Introduction

What is popular dance? In the context of this workshop, popular dance is understood much like pop music—defined not by a single style or set of elements, but by what resonates with the public at a specific moment in time. This workshop explores the factors that contribute to a dance's popularity: the music that accompanies it, the emotions it evokes in audiences, and the sensations it generates for the dancer. Over the duration of nearly a semester long, workshop participants examined the social and cultural forces that elevate certain dances into the mainstream, while also addressing a crucial question: how do we honor and credit the rich cultural histories from which these dances emerge?

History & Distinction

Dance has always been an integral part of society throughout history as an essential art form. It is an endorphin-releasing activity that not only brings joy to the dancer but to the audience as well (Peter, 2020). The study of popular art forms throughout history can reflect insight into the society of that time, and by studying the influences behind popular dance we can further understand the cultural significance and values of society during these times in history. For example, social media has a huge impact on what is deemed as popular or viral, and the format of dances on social media follows a specific pattern of being short videos around one minute long (Mattson, 2023). The popularization of this video format demonstrates how society values things that bring joy, are easily accessible, and are convenient to watch. In an age of increasing globalization, mainstream dance has been impacted by cultures all over the globe, such as K-pop and Bollywood. But even those dance styles have been influenced by other dance styles such as hip hop, originating in the U.S. (Davé, 2016). The dance world is constantly innovating and being influenced, and this phenomenon can be observed when analyzing popular dances. Documentaries, such as Check Your Body at the Door, were an especially powerful tool in my workshop. Hearing dancers share their personal stories, particularly how they challenged societal norms to pursue their passion, captured the exact voice I sought to bring light to in my workshop. 

Methods

When preparing for my workshop, I primarily focused on sources such as articles, documentaries, and videos that featured authentic artists from specific dance styles. After conducting research, I summarized the material into my weekly lectures. Each session also included a physical component, where I guided students through choreography either rooted in or inspired by the style we were studying that week. To maintain engagement, I incorporated a variety of strategies, including creative warm-ups, thought-provoking analytical questions, and curated video content to enrich the learning experience. For our social media unit, I incorporated choreography from popular influencers. In our hip-hop unit, we explored influential figures such as Viktor Manoel, an original waacker, and DJ Kool Herc, often considered the “founder of hip-hop.” During our global unit, we viewed clips of iconic Bollywood dances and Chinese dance performances. For the K-pop unit, we analyzed music videos from the 1990s to the present day to examine how K-pop has evolved.

Audience & Impact

This workshop was designed for anyone who enjoys dance, regardless of their experience level. When developing the lecture content, I focused on foundational material to ensure accessibility for all students, as many may not have previously engaged with the historical and choreographic aspects of these dance styles. Given the broad range of styles covered throughout the workshop, my goal was to offer a taste of many dance forms to spark curiosity and appreciation across a diverse spectrum of movement. For our Arts Fest presentation, we held a mini workshop where I taught one of the choreographies that we had learned during the semester, and the number of volunteers we received that were willing to come on stage and learn the dance was far past my expectations. I was really glad that we could successfully connect with the community through this presentation in an exciting, interactive, and fun way.

On a personal level, this workshop gave me the opportunity to research and explore a topic I’m deeply passionate about. I was curious to uncover the dance styles that have influenced the choreographies I have seen in popular culture, and I wanted to push myself to go beyond academic understanding by engaging with their physical practice. 

References

Atlas, Charles, and Michael Schwartz, directors. Check Your Body at the Door. Produced by Sally R. Sommer, 2012.

Davé, S., Nishime, L., & Oren, T. G. (Eds.). (2016). Global Asian American popular cultures. New York University Press.

Mattson, B. (2023). Instagram – ‘bringing you closer to the things you love’: Ghanaian popular dance circulation through interaction within current pervasive media. Journal of Arts and Communities, 14(1), 141–155. https://doi.org/10.1386/jaac_00049_1

Peter, B. (2020). Experiential knowledge: Dance as source for popular music historiography. Popular Music History, 12(3), 275–294. https://doi.org/10.1558/pomh.39678

Acknowledgements

Firstly, I would like to thank my wonderful TA Jessica Ononye for always being there to exchange ideas with and for generously staying beyond scheduled times to support our workshop sessions. I would also like to thank the Arts Faculty members­­—Harold, Heather, and Irene—for their constructive feedback and guidance. Lastly, I would like to thank my lovely and vibrant workshop participants—Deona Sogbor, Helen McConville, Imani Timity, and Lolita Bella Tonle—for all their hard work, focus, and enthusiasm this semester. I truly feel so fortunate to have led this workshop with such kind, thoughtful, and brilliant dancers.