Seventeenth International Conference on the Arts in Society

Abstract

The Covid-19 Pandemic forced dance faculty in higher education to urgently shift to online delivery methods. Based on interviews with various dance faculty from diverse geographical, disciplinary and institutional affiliations, this study is a reflection on the dance pedagogy trends, issues, and concepts during the 2020 shift to virtual dance teaching and learning. This essay considers difficulties that occurred in online dance education, such as health and safety issues, the complexity of navigating students’ diverse socio-economic discrepancies and its connection to access, and the emotional and mental health toll on students of a rapidly changing art sector. It also explores new discoveries in dance pedagogies and ideas for moving dance education forward post-Covid-19. The research brings into focus the role of technology in dance education, its effect on teaching, embodied learning, and creative development. Finally, we look at the limiting believes surrounding online dance education, and how they can become opportunities to discover new frontiers in dance teaching.