysterious, exciting, and arduous ballet dance broadcast to the audience.
• Lindy Hop Dance: Development, Events, Figures Besides, all the aspects of this dance are going to be taken into consideration the movements, the music, and its origin, dressing styles of the performers throughout the years, public perception of this form of […]
• Jazz Dance and Its Techniques The modern and ballet dance styles can be also applied to jazz, as the kind of popular dance styles involves a wide range of dance elements.
• The Grass Dance Cultural Importance Historians believe that the Grass Dance emerged during the early years of The Reservation Period among the warrior societies. This explains that the movement of the dance was meaningful to the natives.
• Alvin Ailey’ and Alexander Pushkin’ Views on the Modern Dance In particular, he greatly contributed to the popularization of the so-called modern dance which was developed at the beginning of the twentieth century.
• The Culture of Electronic Dance Music In a bid to realize its aim, the paper discusses the relationship between attending EDM events and the rationality that leads to the consumption of illicit drugs such as ecstasy.
• The CSN Fall Dance Concert Even if a person is informed about some details of the dance concert and the guests, who are going to participate, it is hard to cope with the emotions and attitudes to everything that can […]
• Ghost Dance Religious Movement The circle dance formed the belief systems of the Native Americans and was later given the name the ghost dance. Jack Wilson also known as Wovoka by the Paiute people, was the founder of the […]
• Dancer Alvin Ailey: Techniques and Artistic Choices Alvin Ailey was able to merge dancing techniques which previously seemed to be completely incompatible with one another, and it is one of the major achievements in the history of choreography because such artistic choices […]
• Dance: Alonzo King Lines Ballet Choreography is one of the strongest aspects of the performance. The entire attention is drawn to the dancers and the dance.
• Chicano Folklore: Mexican Folk Dance Some musicians have also supported this subgenre in different parts of the world. This genre also portrays the realities and experiences of many Mexican Americans in the country.
• The Dance Video “Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake 2” The choreographer has also selected the best styles for the dance. This is successful because of the lyrical and comic aspect of the dance.
• Moon – Solo Dance by Yang LiPing It could be defined as a large stage ethnic primitive genre if it was not for the complexity of the hidden innuendoes that the interpretation of the dance suggests.
• Music and Dance as a Part of Our Culture Our family has a unique connection to the dance and music, and how it was used in the family and in social settings.
• The Way of Geisha Dance The way of Geisha dance demonstrates to us the importance of maiko in the traditional Japanese culture. The dance is crucial to the lives of many Japanese women.
• Dance Education and Culture The important elements under discussion for all the dance styles analyzed include, the progression, the uniqueness in steps and the relevance of the knowledge gained to the student.
• Miami Dance Project for Autistic Children For me, what the Miami dance project represents is in line with what is known as the concept of confidence building wherein through the development of certain talents children with autism will begin to have […]
• The Tangs Dancing Business The Tangs spent most of their time running their business as a result, they have no time to refine and polish their sales pitch.
• The Taxi Driver and the Dance With Wolves Films In the film Dance with Wolves, the director seems to be unable to convey the poetry and philosophical inclinations of the colonial masters and the natives of India.
• Survey of Contemporary Dances The aim of this report is to present and interpret the results of the survey on the attitude of people to contemporary dances.
• Arts Education: Music, Dance and Theatre They will be able to identify the role of “telephones” and “telephone” operators in their society. According to Moser and McKay, it is critical for the students to learn how to determine the type and […]
• Capoeira Dance History and Popularity This paper discusses the history of capoeira, how people relate to it in Brazil, where it went after the end of slavery in Brazil and its popularity worldwide.
• Modern Dance by Jiri Kylian On the whole, analyzing the first part of the ballet from the beginning, we have to point out the appropriateness of the absence of sound accompaniment, which leads the onlooker to concentrate on the pattern […]
• Ritual and Philippine Folk Dance
• Dance Therapy for Down Syndrome Effects and Improvements
• Dance and Movement Therapy in Cancer Care
• The Differences Between Real Music and Electronic Dance Music
• Capoeira Brazillian Dance: Martial Art
• Classical Ballet and Modern Dance
• American Music and Culture: Jazz Dance
• American History: Indian Tribes and Ghost Dance
• Dance Movements and Enhance Song Learning in Deaf Children With Cochlear Implants
• The Difference Between Lyrical Dance and Ballet
• Dance and Fitness Concepts for the Physically Impaired
• Beauty That Moves: Dance for Parkinson’s Effects, Self-Efficacy, Gait Symmetry, and Dual-Task Performance
• Hypnotic Dance Music
• Dances and Different Styles in Dance Groups
• The Positive and Negative Effects of Dance on the Body
• Art Forms: Painting, Music, Theater, and Dance
• Different Cultural Beliefs About Dance
• Dance and Architecture: Spatiality and Orientation
• Irish Folk and Dance Music – History and Role
• Bollywood Dance Movies and Indian American Identity Formation
• History, Role, and Origin of Merengue Dance
• Polarized America: The Dance of Ideology and Unequal Riches
• The Dancing Brain: Structural and Functional Signatures of Expert Dance Training
• Street Dance: Frolic Progress Towards Unity Amidst Diversity
• Music, Theater, and Dance: From the Inside Out
• Ballet and Modern Dance: A Revolution Between Traditional and Modern Style
• Modern Dance and Gender Relations
• African American Dance Style
• Abstracting Dance: Detaching Ourselves From the Habitual Perception of the Moving Body
• Hip Hop Dance and the Entertainment Industry
• Relationship Between Electronic Dance Music and Drug Use Among Youth
• Honeybee Linguistics Comparative Analysis of the Waggle Dance Among Species of Apis
• The Lakota Sun Dance: An Overview of the Interconnectivity With All Aspects of Lakota Culture and the Changes Incurred During the Reservation Period
• Dance and Body Expression in the Video Dance and the Real World
• Dance Teaching Philosophies
• Pride and Prejudice: The Function of Dance
• Dance, Music, Meter, and Groove: A Forgotten Partnership
• Cause and Effect: Learning to Dance
• The Origin and History of Dance
• Creek and Cherokee Tribes and Traditional Southeastern Dance Decline
• Can Dance Inspire Change in the Society?
• How Does Culture Relate to Dance?
• How Does the Environment Affect the Viewing of the Dance?
• Will Pole Dance Future Olympic Sport?
• Why Is Dance Important to the Culture?
• How Is Electronic Dance Music Taking Over the World?
• How Is Dance Dance Revolution Getting Kids off the Couch?
• What Was the First Type of Dance?
• How Is Dance Used Today in Our Culture?
• What Are the Benefits of Dance in Mental and Emotional?
• How Can Dancing Improve Your Life and Health?
• How Does Dance Reflect Life?
• What Impact Does the Mass Media Have On the Perception of Dance on Society?
• Does the Waggle Dance Help Honey Bees for Longer Distances Than Expected for Their Body Size?
• How Has Dance Changed?
• How Has the Recent Financial Recession Affected the Arts & Dance Industry?
• When Did Dance First Start?
• Can Dance Change the World?
• How Swing Dance and Jazz Music Impacted America?
• Why Ecstasy Associated With Dance Music?
• How Dance Reflects Culture?
• How Does Ballet Relate to Dance?
• Can Dance Help to Express Emotions?
• How Does Dance Reflect Society?
• How Can Dance Inspire Change?
• How Can Dance Inspire Social or Political Change?
• Why Are Dance Lessons Good for Heart?
• How Can Music Make Us Get Up and Dance?
• How Is Ballet Different From Other Dances?
• Festival Essay Ideas
• Hip Hop Essay Topics
• Classical Music Paper Topics
• Existentialism Paper Topics
• Cognitive Development Essay Ideas
• Social Change Topics
• Emotional Development Questions
• Health Promotion Research Topics
• Chicago (A-D)
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319 Dance Essay Topics & Research Questions on Hip Hop, Ballet, & More

Dancing is a universal form of expression and movement. It has been an integral part of human culture for centuries. From traditional cultural dances to contemporary urban dance styles, this art form transcends language barriers and brings people together.

But dancing is not just about entertainment. It is significant in various aspects of society, from its role in expressing emotions to its impact on mental health.

In this article, our expert team delves into the diverse world of dance. Below, you’ll find interesting dance topics to write about and explore the cultural, social, emotional, and physical dimensions of dance. Read till the end to find a writing guide with examples.

🔝 Top 10 Dance Essay Topics

✏️ dancing essays: writing prompts, 🎓 dance essay titles, 💃🏻 argumentative essay topics about dance, 🕺🏾 hip hop research paper topics, 🔎 dance research paper topics, 📜 dance history research paper topics, 🩰 ballet research topics, ❓ dance research questions, ✍️ dance essay: writing guide, 🔗 references.

• Cultural significance of dance.
• Mental health benefits of dancing.
• Gender roles in dance.
• Dance as nonverbal communication.
• Technological innovations in dance.
• Social impact of dance activism.
• Dance education in schools.
• Emotional expression in dance.
• Dance and cultural identity.
• Politics of dance movements.

Why I Love Dance: Essay Prompt

Are you passionate about dance and want to write about it? Consider including the following points in your essay:

• Explain your deep-rooted passion for dance. Reflect on how dance has influenced your life, shaped your identity, and impacted your personal growth.
• Describe the specific styles or dance genres you are passionate about and explain why they hold a special place in your heart. Share experiences that have strengthened your love for dance, such as memorable performances, challenges , or inspirational moments.
• Discuss how dance has enriched your life and contributed to your overall well-being. Convey your dedication to dance and the importance of this art form in your life.

What Does Dance Mean to You: Essay Prompt

This essay is your chance to reflect on the place of dance in your life. Here are some ideas to include in your paper:

• Express your understanding and connection to dance. Describe what dance means to you on a deeply personal and emotional level. Share your unique perspective on the effects of dance on your life choices and identity.
• Discuss how dance has impacted your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Write about its contribution to your personal growth and development. Describe the emotions and sensations you experience while dancing and how they enrich your life. Discuss any memorable dance experiences, performances, or interactions with fellow dancers that impressed you.
• Depict your passion and appreciation for dance. Articulate the role of dancing in your life. Consider how dance has allowed you to express yourself , connect with others, and navigate life.

Hip Hop Essay Prompt

Are you a fan of hip-hop dance? Then you might enjoy writing an essay about it! Consider the points below to cover in your paper:

• Explore the art and culture of hip-hop. Discuss the origins and evolution of hip-hop dance, including its roots in African, Caribbean, and African-American dance traditions. Study the key elements of hip-hop dance, including its unique style, movement vocabulary, and musicality.
• Discuss the impact of hip-hop dance on popular culture , including its influence on music videos, films, fashion, and the entertainment industry. Analyze the social and cultural significance of hip-hop dance, including its role as a form of self-expression, community-building, and activism . Discuss the diversity and inclusion within hip-hop dance, including its ability to bring people of different backgrounds together.
• Describe any personal experiences or connections with hip-hop dance , and discuss how it has influenced your understanding of dance and culture. Convey your appreciation for hip-hop dance’s artistry, creativity, and cultural relevance. Provide insights into this dynamic and influential dance form.

Why Dance Is a Sport: Essay Prompt

There’s been a long-lasting debate about whether dance should be considered an art or a sport. You can present your opinion on this issue in your essay. Here is a prompt to guide you:

• Study the arguments on both sides of the debate and articulate your stance. Discuss the physical demands of dance, including athleticism, strength, and endurance. Compare them to the criteria used to define sports.
• Explore the competitive nature of dance , including competitions, rankings, and performance expectations . Discuss the training, dedication, and discipline required for dance and compare them to other recognized sports.
• Examine the artistic and creative elements of dance and how they may differentiate dance from traditional sports. Discuss any challenges or controversies surrounding the classification of dance as a sport. It might be the lack of standardized rules, funding, and recognition.
• Consider the cultural, historical, and societal factors influencing perceptions of dance as a sport. Present your argument supported by evidence and examples. Provide a nuanced perspective on this complex and debated topic.

Below, you’ll find plenty of ideas for a college essay about dance. Read on to find a suitable topic for your paper!

Modern Dance Essay: Topics

Modern dance significantly differs from traditional dance forms like ballet. Nowadays, dancers prioritize emotional expression instead of following rigid rules. Here are some interesting dance titles & ideas for your essay on modern styles:

• The diversity of contemporary dance styles.
• Psychological determinants of choosing a particular dance style.
• Creative Movement and Dance in My School.
• Sociopolitical concerns through the prism of dance.
• Modern dance as a form of protest against classical dance.
• Modern Black dance: race in motion.
• Significant people who contributed to the modernization of dance.
• Features of post-modern dance.
• Art Therapy: Creativity as a Critical Part of Art Therapy.
• The new American dance forms.
• Modern dance in the US vs. Europe: differences and similarities.
• Injuries in modern dance: career options for dancers.
• The concepts of modernity, race, and nation in the early modern dance forms.
• Oxygen uptake during a modern dance class.
• Physical Therapy Services for Sports Injuries.
• Socio-demographic correlates of modern dance genre preferences.
• Indian modern dance and feminism.
• Self-expression in modern dance.
• National and transnational modern dance.
• Principles of modern dance therapy.
• Regular engagement in modern dance and depression treatment.
• Modern dance pioneers who revolutionized this art: a case of Lester Horton.
• Incorporating Physical Activity into Lesson Plans.
• Mood changes of people attending dance classes.
• Modern dance classes: can one learn to dance online?
• Evolving gay stereotypes in modern dance.
• Dance as a reflection of culture.
• Depression and Physical Exercise.
• German modern dance during the Nazi rule.
• Body image and modern dance engagement.
• Eating disorders in professional modern dancers.
• Significant elements of modern dance.
• Dance as a hobby and professional activity.
• Art Education, Its Role and Benefits.
• Examples of popular modern dance styles.
• Controversial dance practices.
• Is folk dance considered modern dance?
• Does modern dance come with serious choreography similar to classical dance?
• Class and ethnicity reflected in dance.
• Physical Activity and Sports Team Participation.
• Modern dance in France.
• The transformative power of flamenco dancing.

