Syftet med denna hermeneutiska fallstudie är att skapa kunskap om hur lärare inom utbildningsledet mot att bli en professionell dansare uttrycker uppfattningar om styrka och rörlighet inom utbildningarna och dansutövandet. Tre linjeansvariga danslärare intervjuades och studiens data analyserades utifrån den hermeneutiska cirkeln. De tre respondenterna representerade varsin utbildningsnivå; gymnasieskola, folkhögskola, och högskola. Resultatet visar att synen på styrka och rörlighet inom dansämnet är väldigt komplex, men att dessa två komponenter inte anses som en förutsättning för att kunna dansa utifrån ett konstnärligt perspektiv. Alla tre utbildningar inkluderar komplementär träning, såsom yoga, pilates, och andra somatiska praktiker utöver dansträningen för att öka den kinestetiska intelligensen. Även då utbildningarna värderar rörlighet som en mindre viktig förmåga att vidareutveckla i dansutövandet, är praktisk rörlighetsträning, såsom stretching, något som gymnasieskolan och folkhögskolan i denna undersökning till viss del inkluderar i sina utbildningar. Eleverna/deltagarna/studenterna som går utbildningarna stretchar däremot ofta på eget initiativ.

This study investigates how jazz educators relate their practical dance teaching to the history of the genre and analyses whether or not the history is incorporated in the didactic part of the education for a jazz dancer. This thesis is based on interviews with four active jazz dance teachers. According to the results, the origin and early history of jazz dance is not being incorporated in the practical part of a dancer’s education to the same extent as the succeeding eras. This thesis shows that history is often tought in non-practical classes and is not incorporated in dance practice. It also shows that the teachers often only relate to history as inspiration. Another finding is that time period from the 1940 ́s until today works as the base of history while the origins and early history is neglected. That means that African and African American fundamentals is overlooked while white influence is being recognized. One reason discussed in this thesis is that the educators themselves lacks knowledge of jazz dance history and understanding of its relevance from their own schooling.

The purpose of the study is to examine and problematize how the ego affects musicians and dancers. Important factors that shape the ego is the artists educational background and experience within the artistic subjekt. Hence, the purpose is also to find out how these factors affecting the ego. I wanted other artists practitioners’ thoughts on the subjekt, therefore I chose to interview four people, two musicians and two dancers. My informants were to be college-educated, active and have a minimum of 20 years experience in music or 10 years experience in dance. I asked questions based on the following sub-headings: Education and Practice, Teaching, Ego and Identity and Vision for the future. In the study, I describe one person at a time and to further strengthen the informants’ statements I complement with literature. In the analyze section I comparing their different statements with each other and interpreters informants responses and in the discussion section, I comparing their different statements with each other as well as with my own thoughts and to the relevant literature. According to my interpretation all informants have basically the same idea of how they look on the ego. Yet, the dancers seems more troubled by the ego than the musicians. Educational background and experience are factors that has shaped my informants ego where their teachers have been one of the sources to inspiration. It has been interesting to take part of my informants views because they have inspired me to further thinking and have also helped me feel more confident about my own musical practice. I hope this is a study that can be beneficial to anyone who has ever reflected on any subjekt, artistic or not. / Syftet med studien är att undersöka och problematisera hur jaget påverkar musiker och dansare. Viktiga faktorer som formar jaget är utbildningsbakgrund och erfarenhet inom det konstnärliga ämnet. Därför åsyftas att även ta reda på hur de faktorerna påverkar jaget. Jag ville ha andra konstnärliga utövares tankar om ämnet därför valde jag att intervjua fyra personer, två musiker och två dansare. Mina informanter skulle vara högskoleutbildade, aktiva och ha minst 20 års erfarenhet inom musik eller 10 års erfarenhet inom dans. Jag ställde frågor utifrån följande underrubriker: Utbildning och Verksamhet, Undervisning, Jaget och Identiteten och Framtidsvision. I uppsatsen redogör jag för en person i taget och för att ytterligare stärka informanternas utsagor kompletterar jag med litteratur. I analysdelen jämför jag och tolkar informanternas svar och i diskussionsdelen kopplar jag jämförelsen och mina tankar till relevant litteratur. Enligt min tolkning så har alla informanterna i stort sett samma tanke om hur de ser på jaget. Dock verkar dansarna mer besvärade av jaget än musikerna. Utbildning och erfarenhet är faktorer som har format deras ”jag” där deras lärare har varit en av inspirationskällorna. Jag tycker det har varit intressant att lyssna till informanterna eftersom de har gett mig uppslag till att tänka vidare och bidragit till att jag nu känner mig tryggare i mitt eget musicerande. Jag hoppas att det här är ett arbete som kan vara till nytta för alla som någon gång haft en fundering kring ett konstnärligt ämne eller icke konstnärligt ämne.

