More Than a Dance: Interactions Between Designed and Naturalistic Factors in Senior Community Learning of Contemporary Square Dance

• In Event: Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: Learning Designs of Service-Learning and Community Activities

Abstract

This study investigated an understudied sector of community-based global)education and development: dance activities that contribute to health and wellness, particularly for senior citizens. Given the overall lack of scholarly work in this specific area, this data collection consisted of text and online research and original qualitative observations to establish and ground an understanding of the nature and state of this community-based educational phenomenon. This particular analysis focuses on interactions between the designed (instructor/caller-controlled) and naturalistic (learner/community-controlled) features of contemporary square dance. Findings may transfer to dance education generally, to other community-based educational activities that support seniors in brain and body health, and to training and development that integrates standardized skills into adaptive, collaborative communities-of-practice.

Author

• Patricia L. Hardre, University of Oklahoma