Publisher Description

The Foundations of Dance: An Anthology provides readers with a carefully selected collection of articles that introduce them to various dance forms and their respective movements. The anthology features differentiating perspectives on ballet, jazz, and modern dance, as well as explorations about dance as ethnography, production, performance, legacy, and tradition.

The various authors whose writings are included within the volume approach traditional dance subject matter from perspectives that incorporate dance as an expression of humanity, the relationship between choreography and elements of dance, the performing arts industry, spirituality and dance, LGBTQ traditions in dance, and the American dance scene. Additional readings underscore the importance of mentoring, the role of matriarchs, and the passing on of heritage within dance communities. Each article is supplemented with post-reading questions to inspire critical thought and reflection.

Covering information value to individuals currently teaching or planning to teach dance classes, The Foundations of Dance is an ideal resource for courses in dance and the arts. It can also be used by dance instructors who own studios and work within their communities.

Author Biography

Benita Brown is a professor and coordinator of dance, as well as the director of Virginia State University's Sankofa Dance Theatre. She holds an Ed.D. and a master's degree in dance from the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University. She also holds a Sloane-C Certification in online/distance education. Brown has experience teaching courses including the history of dance and the black experience, African and Caribbean dance, dance repertory, rhythmic forms, and yoga and meditation. She has traveled abroad to Morocco, Ghana, the Bahamas, Senegal, Gambia, London, England, and Wales in the United Kingdom to conduct dance, folklore, and culture-related research.

She is the recipient of several fellowships, including the Future Faculty Fellowship, Dissertation Fellowship, Choreographer's Fellowship, Frederick Douglas Fellowship, University of Puerto Rico Research Fellowship, Research Initiation Grant Fellowship, and the Virginia Historical Society Fellowship. She was also elected by her peers as a Fulbright Scholar.

Long Description

The Foundations of Dance: An Anthology provides readers with a carefully selected collection of articles that introduce them to various dance forms and their respective movements. The anthology features differentiating perspectives on ballet, jazz, and modern dance, as well as explorations about dance as ethnography, production, performance, legacy, and tradition. The various authors whose writings are included within the volume approach traditional dance subject matter from perspectives that incorporate dance as an expression of humanity, the relationship between choreography and elements of dance, the performing arts industry, spirituality and dance, LGBTQ traditions in dance, and the American dance scene. Additional readings underscore the importance of mentoring, the role of matriarchs, and the passing on of heritage within dance communities. Each article is supplemented with post-reading questions to inspire critical thought and reflection. Covering information value to individuals currently teaching or planning to teach dance classes, The Foundations of Dance is an ideal resource for courses in dance and the arts. It can also be used by dance instructors who own studios and work within their communities.

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