Dance Critique Essay: Topics

A dance critique essay requires you to evaluate carefully a particular dance performance or a specific aspect of this art form. Check out some dance titles for an essay to inspire your critical response :

• Degradation of dance quality in the 21st century.
• Passion versus physical characteristics in dance performance.
• Racism and gender discrimination at the dance competitions.
• Gender inequality in professional dance.
• Subway dance – a subculture or simply a weird place for practice?
• Dancing and Its Effects on Self-Esteem .
• How did industrialization contribute to the departure from classical dance?
• The rise of burlesque as a rebellion against ballet.
• The Role of Music and Movement in Education.
• The ideology and importance of radical dance.
• The Wigman technique of dance.
• José Limón’s contribution to contemporary dance.
• The place and influence of the American Dance Festival in modern American dance traditions.
• Art, Music, and Dance in Therapeutic Treatment .
• Combination of choreography and multimedia in Alwin Nikolais’s works.
• The flaws and loopholes of early modern dance.
• Popularization of African American dance across the world.
• Ballet elements in contemporary dance.
• The Importance of Arts in the School Curriculum .
• The contribution of Grete Wiesenthal to modern dance development.
• What place does concert dance occupy in the dance typology?
• Place of women in dance – now and then.
• Differences between modern and contemporary dance styles.
• Pole dance’s potential for inclusion in the Olympic Games list.

Dance Reflection Essay: Topic Ideas

Are you looking for thought-provoking dance topics to talk about in a reflection paper ? Check out the list below:

• What features and character traits should a good dance teacher possess?
• What does it mean to be a dance revolutionary?
• What did modern dance pioneers do to create new dance types?
• Should professional dance be taught in college?
• Sports Psychologist: Working With Athletes.
• The national dance of my country.
• My first experience in a dance class.
• My music preferences for dancing.
• Dances with Wolves Essay – Movie Analysis .
• Dancing as a personal form of relaxation and meditation.
• Why do some people prefer dancing alone at home and others need an audience?
• My favorite movie about dancing.
• Ballet as my passion and my greatest disappointment.
• My opinion of dancing as a profession.
• Music in the Service of Social Movements.
• Importance of dancing in my culture.
• What I think makes a good and bad dancer.
• My experience of participating in a dance contest.
• The role of dance in my family.
• My fascination with Indian dance.
• My dream is to become a hip-hop dancer.
• Benefits I see in regular dancing.
• The pros and cons of professional engagement in dance.

There are some controversial issues related to dance you can explore in your paper. Below, you’ll discover a list of dance topics to express your reasoned opinion about.

• Dance can be a tool for social change .
• How can culture be reflected through dance?
• Should College Athletes Be Paid?
• The impact of the environment on dance perception.
• The importance of dance styles and types for specific cultures.
• Dance as an intangible cultural heritage.
• Is dance a kind of sport?
• Sports-Related Problems and Conflicts .
• Why do people start to dance?
• Why is the audience attracted to dance performances?
• What is the motivation behind starting to dance at an early age?
• Why is contemporary dance more popular than classical dance today?
• The Cognitive Performance and Physical Activity Link.
• Are modern dance styles, like hip hop, easier than ballet dancing?
• Dance training is highly traumatic and shouldn’t be practiced at an early age.
• The risk of trauma and permanent injury among professional ballet dancers.
• Street dance is not serious dance.
• Exercise – The Mind and Body Connection.
• The impact of motivation and self-confidence on dance performance.
• Dancing positively affects the physical and cognitive health of aging adults.
• Dance is a tool against aging .
• Different dance styles and genres require different physical endurance and energy expenditure.
• Music Incorporation into Classes.
• Importance of choosing your dance style according to your BMI and bodily peculiarities.
• Partner dancing is healthier for motor control and coordination than solo dancing.
• Benefits of ballroom dancing.
• The economic effect of dance development.
• What is the hardest dance style?
• Cultural Appropriation in Music .
• Ghost dance as a religious movement.
• Electronic dance as a new subculture.
• Techniques of dancing to jazz music.
• Flamenco dance as a reflection of Spanish passion.
• Students’ Motivation and Satisfaction of Music Festival .
• Cultural significance of feminist dance films.
• The impact of proper nutrition on dance performance.
• The art of staging a dance performance.
• The social significance of street dance.
• Creative Art Therapy for Mental Illness.
• What does dance have to do with math?
• Belly dance as a recreational activity.
• Interpretative dance as a strong therapeutic tool.
• The use of dance therapy for individuals with Down syndrome.

Hip-hop dance is a popular street dance style that emerged in the second half of the 20th century. It encourages freedom of expression and is characterized by freestyle movements, particularly drops to the ground and sharp turns. If you seek to write a paper on hip-hop, here are catchy dance titles to inspire you:

• The role of dance in hip-hop culture.
• Chinese Hip Hop and Identity .
• Hip-hop dance and body power.
• Hip-hop as an African diaspora dance style.
• Meanings and messages in hip-hop dance.
• Genders, Sexuality, and Hip-Hop .
• Origins of hip-hop.
• Injury incidence in hip-hop training and performance.
• Commercialization of hip-hop dance.
• Core elements of hip-hop dancing.
• The Uprising of Hip-Hop: Music History .
• Hip-hop dance in modern ballet choreography.
• Low back pain in hip-hop dancers.
• B-boying in hip-hop.
• Motivations of hip-hop dancers for professional engagement with this dance style.
• The “breaks” concept in break dancing.
• The Evolution of Hip-Hop Culture .
• The roots of hip-hop choreography.
• Battling among hip-hop crews.
• Hip-hop scandals – sex and violence in hip-hop content.
• Theorizing hip-hop dance.
• Hip-Hop’s Response to Crime Analysis .
• Hip-hop dance consumption: who is the target audience?
• Globalization and hip-hop dancing.
• Principles of hip-hop dance codification.
• Hip-hop as a black social dance.
• Metaphors in hip-hop dance moves.
• Black feminism in hip-hop dance.
• Concepts of Elite Culture and Popular Culture .
• US Ebonics as the language of American hip-hop choreography.
• Extreme kinematics in hip-hop performances.
• What injuries are the most common among hip-hop dancers?
• Can hip-hop be a professional career?
• Basic rhythmic movements of hip-hop dance.
• Hip-hop practice’s impact on the dancer’s mood.
• Body poetics in hip-hop performances.
• Standards for judging hip-hop contests.
• Cultural Movement: Hip-Hop Related Films.
• Le hip hop – a French hip-hop subculture.
• The hip-hop culture in New York.
• Perceptions of race in the hip-hop community: white vs. black dancers.
• Hip-hop theater in London: a new level of dance style’s legitimization.

Do you want to learn more about dance? Then why not write a research paper on that? Below, you’ll discover a list of engaging dance topics to research.

• Novel approaches to dance: a blend with architecture at the Barnes Foundation’s exhibition.
• Dance from an anthropological perspective .
• Politics and poetics in dance.
• The biology of dance movements’ language.
• Teaching dance: should it be art or sport?
• Dance ethnology.
• Women in dance since antiquity : the images of sylphs and sirens.
• Philosophy of the dance: universal or nationally bound?
• What is a dance movement?
• Dancing and the brain.
• Psychology of dance.
• Dance as a mighty psychotherapeutic tool.
• Should national dance be included in the school curriculum?
• Living through psychological trauma in dance.
• The role of dance improvisations.
• Reform and revival of old dance styles.
• The role of space and subjectivity in dance.
• Shakespeare and the dance tradition of England.
• The social anthropology of dance performances.
• Theories and methodologies in dance research.
• A Eurocentric approach to the study of dance.
• Dance and the body.
• Dance as a method of self-study.
• Computer technology and dance.
• The evolution of Irish dance.
• The contribution of Merce Cunningham to modern dance.
• How does dance stimulate social fantasy?
• Partner dancing as a way to strengthen relationships in a couple.
• Verbal language of dancers and choreographers.
• The political side of national dancing.
• Dance and physics.
• The mind-body concept in dance.
• What can be regarded as contemporary dance?
• Dance imagery in various dance styles.
• What makes people dance? The philosophy of bodily movement.
• Dancing out one’s emotions: the dance of anger or happiness.
• The neural basis of human dance movements.
• Isadora Duncan’s revolutionary dance theory.
• The challenges of the interactive dance genre.
• Dance from the position of existential phenomenology.
• Dualism and body-soul separation: a dance perspective.
• Dance and embodiment.
• Dance and self: a philosophical perspective.
• Body as object vs. subject in dance.
• Freedom and intention in body movements during dance.
• Staged dance: the concept of created body.
• A tension between the personal and the universal in dance.
• Health benefits of recreational and professional dance.
• Japanese dance as an embodiment of culture.
• Turning body and identity into dance choreography.

The history of dance dates back millennia. So, there is so much to explore! Check out possible dance research project ideas for your history paper:

• Approaches to rethinking dance history.
• The elements of early European modern dance.
• Feminist perspectives on dance history.
• Dance at the dawn of history.
• History of somatic education and its relationship to dance.
• History of classic theatrical dancing.
• New media use in dance history reconstructions.
• The evolution of dance and sexuality relationship.
• Tools for capturing dance from the past.
• Dances in prehistory.
• Early records of dance performances in historical manuscripts.
• Ancient Greek dance traditions and forms.
• Dancing in Ancient Rome.
• Dance at court: the 16th-17th centuries in Europe.
• Evolution of dance from royal court to theater in the 18th century.
• The early dancing traditions in the 17th-century US.
• Dancing genres in Medieval Europe.
• The history of waltz: origin, evolution of dance elements, and traditions.
• How did the tango dance emerge?
• The emergence of belly dance.
• Flamenco dance history: a style born in Andalusia.
• Historical perspectives on dance research.
• The Ojibwa dance drum: history of the practice.
• Yoeme performs as a narrative of Yaqui history.
• The evolution of African American dance.
• The African roots of Latin American popular dance.
• Ethnographic elements of modern dance performances.
• The dance halls of Britain, 1918-1960.
• A historical overview of social dance.
• Global history of dance development.
• Dance in the French baroque opera.
• The history and meaning of tango dancing in Argentina.
• What materials to use when studying dance history?
• A cultural history of dance in the troubled areas: a case study of Palestine.
• The hidden history of capoeira: intersections of battle craft and dance.

Ballet is a highly formalized dance form with rigid rules and predefined positions. If you’re interested in this classical type of choreography, check out the dance research topics below:

• Is free dance a subtype of ballet?
• The evolution of ballet traditions by Isadora Duncan.
• Russo-American ballet at the start of the 20th century.
• Emerging American ballet: the 1930s onwards.
• Romantic and classical ballet traditions in the 19th century.
• Classical ballet in Russia.
• Classical ballet vs. modern dance: key similarities.
• Injuries in professional ballet.
• Static and functional balance in ballet dance.
• Ballet as a form of ethnic dance.
• The impact of ballet dance attire on female dancers’ self-perception.
• Endurance of pain among ballet dancers.
• The concept of the ideal ballet body.
• Methods of preventing hip and knee injuries in professional ballet.
• Physiological eligibility characteristics for classical ballet.
• Evolution of ballet dancer identity in the process of training.
• Incidence of sprained ankles in ballet dancers.
• Physiological responses to active ballet exercise among dancers of different ages.
• Importance of artistic performance ability in ballet dancers.
• Disordered eating patterns among ballet dancers.
• Management of stress fractures in ballet dancers.
• Ballet dancer career: an international perspective.
• Incidence of scoliosis in young ballet dancers.
• Travesty dancing in the 19th-century ballet tradition.
• Gender issues in ballet.
• The cultural power of ballet.
• Degenerative joint disease risks among female ballet trainees.
• Hip arthrosis as a long-term consequence of ballet training.
• History of the “Apollo’s Angels” ballet.
• Sleep quality in professional ballet dancers.
• Heteromasculinity images among male ballet dancers.
• Postural stability before and after a ballet injury.
• Dance classicism as an ideology.
• Royal Ballet’s dancers and body perception.
• How do professional ballet dancers perceive injury and aging?

Are you looking for research topics about dance in the form of questions? We’ve got you covered! Look through the list below to find good dance topics to research:

• How does dance education foster creativity in children?
• How do feminists view belly dance?
• What is the impact of technology on dance performances?
• How to preserve indigenous peoples’ traditional dance forms?
• How have traditional gender roles been challenged through dance?
• What creative strategies do choreographers employ?
• What is the impact of dance on community building?
• What factors contribute to the commercialization of dance?
• How does dance function as a means of storytelling?
• What is the link between dance and spirituality in different religions?
• What is the role of costumes and stage design in dance performances?
• What are the cognitive benefits of dance for older adults?
• How has ballet adapted to modern artistic movements?
• How has globalization affected the cross-cultural exchange of dance styles?
• What dance styles have been influenced by flamenco?

Do you need help writing an essay on dance? Below, we’ve prepared a short guide with examples. Read on to learn how to write each section of your dance essay.

Dance Essay Introduction

The introduction is the opening paragraph of an essay that should engage the readers. Use a hook to grab the readers’ interest and introduce your topic. It can be a catchy quote, interesting question, or controversial statement.

Hook example : Imagine a world where bodies move in perfect harmony, telling stories without words. That’s the magic of dance, an art form that transcends language and culture, captivating audiences for centuries.

After that, you can provide some background information about the subject. End your introduction with a thesis statement .

Thesis Statement about Dance

The thesis statement outlines the central argument or purpose of the essay. It is the last sentence of your introduction, summarizing the whole paper. Your thesis should include all the main points mentioned in your writing in the same sequence.

Dance thesis example : Dance is not only a form of artistic expression but also a means of communication, a tool for personal growth, and a reflection of cultural identity.

Essay about Dance: Body Paragraphs

The essay’s body contains paragraphs that provide evidence and support for the thesis statement. Each section should begin with a topic sentence that presents a point related to your central argument.

Topic sentence example : One significant aspect of dance is its ability to convey emotions and stories through movement.

Evidence, such as examples, facts, or research, should support the topic sentence. The evidence should be analyzed and explained to show how it supports the thesis statement.

Evidence example : In classical ballet, dancers’ graceful movements and facial expressions can portray a wide range of emotions, from love and joy to sorrow and anger.

Dancing Essay: Conclusion

The conclusion is the final part that summarizes the main points made in the essay’s body. It should also restate the thesis statement in a paraphrased form without introducing new information. The conclusion should leave a lasting impression and a sense of closure.

Conclusion example : In conclusion, dance is a powerful form of expression beyond mere movement. It is a universal language conveying emotions, facilitating personal growth, and reflecting cultural identity.

How to Describe Dancing: Words & Tips

When describing dancing in an essay, use vivid and sensory language to convey the experience. Words such as “graceful,” “rhythmic,” “expressive,” and “dynamic” can capture the movement and style of dancing.

Emotive words like “joy,” “passion,” “energy,” and “freedom” can convey the emotional impact of dancing. Describing the physical sensations of dancing can make the description more immersive. You can write about the feeling of one’s body in motion, the sound of feet tapping, the swish of skirts, or the rush of adrenaline.

Metaphors or similes, such as “floating like a butterfly,” can add depth and creativity. Overall, using vivid language that engages the senses and emotions will benefit your paper.

We hope you found a perfect essay topic in this article. Use our free online title generator to get even more creative topics about dance and writing inspiration.

• Dance 260: Introduction to Dance: Dance Topics | BYU Library
• Dance: Topics in Dance and Dance History | Utah Tech University Library
• Research Areas | UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts
• Dance | PBS Learning Media
• Dancing Styles | Boston University
• Dance 260: Introduction to Dance: Research Help | BYU Library
• Writing a Dance Critique | Utah Tech University Library
• Glossary for Dance | Connecticut’s Official State Website
• Guidelines For Writing a Dance Review | Human Kinetics

414 Proposal Essay Topics for Projects, Research, & Proposal Arguments

725 research proposal topics & title ideas in education, psychology, business, & more.

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Critical Issues in Dance

Exploring the power of dance through writing and arguing for points of view.

This course is focused on issues that relate to the dance world and how to write about them and argue points of view. It also includes a section on dance criticism, which covers the operations of the dance critic, as well as purpose of various kinds of dance writing. Becoming a better writer is also a focus in this upper-division writing course, so there are several assignments that range from reviews and reports of dance events to response papers for the readings, and critical essays.

The course's title, "Critical Issues in Dance," also points to the many ways of discussing the relevance and primacy of dance as it relates to, for instance, issues that surround sexuality, human rights, censorship, ethnicities, hierarchies, and gender. Should dancers join unions and strike for their rights? How much is weight an issue in the world of dance training and professional companies? Does it matter where you dance, in terms of a country's regime or other political concerns? Are art forms cheapened by having commercial sponsors? Why do only women wear pointe shoes? Should dancers who become parents get maternity leave? Why are there not more female choreographers and artistic directors? Why are men stigmatized in the dance world? Is dance understood and valued in university and the wider world?

Students present to the class and write essays about dance-related things that come up in both the popular and scholarly press. Through reading, viewing, and discussion, you should begin to find a voice in an art form where the body speaks more often than not. It prepares you to do dance criticism or talk back to critics, make an argument for the importance of dance as a major study, analyze MTV, or write a letter to the editor, your senator, or your parents about how dance connects crucially with the rest of the world.

Pictured: Donald McKayle, Dance Visions 2017. Photo by Rose Eichembaum.

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What Moves You?

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Every dissertation is individual and unique - particularly for dance students, who must combine a wide range of approaches into a tailor-made research methodology.

What Moves You? fosters a creative approach to dissertations and final projects. By guiding the development of a personal study program, this volume encourages dance students to take ownership of their artistic and academic work, a skill essential both to successful undergraduate study, and to making the first steps towards a career in dance.

Rather than propose a prescriptive, step-by-step mantra, Charlotte Nichol and Lise Uytterhoeven draw upon contributions from students, teachers, examiners and practitioners to broaden the notion of ‘research’ and demystify the purpose of the dissertation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter | 5  pages, introduction, chapter 1 | 19  pages, designing your research project, chapter 2 | 18  pages, anchor points in your learning process, chapter 3 | 22  pages, thinking on your feet: the research process, chapter 4 | 22  pages, outward facing: presenting and communicating the research, chapter 5 | 9  pages, beyond the dissertation, into working life.

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Theatre, Dance & Performance Studies Theses and Dissertations

Permanent uri for this collection, recent submissions.

