The Majority of College Dance Programs Focus on Western Techniques—and It's Shortchanging Students' Artistry
Nyama McCarthy-Brown, assistant professor of community engagement through dance pedagogy at Ohio State University, breaks down the need for more inclusive dance training in higher ed.
The Numbers
“We have over 600 college dance programs in the United States, and less than 10 of them focus on something other than ballet or modern,” says McCarthy-Brown of her research. The more college dance departments privilege Western techniques, the more students will follow a pattern that limits their options, losing the opportunity to work within other cultural practices.
Room for Growth
What would it look like if ballet or modern dancers consistently diversified their training with bharatanatyam or traditional West African dance? “I don’t think we fully understand what the benefits are, because we haven’t given students the opportunity to expand in those ways,” says McCarthy-Brown. “We deserve a chance to find out.”
Push for Choice
McCarthy-Brown says she’s seeing more and more students advocating for diversity in their curriculums, “but it really becomes the job of administrators and directors to make these changes,” she says. Find a teacher or mentor who supports your hunger to explore other forms, ask for help and “don’t relax the struggle,” McCarthy-Brown says. If your program only offers electives, continue to expand your training in community classes, in clubs on campus or during summer intensives.
