THDA 213 - Cultures of Dance

This course begins with the questions: What makes dance powerful? Why have people throughout the world and throughout history, danced? With an international emphasis, this course examines a range of dance forms such as Butoh, Bharata Natyam, Capoeira, Ghost Dance, and Bedoyo, and how these forms function in the lives of individuals and societies. Dance is investigated as a cultural force, whether it is performed as a sacred act, as entertainment, as a display of institutional power, or as an act of rebellion. Activities include attendance at concerts, films, discussions, readings, group research projects and movement classes with guest artists of the forms studied. (4 Credits)