• No Thumbnail Available Item NEXTNOW: IN CONVERSATION: BODY IN SPACE ( 2024 ) Kowalski, Jerran ; Kachman, Misha ; Theatre ; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland ; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.) Show more This thesis provides a record of the lighting, video, and audio elements created for the lobby installation of the NextNOW Festival’s tenth year anniversary, produced by the University of Maryland – College Park as part of their Arts for All initiative.This thesis contains documentation from the artistic design process, installation, and production of this performance. These documents were the basis on which the design was formed. Included are research boards, notes from artistic meetings, drafting plates, published postings, and a final reflection on the production design, installation, and execution. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item LUCID DREAMS: AN EXPLORATION IN IMMERSIVE INTERACTIVE STORYTELLING WITH AUGMENTED REALITY ( 2024 ) Lazar, Rashonda ; Kachman, Misha ; Theatre ; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland ; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.) Show more The following thesis examines my design process and discoveries while investigating one way live performance and immersive storytelling can act as a form of augmented reality, and explores whether incorporating traditional forms of augmented reality is one way to enhance a performance and builds on the narrative agency audiences experience in immersive theater. The production opened on April 8th, 2024, in the Herman Maril Gallery at the Parren J. Mitchell Art and Sociology Building at the University of Maryland. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item TONIGHT WE MAY WIN: CHALLENGING THE UNIVERSAL IN QUEER EMBODIMENT AND PERFORMANCE ( 2024 ) Steinberg, Rebecca Anne ; Keefe, Maura ; Dance ; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland ; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.) Show more I sit in this chair how I always do, snug to the left side. I feel the warm hum of my laptop resting on my thighs. I feel the external rotation of my hips that allows my legs to casually cross with my feet cradled by the ottoman. I feel the spiral of my spine supporting a slightly forward head that looks down at the computer screen as I simultaneously sense the weight of chronic pain pooling heavy in my tired bones. I come to write words on this page through a commitment to embodiment as a state of profound possibility. As dance scholar Susan Foster suggests in her essay Choreographing History, “I am a body writing, I am a bodily writing.” I write through, with, and from embodiment. I define embodiment as a state where one has a heightened consciousness of their sensorium through acknowledged sensation. This state of awareness through sensation grounds the “self” in the body. Through this lens, embodiment is a mobilization that has the power to redefine how queerness is enacted and perceived through the medium of live performance. My dance thesis work, Tonight, we, may win, wields the social commentary of this position of audience privilege as farce. In this work, the dancers engage in what I’ve named “performing performativity.” Performing performativity makes transparent the exchange of currency between audience member and performer. Performing performativity functions in Tonight, we, may win as both a lens through which to view the performance and a performative state the dancers enact. The performers and the choreographer together have the power to enact possibility through this viable exchange. The potential of this enacted possibility is extensive, complex, nuanced, and political. It is an exchange that requires a book of its own to justly unpack. Although this is not the space for that unpacking, this is a space where I utilize my thesis choreography as a primary example where the power of possibility through embodiment is examined thoroughly through various theoretical lenses and multiple works of performance art. The epicenter of this physical and theoretical research revolves around the development and execution my thesis choreography, Tonight, we, may win, performed February 16-18, 2024 at University of Maryland, College Park. The enacted examples of a body first politic are constructed in this research through the vehicle of my choreographic work. I enact a body first politic in my work and I use the following chapters to bring in the choreographic voices of both my own work and dance makers and performers who succeed in challenging the impositions of the cisheteropartriarchy through queer embodiment. In the first chapter I provide an introduction the theoretical and chorographic groundwork of this world through the lens of queer embodied subjecthood. In Chapter 2, I use a solo work I created in 2022, titled Soft Caution, to activate choreography as feminist knowledge production through movement analysis and feminist theory. In the third chapter, I evoke failure as both a queer action and choreographic tool and argue for queerness as a technology in live performance. I bring in the choreographic works of Age & Beauty: Part 3 by Miguel Gutierrez and Black Hole by Shamel Pitts as examples of live performances that make queerness as a technology visibly tangible. In Chapter 4, I closely analyze the lyrics of “I Don’t Care Much” from the musical Cabaret through black feminism, performance studies, queer studies, and beyond to dissect the thin façade of queer apathy in its application to performance, queerness, communal grief, and more. In the final chapter, I excavate both the process and the product of my thesis choreography Tonight, we, may win. Through movement analysis and rehearsal reflections I endeavor to add depth and dimension to the ephemeral world created and left on stage during my thesis concert. This research privileges embodiment, communal care, and queerness through the vehicle of live performance to argue for the enactment of inclusive and equitable futures on the stage and beyond. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item FLYING UP AND FALLING DOWN: QUEER PHENOMENOLOGY, CYBORGS, QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT, AND TENSEGRITY IN MATERIAL BODY 01 + PULSE: AN ANTI-DISCIPLINARY PERFORMANCE OF DANCE AND TECHNOLOGY ( 2024 ) Ford, Mary Kate ; Portier, Kendra ; Dance ; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland ; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.) Show more This thesis examines Material Body 01 + Pulse, a live performance merging dance and technology through the lenses of queer phenomenology, cyborg embodiment, tensegrity, and quantum entanglement. By destabilizing and reimagining conventional notions of boundaries, materials, machines, symbols, and ecological systems the choreography invites audiences to engage with diverse embodiments and perceptions. The integration of elements that blur boundaries between human and machine foreground the cyborg as a site of transformation and active engagement in systemic surroundings. The choreographic manipulation of tension embodies the dynamic equilibrium of tensegrity, generating interconnectedness. Through analysis of the choreographic process, this thesis highlights how Material Body 01 + Pulse intersects contemporary dance with emergent technologies and theoretical frameworks, offering new perspectives on embodiment, identity, and spatiality in the digital era. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item MEN ON BOATS: A DESIGN EXPEDITION TO BRING THE NATURAL WONDERS OF THE GRAND CANYON TO THE STAGE A SCENIC DESIGN ( 2024 ) Mosier, Gavin Edward ; Chandrashaker, Amith ; Keefe, Maura ; Theatre ; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland ; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.) Show more This thesis describes the scenic design process for the University of Maryland’s production of Men on Boats by Jaclyn Backhaus. Men on Boats was directed by KenYatta Rogers and Elena Velasco. This production was produced by the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies within the College of Arts and Humanities at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in the Ina & Jack Kay Theatre. The following materials in this thesis were used as tools to convey the scenic design to the directors, fellow design collaborators, production team members, production shops, crew members, and actors: research images, sketches, photographs of ¼” scale color neutral and color models, drafting packet, paint elevations, a properties list, a properties book. Also included in this thesis are production photographs and written reflections of the entire process - from page to stage. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item SYNERGIZING SHADOWS AND SCREENS: LIGHTING AND MEDIA DESIGN FOR A BICYCLE COUNTRY ( 2024 ) Garcia, Luis M ; Mezzocchi, Jared ; Chandrashaker, Amith ; Theatre ; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland ; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.) Show more The following thesis explores the artistic ideas, concepts, design process, and execution of Luis Manuel Garcia’s lighting and media design for the University of Maryland - College Park’s production of A Bicycle Country. The production opened Friday, November 10th, 2023 in the Kogod Theatre at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. A Bicycle Country was written by Nilo Cruz, with direction by Fatima Quander, scenic design by Sofía Olivar, costume design by Becca Janney, and sound design by Justin Schmitz. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item THE PROM: AN EXPLORATION OF THE MUSICAL THEATRE DESIGN PROCESS ( 2024 ) Henrriquez, Christian Douglas ; Chandrashaker, Amith ; Theatre ; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland ; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.) Show more This thesis outlines the lighting design process for The Prom, performed at the University of Maryland’s School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies in September 2023. It outlines the process from initial thoughts, collaborating with the creative team, budgeting, creating technical paperwork, cueing, and technical rehearsals, culminating with the opening night. The paper contains documents and images detailing the process with an evaluation and reflection. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item The Purpose of a Labor Theatre: Industrial Democracy and the Union Theatre of Detroit, 1946-1949 ( 2024 ) Lapinski, Margaret ; Hildy, Franklin J. ; Theatre ; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland ; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.) Show more In 1946, the Union Theatre of Detroit was established as a project to broadcast “labor’s” aims and achievements. Sponsored by the Educational and Recreational Departments of the UAW, the Union Theatre quickly became part of the UAW’s educational programming to help educate and politicize workers on social issues like racial discrimination. This thesis seeks to investigate the ways in which the Union Theatre labored on behalf of an industrial democratic political program that emphasized deploying both economic and political action to achieve the goals of “labor.” In addition to providing a brief history of the Union Theatre, I use methods from performance studies and theatre studies to analyze archival material and decipher the ways in which plays functioned as both recreational activities and educational opportunities for union members to rehearse the tactics and strategies of labor organizing. I argue that, post-WWII, theatre and theatricality (loosely defined as the conventions of theatre) were deployed as an organizing tool to agitate and educate union members during a period of theatre history that is characterized in theatre historiography as “politically apathetic.” In this thesis, I ask “What was the social link between the Union Theatre and institutions like the UAW?” and seek to uncover how cultural work labors in broader social and political movements like the American labor movement. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item Men on Boats: A Lighting Design ( 2024 ) Laverty, Christina Kouni ; Chandrashaker, Amith ; Theatre ; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland ; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.) Show more This thesis provides written and visual documentation of the lighting design process for Jaclyn Backhaus’ play Men on Boats, produced by the University of Maryland, College Park’s School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies. The production opened on March 1, 2024, and had six performances. This paper details dramaturgical analysis, research, the design process, technical documents, performance photographs, and reflections. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item Mi Vida, in Rhythm: Resistance and Integration of an Afro- Honduran Immigrant in The United States Through Tap Dance ( 2024 ) Lanza Ruiz, Gerson Noé ; Portier, Kendra ; Dance ; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland ; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.) Show more This article focuses on Mi Vida, in Rhythm, which premiered on October 12, 2023, at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. This performance is an autobiographical account of my experience immigrating from Honduras to the United States. At the heart of this production lies the art of storytelling, brough to life through the combination of live music, dance and spoken word. The performance draws heavily from the experiences of Afro-descendant peoples in Central America and the United States. It is steeped in the cultural traditions of the Garifuna, an afro-indigenous people of Honduras, incorporating their language, dance forms of resistance, and everyday choreography. The performance aims to capture the evolution of communication tactics, identity, and coping mechanisms of Afro Latinoe/xs as we navigate the challenges of realizing the American dream.What follows are brief personal accounts that serve as guide to essential artistic discoveries that sparked my curiosity. These curiosities eventually mold my artistry in percussive dance, particularly tap dance. With that, I formally analyze specific segments in Mi Vida, in Rhythm, that serve as reservoir of knowledge for movement and sound exploration. Ultimately my scholarly research dwells in three different topics; First the term Blackness as descriptive of one's ethnicity, race, or both, and the movement practices unique to their demographic and diasporic thread. Second, the understanding of historic privileging of Eurocentric perspectives within higher education. Third, the necessity to highlight Afro-Latinoe/ experiences and dance forms within dance curriculum. The article concludes by highlighting my contributions as an artist, instructor, and creative collaborator steeped in the artistry of bodily percussion practices and the intersectionality of Black cultural terrain and immigration paranoia. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item ALTERNATIVE CHOREOGRAPHIES: IMMERSIVE PERFORMANCE AS A DECOLONIAL PEDAGOGICAL AND PERFORMANCE PRACTICE ( 2024 ) Padilla Garcia, Javier Ignacio ; Fang, Adriane ; Dance ; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland ; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.) Show more The research unfolds through a multidisciplinary lens, weaving together theoretical analysis, artistic creation, pedagogical exploration and performative interventions. Through “el bodegon de la bruja”, an interdisciplinary immersive dance theater performance, this thesis aims to explore alternative ways of understanding, learning, and expressing that are rooted in decolonial principles. The performance engages with diverse mediums and techniques to construct immersive environments that prompt participants to critically reflect on colonial histories and power structures. Through a series of performative acts and pedagogical interventions, the thesis seeks to demonstrate how immersive performance can serve as a conduit for decolonial praxis. The outcomes contribute to an evolving discourse on the potential of artistic and educational practices to actively dismantle colonial legacies. This work not only envisions alternative narratives but actively engages participants in co-creating knowledge, fostering a sense of empowerment, agency, and a deeper understanding of decolonialized perspectives. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item ST(ILL) SOUNDS: WAVES OF SOUND, HEALTH, AND THE CHOREOGRAPHIC PROCESS ( 2024 ) Falcon, Britney ; Crawford, Samuel ; Keefe, Maura ; Dance ; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland ; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.) Show more st(ill) sounds: waves of sound, health, and the choreographic process, explores the intersections of sound, healthcare, choreography, and dance performance. The research draws upon psychology, physical and cognitive science, visual art, technology, linguistics, and cripistemologies. Central to the research is the concept of the body as a conduit for the construction of sonic material and states of being. Through critical listening, investigations of the visual, aural, and sensorial, are ways to frame embodied consciousness, identity forming, and cultural exchange. Guided by inquiries into modes of listening and desired modes of being heard, the research unravels the interconnectedness of sound’s affect. The work of Pauline Oliveros, Nina Sun Eidsheim, Nancy Stark Smith, Stanley Keleman, and Cymatic Technology ground this research. The choreographic process is discussed through diverse frameworks and practices which include the exploration of fluid dynamics, wave phenomena, bodily landscapes, vibratory practices, and the co-emergent properties of echo as a feminist force. The research culminates in the creation of a transformative sonic experience through its contributions to performance, process, and relationality, underscored by access. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item FALL MFA DANCE THESIS CONCERT 2023: AN IMMERSIVE WORLD ( 2024 ) Jn.Baptiste, Shartoya Rochelle ; Kachman, Misha ; Theatre ; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland ; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.) Show more This thesis seeks to describe the scenic design process for The Fall MFA Dance Thesis Concert (FMFA) choreographed by Javier Padilla and Gerson Lanza at the University of Maryland - College Park, School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies through research, documentation, photographs, and other design materials. Some of the following materials included in this thesis were used as tools to convey the scenic design to the choreographers and the production team: research images, sketches, photographs of the 1⁄4" scale white and colour models, a complete drafting packet, paint elevations, a properties list, and book. Photographs from the production and a written reflection on the design process are also included. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item Decadence, Decay and Divine Retribution: Reframing Don Giovanni Through Costume Design ( 2024 ) Janney, Rebecca Anne ; Huang, Helen ; Theatre ; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland ; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.) Show more This document describes the process of concepting, designing, and realizing the costume design for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Lorenzo da Ponte’s opera, Don Giovanni. This iteration of the opera centered the principal women Donna Anna, Donna Elvira, and Zerlina in their quest for retribution against Don Giovanni for his sexual abuse of them. The production uses the 1780s as a period touchstone but manipulated modern asymmetry and Baroque color to create the dramatic world of the show. This thesis contains a record of the entire design process from early concept to completed production. This includes research, renderings, fitting photos, production photos, and paperwork. The show was produced by the Maryland Opera Studio between April 14th to April 23rd, 2023. This production was conducted by Craig Kier, directed by Corinne Hayes, scenic designed by Brandon Roak, lighting designed by Heather Reynolds, and costume designed by Becca Janney. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item Popular Theatre in Iran: Critical Perspectives on The Historiography of Lalehzari Theatre ( 2024 ) Haeri, Q-mars Mazandarani ; Hildy, Franklin J. ; Theatre ; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland ; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.) Show more By the mid-1950s a class of performers occupied the theatres, concert halls, and nightclubs of the Lalehzar entertainment district in Tehran. Many of these performers had abandoned their lives in small villages in faraway provinces. Many had come from poor neighborhoods in Tehran to pursue their dreams for theatre, dance, and music. Their diverse and varied performances known as “Lalehzari” (adjectival form) made deep and affective connections to the audience in the Lalehzar district. For the first time, a great population of Tehran’s spectators, who were often characterized as “uncultured” by various scholars, had finally found a body of performances that they could relate to, those that could speak to their struggles and sorrows, and that responded to political and social issues within their society.This dissertation considers the “Lalehzari” performances of the 1950s and 1960, the ways in which these performances originated in the 1940s, the ways in which they subverted the status quo, and the ways in which they have been described, theorized, and historicized in Iranian historical studies of theatre. Major theatre histories have been written with a Marxist lens by writers who had a relationship with the Tudeh communist party. As a result, such histories tend to emphasize, admire, and affirm so-called “committed theatre” and dismiss, denounce, and stigmatize Lalehzari popular theatre. Hence, there is a major gap in the available literature that represents Iranian modern cultural history as one-sided and political. This is not to deny that culture is always political but at a time when knowledge of Middle Eastern cultures in the US is limited to political discourse alone, an academic endeavor of the cultural history of Iran is crucial for understanding this multifaceted society. This dissertation addresses fundamental questions about how notions like immigration and class challenge the ways in which we think about culture and how cultural history may be written without erasures. To reconstruct the history of Lalehzari theatre, I am organizing my dissertation into these chapters: Lalehzar’s unique geographic location in Tehran and the history of its theatre houses (chapter 1), the improvisatory popular performers of the 1940s and how they gained access to Lalehzar (chapter 2), the stigmatization of Lalehzar (chapter 3), Racial depiction in performances in the district (chapter 4). Each of these chapters has a historical part that explains the cause and effect of events, the continuation and changes of performance styles, and the operation of theatre houses. Each chapter also offers a close reading and analysis of a few artists whose lives and performances reflect the class tensions between the Lalehzar district and the outside theatre scene. I am looking at the ways in which history unfolded and also how it affects us today, therefore, the dissertation addresses the preservation quest for Lalehzar theatres (chapter 5) and how lasting narratives about Lalehzar shaped the Iranian culture today (conclusion). Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item THE PROM: A SCENIC DESIGN ( 2024 ) Roak, Brandon ; Kachman, Misha ; Conway, Daniel ; Theatre ; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland ; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.) Show more The purpose of this thesis is to provide a record for the scenic design process for The Prom, a musical by Matthew Sklar, Chad Beguelin, and Bob Martin, produced at the University of Maryland – College Park by the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies. This thesis contains documentation for the scenic design and production process for this performance. These documents serve as the foundation of this scenic design. Each element was used to communicate design ideas and technical specifications to the director, other designers, and craftspeople involved in this production. Included are research images, photographs of ¼” scale models, drafting plates, paint elevations, a properties list and a properties book detailing furniture and hand props, along with a final reflection of the scenic design and production process. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item WHAT IS REAL AND WHAT IS TRUE: DESIGNING COSTUMES FOR DANIEL CATÁN’S FLORENCIA EN EL AMAZONAS ( 2024 ) Von Ruden, Cody Conrad ; Huang, Helen Q ; Theatre ; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland ; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.) Show more In this document is a description of the process of conceiving and implementing the costume designs for Maryland Opera Studio’s production of Florencia en el Amazonas by Daniel Catán. A fantastical operatic journey inspired by the writings of Gabriel Garcia Márquez. The production was set on a steamboat sailing down the Amazon River at the turn of the century. Contained within this thesis are the original concept designs and final product, including research, renderings, fitting photos, production photos, and supplemental paperwork. This show was produced by Maryland Opera Studio April 13 – 21, 2024. The opera was directed by Corinne Hayes, Scenic Design by August Henney, Lighting Design by Scott J. Monnin, Media Design by Jerran Kowalski, Wigs and Makeup by Priscilla Bruce, and Costume Design by Cody Von Ruden Show more

• 1 (current)

How To Create An Effective Outline For Dance Dissertations

Writing a dissertation can be a daunting task for many students. Regardless of the research topic, creating an effective outline is a key step in the writing process.

This article outlines how to create an effective outline for dance dissertations. It will provide valuable information on how to brainstorm ideas, define a research question, review the literature, and write a thesis statement.

Additionally, the article will explain how to break down the argument, identify key points, and revise and edit the outline. This article’s aim is to help readers create an effective outline for their dance dissertation that will make the writing process easier.

Brainstorming Ideas

Brainstorming provides an opportunity to generate ideas which can be utilised to help construct a comprehensive dissertation in the field of choreography. It is an effective method for exploring options and researching solutions to help create an effective dissertation outline.

