Humanities Arts Cultural Stu 0178 - Critical Dance Studies

How do we ask questions with our bodies? What does dance do in the world and how can it help us understand social identities? What does it mean to write dance and why would we want to do it? This course introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of critical dance studies and its historical, ethnographic, and theoretical approaches. Dance Studies offers us a way to sharpen our awareness of the impacts of dancing both on and off stage, while also developing our ability to analyze bodies in socio-cultural context. Centered on an exploration of the relationship between theory and practice, we will study many different forms of dance and movement through readings, viewings, discussions, our own embodied practices, interaction with artists and attendance at live performances. Our investigations will be grounded by attention to race, gender, sexuality, nation, class, ability and ethnicity.

Culture, Humanities, and Languages Independent Work Multiple Cultural Perspectives Field trip fees: TBD. In this course, students can expect to spend 6-8 hours weekly on work and preparation outside of class time.