This unparalleled collection, international and innovative in scope, analyzes the dynamic tensions between masculinity and dance. Introducing a lens of intersectionality, the book’s content examines why, despite burgeoning popular and contemporary representations of a normalization of dancing masculinities, some boys don’t dance and why many of those who do struggle to stay involved. Prominent themes of identity, masculinity, and intersectionality weave throughout the book’s conceptual frameworks of education and schooling, cultures, and identities in dance. Incorporating empirical studies, qualitative inquiry, and reflexive accounts, Doug Risner and Beccy Watson have assembled a unique volume of original chapters from established scholars and emerging voices to inform the future direction of interdisciplinary dance scholarship and dance education research. The book’s scope spans several related disciplines including gender studies, queer studies, cultural studies, performance studies, and sociology. The volume will appeal to dancers, educators, researchers, scholars, students, parents, and caregivers of boys who dance. Accessible at multiple levels, the content is relevant for undergraduate students across dance, dance education, and movement science, and graduate students forging new analysis of dance, pedagogy, gender theory, and teaching praxis.
Author(s): Doug Risner, Beccy Watson
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 355
City: Cham
Foreword
Contents
Notes on Contributors
List of Tables
Chapter 1: Introduction
Praxis and Critical Pedagogy
Masculinity and the Dancing Body
Engaging Intersectionality
Toward a Queer Theorization of Masculinity
Organization of the Book
Education | Schooling Masculinity in Dance Education and Training
Culture | Gendering Dance Participation, Performance, and Pedagogy
Identity | Moving Identities in Dancing Bodies
References
Part I: Education | Schooling Masculinity in Dance Education and Training
Chapter 2: Understanding the Community College Male Dance Experience
Early Opportunities and Obstacles
Men’s Community College Dance Experiences
Leaving Dance Studies Behind
Cultural Identity and Masculine Responsibility
Rethinking Role Models
Community Dance Comes Full Circle
Further Thoughts
References
Chapter 3: Generalist Elementary Male Teachers Advocating for Dance and Male Dancers
Belonging in Schools
Contextualizing the Pilot Study, the Approach and Aims for Advocacy
Experiencing, Advocating, Belonging
Approaching Dance Education Issues as an A/r/tographer
Understanding the Living Inquiry
The Participants’ Living Inquiry
The A/r/tographic Renderings
Toward De-stigmatization of Males in Dance
References
Chapter 4: Listening to Why Boys (Don’t) Dance: Creating Inclusive Dance Experiences for Boys
Gender, Sexuality, and Dance
Dance Pedagogy and Meaningfulness
Boys’ Experiences in Dance
Theoretical Framework
Child-Centered Research Approach
Write, Draw, Show, Tell, Emoji
Freestyling of Masculinity
Recognizing Boys’ Emotions Toward Dance
Dance as an Exclusive Space
Hijacking Dance
Team Dance
Mindful Dance
Boys Aloud!
References
Chapter 5: Dancing Boys and Men: Negotiating Masculinity and Sexuality
Methodology
Starting to Dance
Boys’ Experiences of Dancing
The Pleasure of Dancing
Young Men Negotiating Dance and Masculinity
Bringing Dance to Boys and Boys into Dance
Closing Thoughts on Masculinities, Sexualities, and Dance
References
Part II: Culture | Gendering Dance Participation, Performance, and Pedagogy
Chapter 6: Parental Perspectives on Their Sons’ Motivation to Dance
Introduction
Methodology and Analysis
Method
Analysis
A Difficult Career Choice for My Son
Affective Experiences of Dance Parents
Hopes for My Son’s Future
My Son’s Intrinsic Motivation
Balancing Family Life Demands
Judgment and Bullying Concerns
My Son Benefits from Dance Participation
Discussion of Findings
References
Chapter 7: Masculinities and Performativities in Native American Dance
Native American Epistemologies, or: Why Does Dance Matter?
Masculindians
Dancing Masculindians
Performativities
Imperative Versus Resultant Performativities in Powwows
Colonial Masculinities and Resultant Performativities
Masculinities Created Through Imperative Performativities
References
Chapter 8: Dancing Between Queer Failure and Participatory Pedagogy
Contexts: Coming Out With Purpose
Queer Failure and Men Who Dance
Research Design and Methods
Discussion
Ideas of Queer Failure
Experiences of Queer Failure in Conservatoire Contexts
Imperfection as Orientation
References
Chapter 9: Marketing Dance to Boys and Men: New, Complex and Dynamic Practices of Masculinities
Analyzing the Marketing of Dance Organizations
Mislabeling Dance as “Just for Girls”
Offer “Boy-Friendly” Dance
Cultivate an “All-Singing, All-Dancing Boy”
Overcoming Men’s Reluctance to Dance
Cultivating the “(Hetero)sexy Male Dancer”
Discussion
Intersectionality: What Is Missed, Silenced?
A Piecemeal Change: Same Old Marketing Strategies With Some Postfeminist Updates
References
Chapter 10: Fear, Coping and Peer Support in Male Dance Students’ Reflections
Introduction
Investigating the Reflections of Men in Dance Education
The Peer Group as a Safe Space
Marginalization, Social Stigma, and Fear
Coping
Supporting Boys in Dance Education
Conclusions
References
Part III: Identity | Moving Identities in Dancing Bodies
Chapter 11: A Course on Movement Enhancement Skills for Men
My Journey into Dance
Why Dance?
Acknowledging the Technology of the Circle
Agreements in My Studio Space
Ice-Melting
Cultivating Student Interest
Daily Practice: We Begin Again
See/Seen: So, We Begin Once Again
Building Trust: Beginning Again to Lead a Community
Journaling: Reflection on Beginning Again
Transformation: The Hope of Beginning Again
Chapter 12: Black Bodies Dancing Defiance: Deez Nuts!
A Methodology
Masculinities in Black
“He is the Kid That be Dancing”: Moving Through Heteronormative Approval
Modern Dance Makes You Gay: The Burden of Queer Designation
Musings: Toward Conclusions…
References
Chapter 13: Pink Feathers in the Ballet Closet: Three Gay Remakes of Swan Lake
Three Gay Swan Lakes
Gay Cultures and Queer Politics
The Ballet Closet
Training Gender
Gay Men and The Pas de Deux
Femininity and Gay Shame
Swan Lake (1995)
The Hypochondriac Bird (1998)
Swan Lake, 4 Acts (2005)
Conclusion: Looking Back
References
Chapter 14: Hypermasculinity Makes the Queer Boy Faint
One Type of Boy Emerges
Straighten Up or Get Left Behind
Not Gay Enough
The Binary Is Strong
Fear of the Queer
From Student to Teacher and Gay to Queer
Women to the Rescue, Not So Much
Falsehoods and False Promises in Dance
We Are Family
Representation Matters
Here We All Are
References
Chapter 15: Dancing a Love/Hate Relationship: A Case Study on Lingering Aspirations
Early Beginnings in Dance
Finding Himself In and Out of Dance
“Love/Hate” Relationship
Body Image
Negative Experiences in Dance
Lack of Support
Bullying, Sexual Identity, and Shame
Lingering Aspirations
A Call for Humanizing Dance Pedagogy
References
Chapter 16: Afterword(s)
Index