To begin brainstorming, it is important to find a quiet, comfortable setting where one can focus without distractions. It is also important to create a list of questions related to the main topic of the dissertation that can be used to generate ideas. After the list of questions is created, the researcher can begin to generate ideas by exploring and researching potential solutions to the questions on the list.

Once potential solutions have been identified, the researcher can narrow down the ideas and determine which ones should be included in the final outline. This process of brainstorming and researching ideas will help the researcher create an effective dissertation outline.

Defining Your Research Question

Clarifying the research question is a crucial step in the process of producing a dissertation. This step requires an in-depth review of the literature, in order to ensure the research question is well-defined and specific enough to guide the dissertation.

The research question should be related to the main topic, and should be related to the literature on the topic. For example, a dissertation on dance history may focus on a particular choreography style, or its evolution over time. Similarly, a dissertation on choreography styles may focus on a specific genre, and explore how it has been used in different contexts.

All of these research questions should be clearly defined and should be closely related to the main topic, in order to ensure that the dissertation is well-structured, concise, and informative.

Reviewing the Literature

Having identified a research question, the next step is to review the relevant literature.

Examining sources and analysing data is a crucial part of this process, as it provides an essential foundation for the dissertation. In order to review the literature effectively, it is important to identify the key concepts and arguments that are relevant to the research question.

This means that a thorough examination of the literature should be conducted, so that all of the relevant sources can be identified and evaluated. It is highly recommended that the literature review is broken down into different sections, in order to make it easier to read and comprehend.

This will also help to ensure that the writing is structured and coherent. Additionally, it is also important to provide evidence to support any claims made in the review, as this will help to make the dissertation more credible.

By following these steps, it is possible to create an effective outline for a dissertation on dance.

Outlining the Main Argument

Once the literature review has been completed, the next step is to outline the main argument of the dissertation.

This involves exploring connections between the different sources and materials, and analysing the influences that have impacted the topic of the dissertation.

It is important to clearly articulate the main argument of the dissertation, as it provides the framework for the rest of the dissertation.

This main argument should be based on evidence from the literature review, and should be supported by evidence from other sources.

The main argument should be focused and concise, and should provide a clear direction for the remainder of the dissertation.

It should also provide a logical structure to the dissertation, and should be supported by the evidence provided in the literature review.

Breaking Down the Argument

It is important to break down the main argument of the dissertation in order to understand its implications for the rest of the dissertation, and to ensure that the argument is presented in a logical and convincing manner. Examining the context of the argument and exploring the implications are key steps in this process.

To achieve this, the following should be considered:

Understand the scope of the argument: what is being argued, and what evidence is used to support it.

Break down the argument into distinct parts, and consider how each part contributes to the overall argument.

Analyse the evidence used to support the argument and check for any inconsistencies or contradictions.

By taking the time to properly break down and examine the main argument of the dissertation, a more effective and convincing outline can be produced. This will help to ensure that the dissertation is well-structured and that all of the necessary information is included.

Developing an Argumentative Structure

Constructing an argumentative structure requires a comprehensive assessment of the main argument, and the development of a logical and compelling structure for the dissertation. This structure should be based on exploring genres, examining trends and analysing the evidence. Furthermore, a strong argumentative structure should demonstrate a clear relationship between the evidence, its analysis and the main argument.

In order to create an effective argumentative structure for a dance dissertation, it is essential to identify the essential elements of the argument.

This includes the main argument, the evidence to support it, how the evidence is analysed, and the conclusion.

Once these elements have been identified, they can be organised into a logical structure, with each element building upon the previous one.

It is also important to ensure that the structure is consistent and that it follows a logical progression. This will ensure that the argument is clear and that it is presented in a way that is easy to follow and understand.

Identifying the Key Points

Identifying the key points of an argumentative structure for a dissertation is essential to ensure that the argument is clear, logical and compelling. When creating an effective outline for a dance dissertation, it is important to identify the key points and create a flow that is easy to follow.

This can be done by exploring different options and understanding the main points that need to be addressed. To create an effective outline, one should consider these four elements:

Research questions: Identifying the key research questions that need to be addressed in the dissertation.

Sub-arguments: Examining all of the sub-arguments that support the main argument.

Evidence: Gathering evidence to support the argument and any sub-arguments.

Conclusion: Drawing together the key points and conclusions of the argument.

By considering these four elements, one can ensure that the argument is clear, logical and compelling. This will help to create a structure that is easy to follow and that will provide the reader with an engaging and interactive experience.

Writing a Thesis Statement

Formulating a thesis statement is a pivotal step in developing a dissertation, as it serves as the foundation for the argument that is to be presented.

When writing a thesis statement for a dissertation on dance, it is important to consider the various dance styles and performance art that will be explored in the work. In order to create an effective thesis statement, the researcher should consider how the different aspects of dance are related to each other, and how these relationships can be used to support the central argument.

Additionally, the thesis statement should be concise and clearly articulate the purpose of the dissertation. It should be specific enough to provide a starting point for the research, but also open-ended enough to allow for further exploration.

An effective thesis statement should provide a roadmap for the research, and provide a clear statement of the conclusions that will be drawn from the work.

Writing the outline

Having written a thesis statement, the next step in creating an effective outline for a dance dissertation is to write the outline.

Exploring resources and structuring ideas are the two primary components of writing a successful dissertation outline.

A thorough understanding of the topic should be established before writing the outline. Doing research, reading credible sources, and gathering relevant data are all essential steps to take before drafting the outline. During this process, it is important to note any thoughts and ideas that come to mind as they will be useful when creating the outline.

Once the research has been completed, it is time to structure the data and ideas into a cohesive outline. Start by taking the information and organizing it into categories, subcategories, and points. Additionally, it is important to consider the flow of the outline and how the topics and points relate to each other.

Once the outline is complete, it can be used to guide the writing process and ensure that the dissertation remains on track.

Revising and Editing the Outline

Revising and editing the outline is an important step in creating a well-crafted dissertation on dance. It is essential to take the time to ensure all ideas are structured logically, and that the writing is clear and concise.

This can involve:

Organising ideas as they relate to the overall dissertation topic.

Writing drafts to ensure a logical flow of arguments and evidence.

Editing for accuracy, spelling, grammar and punctuation.

By taking the time to revise and edit the outline, it is possible to create a dissertation that is well-structured, clear and concise. With careful attention to detail, the dissertation can become an effective piece of writing that is both meaningful and informative.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a dissertation outline be.

When writing a dissertation outline, the length should depend on the scope of the project.

Generally, dissertation outlines should include the introduction, literature review, methodology, results and discussion, and conclusion sections.

Additionally, it should provide a clear explanation of the topic, the research question, and the research methods used.

Dance techniques and dissertation formatting will also be important aspects of the outline.

Ultimately, an effective dissertation outline should provide a clear and concise overview of the project that is easy to understand.

What are the best methods for researching for a dissertation?

Researching for a dissertation on dance can be challenging, as there is much to consider including dance history, cultural context, and more.

It is important to take a patient, knowledgeable, and engaging approach when researching for a dissertation.

It is also beneficial to have an understanding of the audience and their subconscious desire for serving others to create an effective dissertation.

To begin, it is important to consider the relevant dance history and cultural context that may be pertinent to the dissertation research.

What are the differences between a dissertation and a thesis?

Dissertations and theses are two distinct forms of academic writing, each with different goals and objectives.

A dissertation is a longer, more involved project that is usually completed at the end of a degree programme and often incorporates extensive research.

Theses, on the other hand, are shorter papers that are written to demonstrate a student’s understanding of a particular concept or topic.

A dissertation may require the student to conduct in-depth research while a thesis may be more of a literature review.

The main difference between the two is that a dissertation requires the student to come up with an original contribution to their field of study, while a thesis does not.

How do I choose a topic for my dissertation?

Choosing a topic for a dissertation on dance is one of the most important decisions a student can make. Factors to consider include the type of dance, the area of focus such as dance styles or performance analysis, and the student’s level of expertise.

It is important to choose a topic that is both interesting and engaging to the student, as this can help to ensure that the student remains motivated and committed over the duration of the project. Additionally, it is worth considering the potential for the dissertation to make an original contribution to the field of dance.

How do I measure the success of my dissertation?

Measuring the success of a dance dissertation is an important step in the process of writing.

A variety of factors must be taken into consideration, such as the quality of research, the accuracy of the analysis of the data, the clarity of the writing, and the comprehensiveness of the coverage of the chosen dance styles.

Time management is also key in order to ensure the completion of the dissertation by the specified deadline.

Ultimately, the success of the dissertation should be judged by how well it meets the aims and objectives set out in the proposal and how well it addresses the research question.

It is essential to create an effective outline for dance dissertations.

By brainstorming ideas, defining the research question, and reviewing the literature, a foundation can be built to develop an argument.

Breaking down the argument into key points and writing a thesis statement can help to further refine the outline.

When writing the outline, it is important to consider the structure, style, and language to create a cohesive document.

Finally, it is essential to revise and edit the outline to ensure that it is accurate and complete.

By following these steps, an effective outline for a dance dissertation can be created, allowing for a successful and comprehensive research journey.

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Dance (MFA) Theses

Theses/dissertations from 2024 2024.

Pathways Toward Healing: The Presence of Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome in Black Mother-Daughter Relationships , Rachael Appold

Rising Moons , Michael Bearden

Hame , Russell Clarke

Rhythms that {Bind}: Emerging through Dissonance , Tessa Hailu

Good Girl: My Performatives, Living as a Woman and Mother , Laura Elizabeth Halm

They Smell of Earth After Rain Exploring the Sacred Space Within Performance: An Examination of Transcendence, Ritual, and Artistic Expression , Candy Jimenez

Voices of the Highlands: Untold Stories of Memory, Heritage, and Blood , Eiby Lobos

Careful Communication: A Confrontation of Cartesian Mind/Body Dualism and Western Perceptions of Intelligence in the Dance Classroom , Sarah Lunceford

Holy Body/Monstrous Body: The Life and Practices of Saint Catherine of Siena. , Melissa B. Miller

Dancing Between Worlds: Afrofuturism, Hybridity, Transculturalism, and the Orixás , Alicia Nascimento Castro

Here and There a Latinx Experience , Angelica Salazar

Theses/Dissertations from 2023 2023

Creating Space , Jacqueline Bennett

#IYKYK: TikTok as a Subversive Space: Democratizing Dance and Shifting Artistic Paradigms , Meagan Dodini

Fracturing Trauma , Antonio Doutiht

Needs Salt , Joshua Lang

No Offense!: A Critical and Creative Inquiry , Mo Liu

EROSION: landscape reveals us , John Alexander McBride

Dancing Through Loss , Tracy Vogt

Queering Empathy , Robert Wesner

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

Breaking Barriers: Creating Inclusive Dance Spaces for High School Students With Cerebral Palsy , Samantha Michelle Barnewolt

BeginnINgs , Elizabeth Becker

A Mexican American’s Introspective on Identity and Embodiment of the Lester Horton Technique , Fernando Carrillo

Our Sheep To Slaughter , Courtney Collado

Whispers on the Waves of the Weaponized , Shawn Evangelista

Disembodying Toxicity: The Use and Abuse of Young Bodies in Competition Dance , Kelley Holt

speak easy: a virtual mixtape of black cool , Demetia Hopkins

The Means to Escape , Devonn McKenna

Intra Sections: Social Media and the Multiplicity of Identity , Jared Redick

Black is Gold: Cultivating an Antiracist Dance Pedagogy in Higher Education , Jamorris Rivers

Tapping In: A Movement Meditation for Wellness , Victoria Rodriguez

Healing Through Mother Earth , Taylor A. Russell

Traces: Embodied Ephemera From Here To There , Alice Svetic

Honor Thyself , Alonzo O. Williams

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Dancing with Digital Technology: Shifting Place in Space , Thang Dao

Steps Last: A Pedagogy for Existing in the Vanishing Point , Cihtli Ocampo

Mezcla , Liz Quinones

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Everything begins with an idea!

Dance Research Paper Topics

Dance refers to a series of steps and movements that match the rhythm and speed of a piece of music. It might surprise some people to realize that dance involves more than the movements they see while watching a dancer. Dance actually has some connections with the mind, emotion, health, lifestyle, and a few other things which people may not really think of. All the impacts of dance on people and the connections that it has with the things we mentioned earlier are worth researching. Dance research is particularly very important to students who are studying art courses. We are aware of the challenges that many students face before they get dance research topics, so we’ve decided to help students get topics easily. As you scroll down, you will find the best dance research paper topics. All the topics that you find here are interesting, enlightening, and easy enough for students to research. By using one of the dance research paper topics ideas below, you will easily know what to write about your topic even without doing excess research. Students who use the topics below should be confident about the success that awaits them at the end of their research.

