About
Dance Major Journal was founded in 2010 in the dance department of the University of California, Irvine. It features writing focused on the interests, issues, experiences, and concerns of dance majors, aimed at sharing information, research, advice, and points of view.
DMJ welcomes conversational writing style, personal essays, new formats, humor, stories, and “answers for dance majors” (ways to explain to the outside world the value and facts of a dance education), as well as academically sound essays using clear language and lively prose.
Volume 12, 2024
Dance Major Journal 12
Is there room for cultural expression in classical dance training?
Dancers come with all kinds of cultural identities, so it makes sense for them to bring who they are to any dance class
B+ is for Ballet
What it’s like when grades make you feel like you’re being punished for pursuing your passion
Tapping into the 21st Century
Given that tap dance offers so much Afrocentric history and expressive potential for today, shouldn’t it have a more solid presence in universities as a foundational American dance form?
Could you make a dance documentary?
How one former dance MFA student found himself producing Lives Beyond Motion, a film that features other men in dance, including Lar Lubovitch, Jock Soto, Bill T. Jones, Donald Byrd, and Matthew Rushing.
The Merits of Competition Dance
Despite potential downsides, dancers can find opportunities and meaningful experiences that help them in the dance world and beyond.
Too busy to start cross-training?
It can feel like dance keeps you active enough, but to avoid injury and keep up with current requirements for contemporary choreography, you really need to find time for strength training.
An Imposter Amongst Others
Imposter syndrome in dance is more prevalent than you think—is there a way to turn it around and enjoy what you do achieve?
Where is Dance in Our Schools?
Dance holds the power to contribute to lifetime student success, and it’s up to us to start advocating for more recognition
Why Dance Teachers Need to be Educated Humans, not just Experienced Dancers
Sometimes, dance teachers are in a dancer’s life as much as their parents. Shouldn’t they know about childhood and youth development for a healthy student-teacher dynamic?
Do you know what you are worth?
If you want to enter the professional dance field, it pays to know about rates, resources, and standards
Dance experience vs. pedagogical knowledge in a dance teacher
What are the proper credentials for a dance teacher (if any)?
Breaking points
Does anyone really have an ideal ballet body? Or do unrealistic body standards just end up taking a toll on every body in ballet culture?
Financial accessibility of dance classes
If dance training continues to be expensive, whose stories will be told?
Is all publicity really good publicity?
As the presence of social media grows in size and power, dance must find new footing in the advancing digital age