This thesis is a study of the work of Martha Graham, pioneer of modern dance in America, and Zab Maboungou, pioneer of contemporary African dance in Canada. The objective of this study is to identify in 'world dances' their unifying principle, to suggest implications of this for an at-one-ness in dance education. Drawing from early critical theory, specifically, I argue that a cross-cultural definition of dance is essential for inclusion of African dance, and other non-Western dances, in contemporary education. / To do so, this thesis first raises the question what is dance , and examines four commonly accepted definitions of dance. From the framework of critical multiculturalism, the politics of nonrecognition and misrepresentation are discussed. The 'primitive' trope attached to contemporary non-Western art, the regard of cultures as 'objects', and the 'tokenism' practices in multicultural education are examined in direct relation to art museums, educational institutions, and media images in particular. / From the notion of self, the thesis uses philosophical foundations, primarily Eastern, to challenge the Eurocentrism present in contemporary dance education in Canada. This addresses the question of who is the dancer. / Throughout the thesis, the shifting dialogue between theory and philosophy, past and present, movement and voice, is employed to argue for change in dance education in Canada. In response to the questions raised, the final conclusion of this thesis is developed in a six minute video presentation which accompanies this thesis, entitled: I am the two in One.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.21220 |
| Date | January 1999 |
| Creators | Hyman, Randolph-Dalton. |
| Contributors | Wood, Elizabeth (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Arts (Department of Culture and Values in Education.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001657086, proquestno: MQ50523, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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