Legacy in Dance Education: Essays and Interviews on Values, Pract ...

As stated previously, deep discussion of legacy in educational dance is not widely evidenced in the literature. More often than not, the little one finds on this topic has the warm tones of fond remembrance. And perhaps this is to be expected. We recall the events, circumstances, and personalities of our lives with regard, with affection, and with discretion. It is not an easy or simple task to take inventory of what we have absorbed from people, or from our work and our lives, using an objective or analytically aware eye. Critical assessment in dance education is also challenged by the fact that the field itself is very young. In analyzing legacy, we may be talking about people who are still very much alive. Add to that the fact that dance is so culturally challenged by archetypal notions of who practices it and why, along with its educational value and worth, it is no surprise that few have really looked at what is left to us with an eye toward critical examination. Why exacerbate the issues surrounding how dance is viewed by the larger culture by examining the legacy of our mentors?

But I think somewhere between the valentine and the exposé lies a nuanced and interesting story. Because dancers, perhaps more than other artists or educators, live off a diet largely made up by the fruits of legacy, our thoughtful consideration of what we take from the past, manifest in the present, and send off into the future is an important responsibility. Because legacy provides us both a springboard to move forward from and a quicksand in which to sink, we must look at it closely and with eyes wide open. We benefit from awareness of what we carry forward in life as this shapes our inventory of values, inspires and even directs our practices, and is a result of our interactions with people.

Legacy for Dance in Education

Dance is embodied legacy. Yet, dancing itself is subjectively (and often poorly) understood and valued in American culture. Dance is enjoyed as a symbol of a romanticized aristocracy, or pitched as embodied political manifesto. It can be an important symbol of a heterosexual, cultural dominance or a strong symbol of gay pride.