How to define a question for a dance research?

by Bailey
(Glastonbury, CT, US)

I'm doing a research paper in Language Arts and I can't come up with a question for dance. I want to do it on dance, but what is a dance research question that I could do?

Comments for How to define a question for a dance research?

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Nov 07, 2012

Maria's reply
by: Maria

Dear Bailey,

There are many main areas for research in dance. Before defining a question, you need to identify an area of your interest. Here are some examples:

- Dance history and/or theory

- Dance technique

- Dance creative processes

- Dance teaching and/or studying

Once you have defined your area of interest, you can start thinking about what in particular you want to know better. The options are unlimited so it's essential that you identify something that is important for you. Here are some examples to awaken possible ideas:

- Dance history and/or theory: ¿How has contemporary dance evolved in your town thanks to its relationship to traditional dances?

- Dance technique: ¿What are the differences and similarities of the release technique as taught by professor-Y and professor-Z?

- Dance creative processes: ¿What compositional methods did the choreographer-Y used in the creation of the piece WYZ?

- Dance teaching: How to implement a contemporary dance course for amateur teenagers, aged from 13 to 16, at my local cultural center?

There are unlimited options, as I told you before. However, you need to keep in mind that answering a question in a serious and scientific way, requires having direct and deep access to the information you want to analyze. Therefore, you should better not choose topics that are geographically or historically far away from you, or to which you will not have an easy access.

For example, if you want to study the method of a dance teacher, you better choose the teacher you know personally and from whom you have taken classes directly, instead of choosing Enrico Cecchetti, regardless of its reputation as a dance teacher.

That applies to all topics.

We have a special page about dance theory that may awaken other ideas. Here's the link to visit it:

Dance Theory

Now, don't expect to find your question too fast. It is normal that you really have to think and rethink about it for a good long while before you can take a decision. And you will also need to actually do the research to a point where you can be sure that it will be feasible indeed.

If you define your main area of interest and some starting points to formulate your question, I may be able to help you further. Just reply in this same thread and I'll see what I can do.

Good luck with the thinking... ;--),

Maria

Jun 24, 2022

similar question
by: Cristina

I am very much interested about exploring the impact of impulses in movement. How can i turn this subject in a research question without using the why and how?

Jun 24, 2022

Reply for Cristina
by: Maria

Dear Cristina,
I don’t know why you want to avoid the words ‘why’ or ‘how’ to define your research question, but anyway, remember that a question can also start with ‘what’, ‘when’, ‘where’ ‘how much-many’, ‘what for’, etc.

Yet, the most important thing is what you want to discover or understand. Focus on that, and the way in which you write down your research question should simply reflect that inquiry.

;)

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