Dance and Belonging - by Crystal U Davis (Paperback)

About the Book

"Employing social science research, this book details how bias affects the brain, perception and decision-making, identifying how these factors manifest in the field of dance. Centering the author's experience as a researcher, educator and lifelong dancer, it applies social psychology to the events, communities, and teaching strategies in dance classrooms of all sizes and age ranges. Using critical theory as a framework, chapters define implicit biases and explore the power dynamics that shape interactions on and off the dance floor. Various examples of bias in dance education are examined in detail, as are the ramifications of prejudice and inequity. Finally, the book disseminates the mechanisms that both exacerbate and disrupt the effects of biases, ultimately exploring practiced solutions for addressing bias in the dance classroom. Unique in its narrow focus, this book inspires dance students, teachers, education administrators and arts stakeholders to begin new conversations that will allow dance classrooms to become more welcoming, inclusive spaces"--

Book Synopsis

This book details how bias affects the brain, perception and decision-making--and identifies how these factors affect the field of dance. It applies social psychology to the events, communities, and teaching strategies in dance classrooms of all sizes and age ranges.

Using critical theory as a framework, chapters define implicit biases and explore the power dynamics on and off the dance floor. Various examples of bias in dance education are examined in detail, as are the ramifications of prejudice and inequity. The book sets out the mechanisms that both exacerbate and disrupt the effects of biases, ultimately exploring practiced solutions for addressing bias in the dance classroom. It is intended to inspire dance students, teachers, administrators and arts stakeholders to begin new conversations that will allow dance classrooms to become more welcoming, inclusive spaces.

Review Quotes

"Valuable insights... Davis delves into the sociocultural aspects, focusing on how dancing fosters a sense of belonging... one of the many strengths of Davis's work is her detailed case studies, which provide compelling support for her theories... Davis' ethnographic approach is particularly effective in providing a nuanced understanding... essential reading for anyone interested in the profound ways that dancing shapes human experience, fosters community, and enhances psychological health."--Dance Chronicles

"What I appreciate most about Davis is her ability to articulate and ground her experiences in a sociohistorical context...Every educator should read this book."--Journal of Dance Education

About the Author

Crystal U. Davis, CLMA is a dancer, movement analyst, critical race theorist, and an assistant professor of dance at the University of Maryland, College Park. She has 13 years of experience teaching in PK-12 dance education. Her research exploring implicit bias in dance education and how privilege manifests in the body has been published in the Journal of Dance Education and included in a volume of the Palgrave Handbook of Race and the Arts in Education.