The Bloomsbury Companion to Dance Studies: (Bloomsbury Companions)

The Bloomsbury Companion to Dance Studies brings together leading international dance scholars in this single collection to provide a vivid picture of the state of contemporary dance research. The book commences with an introduction that privileges dancing as both a site of knowledge formation and a methodological approach, followed by a provocative overview of the methods and problems that dance studies currently faces as an established disciplinary field. The volume contains eleven core chapters that each map out a specific area of inquiry: Dance Pedagogy, Practice-As-Research, Dance and Politics, Dance and Identity, Dance Science, Screendance, Dance Ethnography, Popular Dance, Dance History, Dance and Philosophy, and Digital Dance. Although these sub-disciplinary domains do not fully capture the dynamic ways in which dance scholars work across multiple positions and perspectives, they reflect the major interests and innovations around which dance studies has organized its teaching and research. Therefore each author speaks to the labels, methods, issues and histories of each given category, while also exemplifying this scholarship in action. The dances under investigation range from experimental conceptual concert dance through to underground street dance practices, and the geographic reach encompasses dance-making from Europe, North and South America, the Caribbean and Asia. The book ends with a chapter that looks ahead to new directions in dance scholarship, in addition to an annotated bibliography and list of key concepts. The volume is an essential guide for students and scholars interested in the creative and critical approaches that dance studies can offer.

Table of Contents:
List of Illustrations Notes on Contributors Acknolwedgments 1. Introduction Sherril Dodds (Temple University, USA) 2. Research Methods and Problems Rachel Fensham (Melbourne University, Australia) Current Research and Issues 3. Dance Pedagogy Edward C. Warburton (University of California, Santa Cruz, USA) 4. Practice-As-Research Vida Midgelow (Middlesex University, UK) 5. Dance and Politics Juan Ignacio Vallejos (National Council for Scientific and Technical Research, Argentina.) 6. Dance and Identity Prarthana Purkayastha (Royal Holloway, University of London, UK) 7. Dance Science Emma Redding (Trinity Laban, UK) 8. Screendance Harmony Bench (The Ohio State university, USA) 9. Dance Ethnography Yvonne Daniel (Smith College, USA) 10. Popular Dance Sherril Dodds (Temple University, USA) 11. Dance History Susan Manning (Northwestern University, USA) 12. Dance and Philosophy Anna Pakes (Roehampton University, UK) 13. Digital Dance Hetty Blades (Coventry University, USA) and Sarah Whatley (Coventry University, USA) 14. New Directions Mark Franko (Temple University, USA) 15. Annotated Bibliography Elizabeth Bergman (Temple University, USA) 16. A to Z of Key Concepts in Dance Studies Lise Uytterhoeven (London Studio Centre, UK) Index

About the Author :
Sherril Dodds is a Professor of Dance at Temple University, USA. Her books include Dance on Screen, Dancing on the Canon, Bodies of Sound and The Oxford Handbook of Dance and Competition. She is a founder member of the PoPMOVES research group and is currently Director of the Institute of Dance Scholarship at Temple University.

Review :
Those intending to teach or write about dance will find this volume of particular interest; those seeking a serious introduction to dance studies will find the collection to be an effective resource … Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals.