Abstract
This paper aligns Clare Graves’ Emergent, Cyclical Levels of Human Existence conceptual theory of developmental psychology with the evolution of dance from traditional to classical to modern, postmodern, contemporary and beyond (tribalistic and egoistic state; absolutistic state; multiplistic existence and subjectivity; relativistic state; and systemic state respectively). I suggest that applying this framework to dance offers dancers an “organizational structure” for applying conceptual theory to their craft. I further suggest that college dance programs are sometimes not successful because of misalignments of psychological perspectives on the part of faculty and students. I cite the failure of my own experience teaching in a particular recreational dance studio because myself and the studio management and the students were operating on different psychological levels.
Presenters
James RobeyInterim Dean/Chair/Associate Professor, Dance, Radford University, Virginia, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Emergent-Cyclical Theory, Dance, Pedagogy, Leadership, Organization, Creativity, Developmental, Emergent
