Реферат: Dance Education Essay Research Paper Dance EducationOutline

form of dance has to offer high school and college students:

Physically it can strengthen the body, correct (in most cases) faults, develop coordination, enhance

accuracy of movement . . . Emotionally, dance aids students in adjusting themselves to group activity, to

leadership, to discipline, and it helps them in matters of personal poise, in articulation in the expression

of ideas. For dance is both a discipline and a release (236).

Many surveys have been conducted to investigating the extent and nature of dance education in the United

States. In 1938 the Bennington School of Dance conducted a national survey to decide the status of modern

dancing in education. They discovered that they were promoting modern dance as physical education program in

especially large high schools. Although the program favored the women, efforts were under way to cultivate the

natural interest of boys as well.

The study also revealed that while most of colleges and universities offered instruction in some form of dancing,

approximately two-thirds of these offered modern dance. Although some institutions transferred dance to the

department of fine arts, most programs were in the department of physical education (Welch 163).

Margaret H’ Doubler and Martha Hill pioneered the preparation of dance teachers. H’ Doubler developed the first

dance major in the United States in 1926 at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. In 1934 a school of dance was

opened at Bennington College in Vermont. Hill was director of dance for years at Bennington College and New

York University, and later head of the dance department at the Julliard School in New York City. With the

development of dance as a major course of study at their respective institutions, these early pioneers prepared

the first teachers who went out to other schools and colleges.

By the late 1970’s dance education had expanded so much in Higher Education that both the American Alliance

for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, and Dance Magazine publishes directories to college and

university dance programs. The prospective student of dance can select institutions throughout the country which

offer intensive courses for degree candidacy or as a minor field of study. Additionally, they may take dance as

part of an interdisciplinary major, or as a concentration within other degree programs. They may also earn

elective liberal arts’ credit. Some universities have professional companies in residence.

The advantage public schools and college campuses can offer that no professional studio can match are:

1. Free and adequate space for practicing.

2. The facilities of a well-equipped theater and recording studio.

3. Willing and patient young bodies for experimentation in choreography.