• How dance teaches its audience some vital lessons
• The significance of dance in music
• The influence of dance on its audience
• The role of talent in dance
• How new dance styles go viral
• The importance of dance to humans
• How is dance a tool for promoting peace in a particular territory?
• The origin of Tango
• Reasons why dance is a unique activity
• The correlation between dance and good health
• How professional dancers contribute to the art of dancing
• The concept of dance in ancient Greece
• The role of Hip Hop in American dance culture
• The connection between dance and the mood of a dancer
• The universal purposes of dance
• How dance facilitate interaction among people
• How dancers influence their followers
• The romantic elements of dance.
• The challenges associated with dance
• The origin of breaking-dance
• Skills that professional dancers must possess
• The impacts of dance on the lives of people
• The shortcomings of dance education
• The benefits of dance education
• The evolution of dance styles in the Western part of the world
• The effectiveness of dance education
• Vital lessons in dance
• The importance of national dance
• How dance can serve as the identity of a particular country
• Taiwanese-American modern dance
• The impact of dance on society
• The benefits of dance to the mind
• The negative impacts of dance on human health
• How can dance serve as motivation?
• The role of dance in the work of Michael Jackson
• Contemporary dance technique
• Classical Indian Dance
• The harmony that exists between dance and music
• How dancers use music as a tool for controlling their movements
• Why is dance a unique art?
• How music trends influence styles of dance
• The contemporary dance styles in European countries
• The concept of dance
• How dance has evolved over the years
• The kinds of messages that dance can convey
• The correlation between dance and music
• Do professional dancers have a different brain structure?
• The impact of dance on children who learn how to dance
• Why toddlers show some elements of dance whenever they hear upbeat music
• Things that occur within a dancer’s mind
• How can a live dance performance boost the confidence of dancers?
• Why dance is a good form of therapy
• How dance styles can influence lifestyle
• What roles do professional dancers play in the economy of a nation?
• Is dance style a reflection of culture?
• The mental benefits of dancing
• Is dance beneficial to aged people?
• The general motives of dancers
• The views of professional dancers on entertainment
• The health benefits of learning how to dance
• The role of dance in a dance drama
• The uniqueness of breaking-dance
• How can dance affect an individual?
• How morals can be taught through dances
• What makes dance a unique form of entertainment
• Why dance can be considered as a non-verbal form of expression
• The psychological impacts of dance on dancers and their audience
• The connection between dance and emotions
• The role of dance in advertisements
• Why dance is an ideal tool for persuading people
• The beliefs associated with Tango

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Dissertations and Theses

The dissertation is the culminating project for the PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies. A formal proposal for a dissertation should be submitted for the endorsement of the Graduate Faculty. See the department's  Graduate Student Handbook  for proposal instructions. The Graduate Faculty will review the proposal. Sample proposals are on file in the department or by contacting the Director of Graduate Studies.

We welcome projects that include archival research, ethnography, critical theory, literary analysis, and performance studies. Dissertation work begins in the third year of the PhD program and is typically completed in a student's fourth or fifth year in the doctoral program.

Recent Dissertations and Theses

2023 – dissertations.

" Relajo y Joteria: Reimagining Family, Devotion, and Desire through the work of Teatro Alebrijes, 2011-2022 " ( Javier Hurtado )

"Who’s That Girl?”: Women Writing Women on the Broadway Stage " ( Jess Pearson-Bleyer )

2022 – Dissertations

" Americanizing Shakespeare in Print: Nineteeth Century American Illustrated Editions of Shakespeare as Representations of National Identity " ( Hesam Sharifian )

"New Game+: Memories Made in Virtual Worlds " (Peter Spearman)

2022 – Theses

"Balancing and Bending in Bling: The Aesthetics of the Acrobatic Latina Athlete" (Amelia Estrada)

“Perform Falling: Reframing Chinese Rural “Left-Behind” Children” (Wenxuan Xue)

2021 – Dissertations

"Cosmopolitan Performance and Its Ecologies in Interwar Shanghai" (Yizhou Huang)

"Defiant Acrobatic Bodies: Gender in the Performance of Ground Acrobatic Acts from the Inception of the Modern Anglo Circus" (Amy Meyer)

"Performing History in North Tulsa: Black Wall Street and the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre" (Tara Brook Watkins)

2021 – Theses

"Processing the Pain of Others: Witinessing Semana Santa Penitents in Taxco Through Procession" (Whitney Brady-Guzmán)

"[W]righting the Highway: Black Counter-Maps and American Interstates" (Jenny Henderson)

2020  –  Theses

"Theatre in the Time of Cholera: Health, Medicine, and The Physician's Role on the American Stage 1832-1883" (Mia Levenson)

"Phantacamp: Queer Temporal Ruptures in the Performance of Restaged Camp" (Jo Rezes)

2019 – Dissertations

"Beyond Dahomey: The Legacy and Afterlife of the Williams and Walker Company 1902-1921" (Beck Holden) (Pat King) "Directing btween the Lines: Iranian Theatre and the Aesthetics of Ambiguity" (Reza Mirsajadi) "Homing a Turkish Diaspora: Turkish-American Women's Creative Labor" (Irem Seçil Rell Sen) "Inspiration, Countercultural Aesthetics, and Dissent: The Ilklhom Theatre of Mark Weil" (Irina Yakubovskaya) "Theories for Corporate Theatre" (Michael Morris)

2019 – Theses

"'ENOUGH OF THIS I'M NOTE LATINO ENOUGH BULLSHIT' The Social Re-Evaluative Eroticisms of Afro-Latinx Identities in U.S. Pop Culture" (Stephanie Engel)

"In Solidarity: Queer Appalachia's Zine Activism and the Radical Aesthetics of Homemaking." (Harry Hoke)

2018 – Dissertations

"An obvious caricature: The Consequences of Scientific Discourse on Theatrical Madness, 1807-1895" (Katherine Swimm) Brief Deceptive Rainbows: Cultural Memory in Productions of Tennessee Williams's  The Glass Menagerie ,  A Streetcar Named Desire , and  A Cat on a Hot Tin Roof  (Daniel Ciba)

2018 – Theses

"But What if Instead We Imagine Black Life" Femininity, Performance, and the Black Lives Movement (Teri Incampo) The Man Within: Depictions of Blackness in Superhero Adaptations” (Peter Spearman)

2016 – Dissertations

"Black or Red? The Construction of Identity in Langston Hughes' Plays" (Katya Vrtis) "Forgotten Figures: The Rhetorical Function of Tecmessa, Chrysothemis, and Ismene in Tragedies of Sophocles and Selected Adaptations" (Tiffany Pounds-Williams) "Theatre of Common Sense: Ernie McClintock, Jazz Acting, and the Black Power Aesthetic (1965-2003)" (Ibby Cizmar)

2016 – Theses

"'Am I Not A Woman and A Sister?' Performance as Political Discourse in African American Women's Literary Societies" (Jenny Herron) "Staging as Youth Culture in Colonial-Modern Shanghai: Student Theatre from the 1890s-1920s" (Yizhou Huang)

2015 – Dissertations

"American Billing: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Shakespeare" (Danielle Rosvally) "The American Pipe Dream: Drug Addiction on Stage 1890-1940" (Max Shulman) "Arab and Muslim American Female Playwrights: Resistance and Revision through Solo Performance" (Megan Stahl) "Freaks, Beasts, and Gadgets: Performing Order and Disorder in Early America" (Matthew DiCintio) "Constructing the Sensorium: Neoliberalism and Aesthetic Practice in Neoliberal Theatre" (Paul Masters) "Cultural Improvisations: Luigi Riccoboni and the Nouveau Theatre Italien" (Matthew McMahan) "Documenting Rehearsal for Revolution: Theory, Practice, and Praxis in Theatre of the Oppressed" (Betsy Goldman)

2015 – Theses

"'Of Thee We Sing:' Microhistories of the Northeastern United States through the Lens of American Folkloric Opera" (Christian Krenek) "Spectrums of Truth: Transcribing Reality in the Documentary Musical" (Reza Mirsajadi)

Search the Archive

Dissertations and theses by our graduate are catalogued in the  Dissertations & Theses @ Tufts University  database. In the "Advanced Search" option, search for "drama" in the "Department – DEP" category.  Dissertations & Theses @ Tufts  provides full text for:

• Most PhD dissertations issued after 1996
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Dissertations for Dance

Alpert, valerie, digital technologies and dance: developing connections between artistic practice, pedagogy, and future higher education curricular practices, baldeep, none, dance training and feedback system using wearable wireless sensors, ghosh, shreelina, dancing without bodies: pedagogy and performance in digital spaces, kraus, tiffany d., my final project journal: movement for adult learners and my website, miller, janice catherine, “swing into dvd” with paul king and the rhythm society orchestra: dvd creation from concept to evaluation, nagendran, shyamala, interactive multimedia application for teaching adavu in bharata natyam (imatab), naugle, lisa marie, a study of on-line collaborative choreography using lifeforms and internet communication, oglesby, taysha k., the process of developing a dance resource pack to supplement the teaching style of an elementary physical educator in warren county, kentucky: an alternative ed.d. project, parrish, mila l., discover dance cd-rom for dance education: digital improvisation and interactive multimedia, zimmerly, lauralee c., dance online: can the students still follow the steps a rationale for online delivery methods in dance.0, sign in or register, sign in using email & password.

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13.7 Cosmos & Culture

Dancing to the tune of ph.d..

Tania Lombrozo

If you've ever sat through a (long, long) university graduation ceremony, you may have taken the time to peruse the dissertation titles of graduating doctoral students. Depending on the university and department, you'd probably find a sampling something like this:

Preliminary Measurements For An Electron EDM Experiment In ThO ( Yulia Gurevich, 2012, Harvard University ) Higher-order Chromatin Organization In Hematopoietic Transcription ( Wulan Deng, 2013, University of Pennsylvania ) Internalism, Practical Relations, And Psychologism ( Colin Patrick, 2012, University of Chicago ) Anxiety And Stress: Interactions Between Bed Nucleus Of The Stria Terminalis Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Peptide And The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis ( Kimberly M. Lezak, 2012-2013, The University of Vermont ) Immunogenicity Of Gold Nanoshell/Silica Core Nanoplasmonics And Photothermal Induced-Cell Death ( Hai T. Nguyen, 2012, University of Washington )

Wouldn't it be nice to know what these actually mean? To have a transparent glimpse into the nation's cutting edge research and its practical and theoretical implications?

Of course, it's no accident that Ph.D. dissertations rarely make it as mass-market paperbacks or inspire popular sitcoms. There's a reason it takes four (or five or six or seven ... ) years to complete a Ph.D., and there's an important role for communicating as an expert to experts.

But, increasingly, there have been efforts to make contemporary science more interesting and accessible to a broad public, including forums for scientists to share "plain English" versions of their scientific abstracts, podcasts and audio programs for non-experts (such as Science Friday and RadioLab ), and the open science movement more generally. A great example that stretches beyond science is Philosophy Talk , a radio program and podcast where you can hear two philosophers and their guests work through difficult conundrums with minimal jargon (and with no footnotes — a remarkable feat for the philosophically trained).

Among the most creative ways to translate contemporary science — and, in particular, the topics of doctoral dissertations — into a popular form comes from the Dance Your Ph.D. contest . Sponsored by Science magazine and the American Association for the Advancement of Science ( AAAS ), the competition invites doctoral students and Ph.D. recipients to explain their research through interpretive dance.

The 2013 winner , announced last Thursday, was Cedric Tan, a biology Ph.D. whose dissertation was titled "Sperm Competition Between Brothers And Female Choice." It's eye-catching.

The Reader Favorite Award went to the submission from Andres Florez , a Ph.D. at the Cancer Research Center at Heidelberg, who translated his work on cancer cell biology with Latin American flair.

But all 31 submissions deserve a round of applause. Among my favorites, psychology Ph.D. student Tina Sundelin's entry , "Sleep Loss In A Social World," presents the effects of sleep deprivation with a parallel report of two days: one after a poor night's sleep and one after a good night's sleep. Neuroscience Ph.D. Julia Basso's submission , "Investigation Of The Behavioral Processes And Neurobiological Substrates involved in the motivation for voluntary wheel running in the rat," features an effective combination of dance and informative text, with an oddly humanizing portrayal of invasive animal research. Plenty of other entries are worth a view.

Admittedly, these videos won't teach you much science. But they might just inspire you to read up on sexual conflicts in Odonates or the bioeconomic consequences of climate change . And they might help combat narrow stereotypes about scientists' interests and abilities . As I've argued before, we need more scientists who dance salsa , and the Dance Your Ph.D. contest is a nice showcase for those who already do.

You can keep up with more of what Tania Lombrozo is thinking on Twitter: @TaniaLombrozo

Scholars' Bank

Music and dance theses and dissertations.

