Dance Pedagogy and Education in China: A Personal Narrative of Teaching In, about and Through Dance Education

This pivot offers an innovative approach to dance education, bringing a creative and inclusive dance education pedagogy into Chinese dance classrooms. Associate Professor Ralph Buck’s experiences of teaching dance at the Beijing Dance Academy and the possible implications for dance education in China lie at the heart of this text. Through a critical examination of personal teaching practice, pedagogical issues, trends and rationales for dance education in the curriculum are highlighted. Informed by constructivist ideals that recognise dialogue and interaction, this pivot suggests that dance can be re-positioned and valued within educational contexts when pedagogical strategies and objectives are framed in terms of teaching and learning in, about and through dance education.

Ralph Buck (Ph.D.) is an Associate Professor and Head of Dance Studies, University of Auckland, New Zealand. He is an award-winning Teacher and Academic Leader. His research and teaching focuses on dance education curriculum, dance pedagogy and community dance. Ralph is the UNESCO Chair on Dance and Social Inclusion and is currently working within several international dance research and service organisations such as the World Alliance for Arts Education (WAAE). Ralph’s teaching and leadership has been recognised by The University of Auckland Distinguished Teaching Award, 2008; Award for Leadership, 2010; Excellence Award for Equal Opportunities 2006; and Creative Arts and Industries Research Excellence Award, 2016. Ralph has several international academic appointments including Visiting Professorships at Northwest Normal University, China, and Beijing Dance Academy, China. His research in dance education is published in international journals, and he has delivered invited key notes and master classes in China, Australia, Columbia, Sweden, Finland, Singapore, Denmark, New Zealand and Fiji.