Dance as a Catalyst for Interdisciplinary Thinking

Dance as a Catalyst: An Interdisciplinary Journey is thought-provoking for both dancers and non-dancers with a wide variety of topics. The information in each chapter relates to dance, presenting material for the reader to digest with analytical, critical, creative, and ethical thinking guided by the reader's own imagination. From an analytical and critical examination of dance topics to creative thought processes and ethical decisions, the reader engages in the practice of independent thinking with thought exercises at the end of each chapter. Thinking cannot be taught but rather practiced, and dance is our vehicle for this exploration.Dance as a Catalyst: An Interdisciplinary Journey is divided into three distinct parts: Part I provides an historical, philosophical, and sociological approach to expand thinking through learning about the past to better understand the significance of dance in society today. Part II highlights dance connections along our interdisciplinary journey. Dance, as an art form, looks at dance in poetry, visual arts and sculpture in this chapter. Viewing dance in visual arts and sculptures provides material for analytical and critical evaluation. Part III provides examples of collaborations illustrating the products of great connections. Throughout the book, each chapter introduces a concept to initiate the thought process in relation to dance and includes thought exercises for the reader. Musings, the author's reflections on the chapter, close each chapter. The wide variety of topics covered in this book demonstrate the power of dance as a catalyst for interdisciplinary thinking. Facts provide valuable information, but the real learning comes from thinking.