We wanted to break with prejudices- that´s where it all started.Podcast as a tool to develop a norm-critical pedagogy in dance education. This master thesis explores issues about academic dance education in the dynamic of a traditional and contemporary expectations in the discipline. In dialogue with dance students at an aesthetic program in the context of the upper secondary school/ the gymnasium in Sweden, dance theory is analysed from a norm-critical view. The students have created podcasts about dance styles such as dancehall, twerking, azonto and voguing. The analysis of the data has used action research as a method. The purpose has been to develop the didactics in the course Dance theory in order to reach an increased goal fulfillment, new knowledge and meaning in relation to curriculum and syllabi expectations. The study includes a research overview of dances from the African diaspora, African aesthetics and vernacular dance as well as the whiteness norm and intersectionality.     The podcasts have been analyzed in relation to governing documents, traditions of teaching dance and theories of resistance and participation. The joint result from the podcasts about dancehall, twerking and azonto emphasizes the importance of respectfully putting dance styles in a context of origins and history. At the same time, there is an encouragement for cultural encounters where hybrid forms of artistic expression can emerge. Central to the podcasts with voguing is for example that dance can offer a place where you can be yourself despite sexual orientation and norm-breaking lifestyle in a chosen community, and feel safe and accepted.     The results from the podcasts call for, and challenge, the governing documents (curriculum and syllabi) for norm-critical views of inclusion and diversity in terms of power, gender norms, tradition and values. Traditions and the norm of whiteness are challenged through various intersections of gender, color and identity etc., and a new canon of dances can take place. The gap between young people's interests and academic dance has diminished during the process of investigation, thanks to a joint acquisition of knowledge and discussions, even though consensus has not been the goal. Based on theories, we can interpret that each new generation will continue to challenge contemporary norms and values.

This bachelor thesis is a study of how collaborative learning impacts accessibility, with a particular attention given to the relationship between the learning process and accessibility. The aim is to gain insights into how collaborative learning as a pedagogical approach impacts accessibility in a group of mixed ability dancers. For that purpose, we propose a theoretical framework of accessibility, collaborative learning and pathways to knowledge. The study is conducted through a qualitative research method using abductive reasoning. It consisted of two workshops as well as in-practice reflections and discussions, following an eight-step thematic analysis method. In summary, five main themes were identified in this study: sense of belonging, openness, the act of sharing, space for interpretation and to dare. Each theme reflects components of breaking the loop, a process in which new insights may arise. Thus, all of the themes can be used as inspiration to create more accessible learning environment in which we pave the way for discovery and creativity. Thereof, while arguing for the significance of collaborative learning, this study intends to contribute to the conversation surrounding accessibility in the wider context of dance education.

Dance genres in Swedish upper secondary school - a quantitative survey Dance as a subject in upper secondary school is a relatively young subject with a vague framing that provides the teachers with more room for interpretation. The aim of this paper is to shed light on a somewhat unexplored researched field and to contribute with knowledge about what dance genres that are featured in Swedish upper secondary schools. The study investigates what genres the students encounter in the everyday dance training and how much time in class. Further, it is investigated which genres the schools bring in as guest genres and who teaches them. The data is collected via a survey that was sent to all Swedish upper secondary schools with an arts program in dance. The results are analyzed and discussed via curriculum theory and Swedish dance history. Some of the main conclusions are that the modern and contemporary dance stands out in more than one way and is well established in dance programs in Swedish upper secondary schools. Another result shows that there is a wide diversity in the genres schools chose to include as a guest genre. The results also show that the most common is to bring in a guest teacher in different subgenres of street dance.