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• Vocal Timbre and Sexual Trauma in Women's Popular Song  Milius, Emily ( University of Oregon , 2024-08-07 ) The voice holds immense power. The voice can evoke fear or exhibit submission; it can arouse or turn off; it can signal sarcasm or sincerity. More broadly, the voice can tell someone how you are feeling in a particular ...
• War of the Scorpion  Daniels, Brylee ( University of Oregon , 2024-08-07 ) The Liberian Civil Wars, spanning from 1989 to 2003, represent some of the mostdevastating conflicts in recent African history, dismantling the socio-political fabric of Liberia and leaving a profound impact on the nation's ...
• Singing Lyrics to Life: Melody and Lyrical Meaning in Recent Indie Music  Fulton, Hannah ( University of Oregon , 2024-08-07 ) In popular song genres (and across song genres), melody plays a vital role in delivery of sung lyrics; it contributes an essential aspect of lyrics’ affect and meaning. Scholars in the field of popular music have historically ...
• The Way of Life: A New Oratorio  Fulton, Hannah ( University of Oregon , 2024-08-07 ) “The Way of Life,” a new oratorio with music and text by Hannah E. Fulton, is a celebration of life and the connection between humanity and nature. It explores the coexistence of positive and negative experiences in life: ...
• Mind, Body, and Time: A Bergsonian Theory of Musical Impressionism  Bopp, Emily ( University of Oregon , 2024-08-07 ) Traditional style histories of midcentury musicology tend to reduce Musical Impressionism to color, light, and debussyste conventions, over-emphasizing visuality and limiting its purview to a scant few composers. To expand ...
• Cyborgs in the Studio: Transhuman Vocal Approaches in Gender Nonconforming Recording Artists  Pinkham, Frances ( University of Oregon , 2024-08-07 ) This project explores the means by which trans and gender nonconforming (GNC) artists use technological manipulations to vocal performance to signify their gender experience. The introduction and literature review (Chapter ...
• Voice, Timbre, and Politics in Chinese Popular Music, 1920–1980  Liu, Annie ( University of Oregon , 2024-08-07 ) This thesis examines the political and cultural context informing the voices and timbres of Chinese popular music between 1920 and 1980. Drawing from scholarship by Jones (2001), Chen (2007), and Ouyang (2022), I survey ...
• Songs of Becoming, an Art Song Cycle for Soprano or Mezzo-soprano Soloist and Chamber Orchestra  De Togni, Daniel ( University of Oregon , 2024-08-07 ) This song cycle is scored for soprano or mezzo-soprano soloist and chamber orchestra. The text was written by the composer, and the principal theme of this work is growth and transformation. This is the one through-line ...
• Job Attributes as Predictors of Attrition and Migration in Oregon Music Teachers: A Linear Regression Analysis  Salzman-Coon, Olivia ( University of Oregon , 2024-08-07 ) Currently, career movement in the field of teaching, both for migration and attritionreasons, is a national concern for stakeholders, teachers, and researchers alike. Teacher demographics, job attributes, and expectations ...
• Doublethink  Buckman, Michael ( University of Oregon , 2024-08-07 ) Doublethink was originally inspired by a series of political and geopolitical events that tookplace during 2022 and elements from George Orwell's novel, 1984. Each of the three movements derives its name from one of the ...
• Pedagogical Strategies for Managing Music Performance Anxiety on the Harp  Li, Yirui ( University of Oregon , 2024 ) Music performance anxiety (MPA) is a common problem among the community of music performers, affecting the performers themselves mentally or physically, as well as the quality of the performance (Salmon et al. 2005; Cox ...
• Set Class Conceptualizations: A Pedagogical and Theoretical Framework  King, John ( University of Oregon , 2024-03-25 ) Set Class Conceptualizations has two main goals: one, facilitate a student’s learning of set classes; and two, demonstrate multiple ways in which they could benefit from doing so. The intended audience of this dissertation ...
• The Chinese and Javanese Influences in Works That Exemplify Early Twentieth-Century Musical “Exoticism”  Xu, Jiayi ( University of Oregon , 2024-01-10 ) In Western music of the early twentieth century, pentatonic elements are particularly prominent when composers emulate Chinese music. Claude Debussy, for instance, drew upon Eastern musical styles in works such as “Pagodes” ...
• The Sound of Bass Culture(s): Heaviness, Blackness, and Ubiquitous Bass  Burton, Nicholas ( University of Oregon , 2024-01-10 ) Bass culture describes the shared affinity for excessive low frequency aesthetics. During the 2000s and 2010s, discussion of the term first emerged within the context of bass-centric Afrodiasporic popular music genres such ...
• Listening to the Arts  Chen, Rongrong ( University of Oregon , 2024-01-09 ) My thesis piece "Listening to the Arts" is a twenty-minute long composition for chamber orchestra that consists of four movements. Each movement is inspired by an artwork from a different artist, namely Antonio Canova's ...
• The Bride with White Hair  ZHANG, WEI ( University of Oregon , 2024-01-09 ) The Bride with White Hair is a three-movement chamber piece composed for flute and string quartet. The music is a homage to the famous Chinese martial arts novel The Bride with White Hair by Liang YuSheng. The protagonist ...
• Effects of Literal and Metaphorical Language Use on Acoustic and Perceptual Measures of Choral Tone  Taylor, Kendra ( University of Oregon , 2024-01-09 ) Researchers have demonstrated that imagery and odorants can influence the physiological and psychological state of humans (Dayme, 2009; Hongratanaworakit, 2009; Song et al., 2014). Singers’ “physiological state and concept ...
• “What will become of my work?”: Genius, Gender, and Legacy in the Life of Clara Wieck/Schumann  Taflinger, Beverly ( University of Oregon , 2024-01-09 ) Clara Wieck/Schumann (1819 – 1896) was a musician living in an era increasingly concerned with posterity and canon formation, yet she believed that as a performer, she was destined for posthumous obscurity. On this matter, ...
• Grade 12 Students’ Intentions to Persist in Music Beyond Graduation: Application of the Expectancy-Value Theory of Motivation  Siegal, Cameron ( University of Oregon , 2024-01-09 ) Seminal music education accords, including the Housewright and Tanglewood Symposia, call on music educators to support lifelong engagement with music. Citing challenges with retention in music programs and persistence in ...
• Counted, Earning, and Behaving as Europeans: Western Art Music and Social Capital in Late 19th Century Batavia  Sulaiman, Michelle ( University of Oregon , 2024-01-09 ) This thesis examines how and why the musical preferences of the Batavian elites shifted in the late nineteenth century. I argue that Batavian elites constructed and performed “Europeanness” to distinguish themselves not ...

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Theater and Dance

Dance thesis guidelines.

The Department of Theater and Dance offers multiple options for a project culminating studies in Dance. Please see the Academic Requirements as listed in the catalog for more details: Dance Academic Program .

Below is a guide to choosing a direction for the final Thesis project with the specific requirements and expectations related to each option.

This option is for Double Majors  or who are completing their W3 requirements elsewhere.

Capstone Portfolio Requirements

Eleven (11) Credits with no thesis credit.

2 creative process

2 cultural context

2 physical practice credits

3 additional dance electives

1 theater credit

1 other art (BDF, Theater and Dance, Music, AVC, and various arts-related options in other departments and programs in consultation with your advisor.)

Evidence of 2 faculty, guest artist, or thesis performance projects or alternative significant performing experience in consultation with your advisor.

The Portfolio consists of:

• Personal Statement Essay (8-10 pages). A comprehensive synthesis of the culmination of your Bates dance education and how that experience relates to other studies or to life philosophy and skills beyond the field of dance.
• Dance reel including 3-5 performance events.
• Discuss how you encountered and attended to questions of race, white supremacy, colonialism, power, and privilege in the practices and pedagogies of your studies.
• List of all classes related to studies in dance (including those not in major) with annotation of how those classes contribute to knowledge and understanding of dance.
• Bibliography of featured dance and related works read, seen, and participated in

All of these items in your portfolio are delivered on a personal website which can be rudimentary for these purposes but gets you started on having a professional web presence.

Written Thesis

Written thesis requirements.

Eleven (11) credits: 10 credits plus one W3 thesis credit.

2 creative process credits

2 cultural context credits

2 additional dance electives

1 theater production, design, or acting credit

Evidence of 2 faculty, guest artist,  or thesis performance projects or alternative significant performing experience in consultation with your advisor.

Written Thesis consists of:

Thesis consists of a semester-long research project culminating in a substantial written document showing a synthesis of the dance curriculum, an excellent understanding of the chosen topic, and demonstration of appropriate academic writing in dance studies. There will be $300 for each thesis project, which can be used for research materials and/or workshops to support your work. Also required is a portfolio that demonstrates evidence of previous creative accomplishments during the four years of Bates study, and a working knowledge of the protocols for making and performing dance.

ACADEMIC PAPER This paper should have the following components:

• Title  (and standard thesis title page materials)
• Introduction. States the research question in its context and how it is approached. 
• Methodology.  States how the research question is framed.
• How your research interrogates and attends to questions of race, white supremacy, colonialism, power, and privilege in the field,  how your learning influences your own practices moving forward.
• Body. Develops themes introduced in the introduction and methods section, provides original ideas and observations in the field in the context of existing evidence of the current scholarship in the field.
• Conclusion. Draws together ideas and makes suggestions for further development of the research.
• Bibliography of all works cited.

PORTFOLIO DEMONSTRATING CREATIVE EXPERIENCE

To add praxis contest to the  Capstone, submit a resume of creative activity and research during your time at Bates, including any relevant professional experience outside of Bates. The dance artist/researcher resume should include URL/links to Bates archives and any on-line links to view work and other relevant additions such as photos, interviews, reflections on creative process. Accompanying this resume is a 1-2 page artist/scholar statement contextualizing your creative work and work as a dance scholar.

Guidelines for Thesis Assessment

Academic Paper: 90% The written thesis in Dance engages in a substantial piece of scholarly writing/research that explores a line of inquiry through any number of lenses: 1. Historical inquiry; 2. Aesthetic, Social, and Cultural Contexts; 3. Embodied Research and Experience. The written work should pose a question, develop an argument, and posit new ideas and action to add to the current discourse of the topic.

Portfolio of Creative Experience: 10% To be included in the final written thesis document as an appendix.

Performance Thesis

Performance thesis requirements.

Twelve (12) credits: 11 credits plus one W3 thesis credit

Normally available only in the Fall semester in conjunction with DANC 253.

3 creative process credits including taking DANC 253 twice

1 Bates Dance Festival credit

1 Dance technique or additional 253 credit in consultation with your advisor

Evidence of 2 faculty or thesis performance projects or alternative significant performing experience in consultation with your advisor.

Performance Thesis consists of:

PERFORMANCE RESEARCH

During Fall and/or Spring of Senior year you will participate in a substantive performance experience (in consultation with your advisor). This is the core content of the thesis. Video documentation services will be provided by the department, however thesis students are responsible for processing video into the appropriate format for submission in final thesis document. Discussion of venue and format of the performance will be decided in collaboration with the department according to the shifting demands on the department technical support resources. There will be $300 for each thesis project. Requests for additional department funds will need a proposal to the department. Kerry O’Brien in the Dean of Faculty office also has information on other thesis research grants.

ACCOMPANYING WRITTEN PAPER

In conjunction with your performance research, your paper should be a fully developed academic explanation of how you addressed your research questions through embodied and literature-based research.  It should be written for a reader who has not seen the piece, so it should include detailed description where appropriate.  It must included a detailed description of your process as a performer, including research into the sources of those methods, the relationship of those methods to your research questions, and an honest evaluation of the outcomes of those methods. Your paper should also situate your research in the field of performance research: engaging in discussion about your performance project in relation to contemporary discourse in performance. The paper should have the following components in MLA style:

• Title  (and standard thesis title page)
• Artists’ statement. A short declaration of your aesthetic values, influences, and directions.
• Introduction. State your research questions and briefly situate your performance and literature-based research in aesthetic and historical contexts. 
• Survey of relevant dance literature. This section should explore how your research questions and methods related to the field of Dance at large. In addition to any major discussions of your topic in dance literature, you must research at least two to three artists/schoalrs who are working in the field of performance research in Dance. 
• If your research questions are cross-disciplinary, this section should include discussions of relevant literature from outside the field of dance.
• How did you spend your time in the studio, and how did this relate to your research questions?
• How did you prepare for studio time, and how did this relate to your research questions including creative stimuli?
• How did you/others attend to race, white supremacy, colonialism, power, privilege in rehearsal practices, pedagogies and community culture?
• How did you approach answering your cross-disciplinary or theoretical questions, if you had them?
• This section might include a description of the piece, however descriptions might also be distributed throughout the paper where appropriate.
• Critical evaluation of your rehearsal and performance process, including collaborative aspects of the creative process.
• Critical evaluation of how the process as a whole attended to race, white supremacy, colonialism, power, privilege in rehearsal practices, pedagogies and community culture.
• Critical evaluation of your performance product.
• Context of your piece in terms of performance intentions, audience relationship
• Responses of dancers and audience members, if appropriate.
• What would you change or develop if you could do it over again, and why?
• Conclusion. Draw together ideas and makes suggestions for further research.
• Bibliography of all works cited including videos and performances

Research Process: 30%-40% This can take many forms depending on the project but articulates the process of creating/learning/understanding the performance with choreographers and other collaborators.

Performance final product: 30%-40% A substantial engagement in performance in one or multiple works, as determined by the scope of your performance research.

Written/package: 20%- 40% A substantial academic paper of approximately 30 – 50 pages depending on the form that your writing takes in relation to your research, assessing process and final product.

Choreographic Thesis

Choreographic thesis requirements.

