Toward a Theoretical View of Dance Leadership

Abstract

This is a theoretical dissertation, creating a beginning understanding of dance leadership. The subject is absent from both the dance and the leadership literature; therefore the concepts have been developed from the experiences of practice and integrated with concepts from those of outside disciplines through the process of reflective synthesis. In order to create this beginning understanding, dance leadership is established herein in its own domain, separate from both dance and leadership. It is a form of informal leadership--that is, not conferred by title or position within an organization--specifically leading in place, practiced by individual or groups of dancers with the goal of furthering dance. It occurs in the space of dance leadership, different from the artist/s work in dance; and involves stepping forward into a space which recognizes an obligation to dance. As leadership in place, it carries no expectation of a permanent change in role; it is not tied to a title or an organization. Dance has been established herein as an intrinsic human activity; therefore dance leadership activities may be expected to ease/further the human condition, but the direction of the activity is toward furthering dance. Dancers function as leaders by virtue of the knowledge and skills they hold as dancers; their leadership is tied inextricably to their practice and is rooted in the fact of their being artists. Dance leadership is practiced at least in the forms of dancing, speaking, and writing; there may be other forms as well. The establishment of the domain of dance leadership proposes a number of emergent issues to be addressed by dance leaders, as well as issues of concern for dance, leadership, and other academic disciplines. The electronic version of this dissertation is at OhioLink ETD Center, www.ohiolink.edu/etd. This pdf is accompanied by two mp4 files.