3 creative process credits including taking DANC 351 or DANC 360 in choreographic process

3 physical practice credits with a minimum of three different forms

Evidence of 4 faculty or thesis performance projects, 253 or alternative with approval by advisor

Choreographic Thesis consists of:

CHOREOGRAPHIC RESEARCH

During Fall and/or Spring of Senior year you will to create and present a substantial piece of original choreography the parameters of which are developed in conversation with your adviser. This is core content of the thesis. Video documentation services will be provided by the department, however thesis students are responsible for processing video into the appropriate format for submission in final thesis document. Discussion of venue and format of the performance will be decided in collaboration with the department according to the shifting demands on the department technical support resources. There will be $300 for each thesis project. Requests for additional department funds will need a proposal to the department. Kerry O’Brien in the Dean of Faculty office also has information on other thesis research grants. Piece lengths can vary but any piece longer than 20 minutes requires continued discussion of presentation format if in a shared concert. 

ACCOMPANYING ACADEMIC PAPER

In conjunction with your choreographic research, your paper should be a fully developed academic explanation of how you addressed your research questions through choreographic and literature-based research.  It should be written for a reader who has not seen the piece, so it should include detailed description where appropriate.  It must include a detailed description of your choreographic methods including research into the sources of those methods, the relationship of those methods to your research questions, and an honest evaluation of the outcomes of those methods. It must demonstrate knowledge of the place of your work in the field of choreography and in the context of the ongoing discourse about the art form within its cultural context. The paper should have the following components in MLA style (or mutually agreed upon format). 15-30 pages recommended plus appendices: 

• Introduction. State your research questions and briefly situate your choreographic and literature-based research in aesthetic and historical context. 
• Survey of relevant dance literature. This section should explore how your research questions and methods relate to the field of dance at large. In addition to any major discussions of your topic in dance literature, you must research at least two to three artists working in a similar vein to yours.
• Relationship with cast and how much agency they had in developing material.
• This section might include a brief description of the piece, however descriptions might also be distributed throughout the paper where appropriate.
• Critical self evaluation of your choreographic process, including collaborative aspects of the creative process. 
• Critical self evaluation of your choreographic product.

A FINAL PACKAGE : Documentation of the performance and written paper formally presented as a single document following all protocols of thesis presentation. Video documentation of the performance and the printed program must be included in the final thesis document. Choreographic research notes, photographs and other visual material add a lot to this document. Creating a simple website is an excellent way to feature your visual work that is at the heart of your project.   

Research Process: 30%-40% This can take many forms depending on the project but interrogates and articulates the process of creating/learning/understanding the performance with choreographers and other collaborators.

Performance final outcome: 30%-40% A substantial piece of choreography. Approximate length: 12-30 minutes; however, length is not to be decided by the arbitrary measure of minutes, but rather the quality and complexity of thinking in process and final product presentation.

Written/package: 20%-40% A substantial academic paper of approximately 15-30 pages depending on the form that your writing takes in relation to your research and your own piece, assessing process and final product.

Thesis Proposal Process

Proposal process for all thesis options.

3-4 page proposal due Spring of Junior Year. Proposals should include a heading (name, year, thesis type), and take the form of 5 sections, noted below: 

WHAT & WHEN  In one-two sentences, note whether you are proposing a portfolio , written research , c horeographic , or performance ; and when (Fall or Winter).  Skip to 5 for Portfolio Capstone Option . 

WHAT, HOW, WHERE  In one to two sentences, provide a brief description that explains what you hope to explore in your research, your research methodology (how), and where you hope to present if doing creative research and why this venue, if proposing an alternative space/venue. For a written thesis, include any other proposed methodologies for your research that are pertinent to your work. (eg surveys/interviews, informal showings or workshops, embodied research). For a choreographic or performance thesis, please include preliminary details of the work or process. One-two sentence examples: 

“I hope to choreograph a small group work using queer and feminist creation and rehearsal practices, to be performed in the Spring Dance Concert;” 

“I hope to make a mediated performance solo installation in blackbox. Thematic material still unknown”

“My written thesis will explore the influence of west African dances on modern dance performance forms in the U.S.  I will make a small piece to be shown in Plavin Studio in conjunction with  research.”

“I propose a performance thesis that explores the intersection of improvisation and set material. I hope to work with a scheduled Rep artist for this research and plan to perform the work in the Fall dance concert.”

NARRATIVE  This 2-3 page essay is the body of your proposal.

• 2-3 substantive creative/scholarly research questions;
• Methodology: how do you plan to research your topic? Identify the methods you will use in your scholarly or creative research; your projected approach to the rehearsal process and performance; 
• Explain the historical and contextual context for your research. This might include supporting lines of inquiry, interdisciplinary threads to explore, other artists and scholars, embodied research, etc.
• Outline the timeline of your proposed research and any resources needed such we cast size, technical theatre and design, interviews, research materials, grant writing, anticipated workshops, travel, etc.;

CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT and advisor interaction, including proposed visits to rehearsals, writing, schedule, and your proposed method for advisor response to progress in both the studio and written work.5. ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 5 sources minimum, MLA format.

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Dance dissertation advice

By Clarkd3 September 14, 2019 in Doing Dance

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Hi any thoughts on a dissertation subject that is loosely based around the benefits of dance teaching to students but with a particular slant that’s not been done to death before like the elderly or mental health

Thank you in advance 😊

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Jan McNulty

Probably too obvious but the benefits to children - team working, respect, health, fitness, work ethic, social side...

Impact on academic classroom attainment for those doing dance training? Several teachers have remarked to me that they can tell which children take dance classes. Coincidence? 

Resilience and growth-mindset .... ability to learn from criticism (and rejection - lots of 'no's in the ballet world!).

Mummy twinkle toes

For mental health and learning disabilities you can look at the benefits of dance therapy.

For elderly you can look at the benefits of remaining active eg; keeps brain focused and joints supple. Any exercise is beneficial-plenty of research to support. The RAD launched Silver Swans for older dancers. Other benefits include being able to meet other people. One of the biggest mental health issues today is loneliness which contributes to anxiety and depression. With many budget cuts, elderly people have lost access to day centres so being able to access dance classes can fill a void.

On 14/09/2019 at 15:55, Clarkd3 said: any thoughts on a dissertation subject that is loosely based around the benefits of dance teaching to students

This sounds more like an affirmation, than an actual argument. You need to reframe your interest as an hypothesis around which you can gather evidence. So starting by saying the benefits of dance teaching isn't an hypothesis as such.

In order to find something that 'hasn't been done to death' you need to do a LOT of reading around your broad topic. This will take time, and you will do what my less successful students call "wasted" reading. It is not wasted - you need to know the broad outlines of the field of your topic, and the chief researchers and scholars in the field. 

An undergraduate dissertation doesn't need to be "original" (that is the central criterion for a PhD) but it must be independent.

One way to approach this is to think about examples of dance practice you have undertaken or observed. For a dissertation presumably to be written this year (your final undergrad year, I'm assuming), you can't rely on practical work you've done in the past, but you could extend or develop this in this year. Can you sit in on "Dance for Parkinson's" sessions, for example? You won't be able to do that for dance therapy as that is confidential therapy work. Or what about thinking about areas that aren't dance as such, but areas of practice which are influenced by dance?

But whatever you do, you need to have a body of primary source materials - that is, direct evidence of direct work, not just a series of summaries of what others have said. 

And my serious advice (25 years of supervising dissertations in this broad field) is that primary evidence in these sorts of areas is very difficult for undergrad students to get access to. How are you going to prove the benefit? Do you have statistics training? Or training in questionnaires or ethical clearance for talking to students about their perception of benefit? These are all serious and weighty questions.

In short a dissertation can't just be a statement or affirmation of what you believe. It must be an argument , supported by your gathering together and analysis of the evidence, including counter-evidence.

My daughter started ballet in January at 5yo (year 1, summer birthday), at the time she was really struggling with school (she doesn't process things very quickly and we suspect dyslexia), since starting ballet though she processes things far more quickly, her spelling in particular has gotten much better and she concentrates far easier. She really loves ballet (she decided after about 2 lessons that she was going to be in the Royal Ballet when she grows up - no other company will do xD )

Obviously this is anecdotal but the changes in her academically and in her confidence were incredible once she started ballet, it could be interesting to focus on if you can find others have had similar experiences

12 hours ago, Kate_N said:   This sounds more like an affirmation, than an actual argument. You need to reframe your interest as an hypothesis around which you can gather evidence. So starting by saying the benefits of dance teaching isn't an hypothesis as such.   In order to find something that 'hasn't been done to death' you need to do a LOT of reading around your broad topic. This will take time, and you will do what my less successful students call "wasted" reading. It is not wasted - you need to know the broad outlines of the field of your topic, and the chief researchers and scholars in the field.    An undergraduate dissertation doesn't need to be "original" (that is the central criterion for a PhD) but it must be independent.   One way to approach this is to think about examples of dance practice you have undertaken or observed. For a dissertation presumably to be written this year (your final undergrad year, I'm assuming), you can't rely on practical work you've done in the past, but you could extend or develop this in this year. Can you sit in on "Dance for Parkinson's" sessions, for example? You won't be able to do that for dance therapy as that is confidential therapy work. Or what about thinking about areas that aren't dance as such, but areas of practice which are influenced by dance?   But whatever you do, you need to have a body of primary source materials - that is, direct evidence of direct work, not just a series of summaries of what others have said.    And my serious advice (25 years of supervising dissertations in this broad field) is that primary evidence in these sorts of areas is very difficult for undergrad students to get access to. How are you going to prove the benefit? Do you have statistics training? Or training in questionnaires or ethical clearance for talking to students about their perception of benefit? These are all serious and weighty questions.   In short a dissertation can't just be a statement or affirmation of what you believe. It must be an argument , supported by your gathering together and analysis of the evidence, including counter-evidence.    

Thank you, that’s really helpful x

13 hours ago, lilyflower said: My daughter started ballet in January at 5yo (year 1, summer birthday), at the time she was really struggling with school (she doesn't process things very quickly and we suspect dyslexia), since starting ballet though she processes things far more quickly, her spelling in particular has gotten much better and she concentrates far easier. She really loves ballet (she decided after about 2 lessons that she was going to be in the Royal Ballet when she grows up - no other company will do xD )   Obviously this is anecdotal but the changes in her academically and in her confidence were incredible once she started ballet, it could be interesting to focus on if you can find others have had similar experiences

Hello Lilyflower and welcome to the Forum!

Yep, I’d second this, my DS is left handed and also on the dyslexic spectrum and has benefited no end from the discipline and precision of classical ballet. He used to be quite a clumsy child and is now quite graceful. I’d say his concentration has improved and he’s doing much better at school now. Happy to chat if you need any participants... 👍 👍

These anecdotes are interesting, but can't be used in a university dissertation!

1 hour ago, Kate_N said: These anecdotes are interesting, but can't be used in a university dissertation!

From a psychological perspective, I can see possibilities of using a narrative/social constructionist approach to research into how parents perceive the benefits of dance training for their children. This could certainly involve a handful of in-depth interviews ...... but I don't know if this type of research is what the OP is able to undertake to satisy the requirements of their degree.

I did a research paper on whether research from education on parental engagement affecting attainment could be applied to the private sector dance. While researching I found a few companies who engage the whole family through dance, and research that suggested shared activities improved relationships? 

While I didn’t conduct any research I did link to my own pedagogic practice and considered ways to utilise the findings through my reflective journal. 

17 hours ago, glissade said: This could certainly involve a handful of in-depth interviews ...... but I don't know if this type of research is what the OP is able to undertake to satisy the requirements of their degree.

Sometimes my students come up with this sort of research method, but a problem arises if there hasn't been specific training in interviewing and qualitative research. As  you know, there are specific - and quite high level - skills involved. And those skills are not usually taught in a performing arts/dance degree  - we're too busy covering discipline specific content and skills!

At my place, this kind of research would also require ethical clearance, and quite a lot of secondary source reading in sociological research methods.

Just tagging on to @Bluebird22 's post - this is a more nuanced way of doing the kind of research the OP seems to want to do. My only problem with this - as a dissertation supervisor - is, as Bluebird says, that there's no body of primary source material to analyse.

Wow.  I wish I'd known all this when I was doing my dissertation - it would have been much more helpful (my "dissertation supervisor" having gone on sabbatical during the vital final term)

I began the thread to help my DD as she was struggling with a suitable topic to focus on.

Reading all your anicdotes was fascinating to hear what we all know! My DD hasn’t made any decisions on what type of research she wants to do, it was simply to gather ideas and I’m sure she will be well supported by her tutors during the process!

Feel free to carry on posting any ideas though, it’s all interesting stuff! 😊

• 4 weeks later...

Michelle Groves

Being aware that I may be accused of being flippant, my advice would be to avoid this topic altogether as you may be on a  hiding to nothing unless you have been thinking about the topic for the last couple of years, and been gathering information along the way.  By asking your question my initial response is that you aren't really invested in the topic.

My advice to undergraduate dissertation students is to keep it simple. After all, you only have a few months to get it all together.   Some of the best dissertations I have supervised, moderated etc. have been on topics which, on the surface, might appear simplistic or 'easy' (e.g. looking at reviews of a dance work by different dance critics across different decades - do you see what I see?, or the impact of different forms of feedback on a student's self concepts - thus, teachers needing to be aware of the effect of feedback on students, and strategies which students can draw on in mitigating negative impact).  The success indicators of these 'simple' dissertations were robust research questions, lines of enquiry which were critical and challenging, a methodological framework which was informed and credible, and identification/justification of emerging messages/trends.  I'm sure your  Supervisor will advise accordingly.

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