Running head: Art According to Whom?

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Art According to Whom:
Dance Television Impacting the Dance World
Leah Kubala
Youth Performing Arts School


ART ACCORDING TO WHOM? 2
Abstract
Television shows of all genres have impacted not only people around the world, but also how
people view the world they live in. The purpose of this paper is to gain approval to conduct a
project that will be based on studying the impact of dance television shows, such as So You Think
You Can Dance and Dance Moms, on todays dance world. The guiding research question of this
project will be, How have dance television shows specifically impacted the dance world around
me? The methods that will be most relied on to gain information from those involved in the
dance world around me is interviewing students, studio owners, and choreographers, and then
analyzing their statements into evidence showing how dance television has played a role in their
dance lives. This proposal will include a planned procedure to complete this project including: a
research agenda, a timeline, evidence for the project instructor, all resources that will be needed,
and budget handling. This project will be successfully completed towards all requirements to
complete the dance major and the Youth Performing Arts School.
ART ACCORDING TO WHOM? 3
Art According to Whom: Dance Television Impacting the Dance World
Dance, in general, is a topic many discuss and dispute about in terms of what dance
actually is. Is dance a sport, is it a competition, or is it solely an art form? To many people,
audiences of all kinds, choreographers, and dancers, the answer is clear and obvious, but all
answers differ. As a dancer, I struggled for nearly three years trying to decide what dance was to
me. I thought about what exactly it was that I believed about dance, but then I also thought
about why it was that I thought what I thought. I saw that what was around me was what I
conformed to think. Something particularly impacting in my views towards dance had been
dance television shows one of the biggest raves on television to this day. Seeing how these
shows such as So You Think You Can Dance, Dance Moms, and Dancing with the Stars affected
me, I can assert that it has also affected members of the dance world whether it be positively or
negatively. I intend to show my audience of those around me through this project that these
dance television shows impact the dance world even locally.
In this project, I will show different aspects and backgrounds of dancers, choreographers,
and studio owners around me through interviewing. I am not particularly looking for one type of
background in dance, but rather, many different kinds. I am seeking concert dancers and
choreographers, and I am seeking studio owners, choreographers, and dancers. I plan on asking
them questions concerning how their views on dance in general came to be (expecting many to
say through dance television). Though there may be bias, I believe that there will be a drastic
difference in my data collected from each person concerning what kind of dance they are
acclimated to the most. I have also considered asking those who are not involved with dance at
all what they think of when dance is mentioned. These television shows are broadcasted more
widely, and I want to know if they really are spreading the word dance.
ART ACCORDING TO WHOM? 4
I wanted to research this topic of the impact of dance television as my senior project
because I believe that there is a lot of things unsaid about what exactly these television shows do
and intend to do. I do believe that the things that we allow ourselves to see and view have the
biggest impact on our opinions as people.























ART ACCORDING TO WHOM? 5
Initial Research and Guiding Question
The research that I have done so far has been surprising for me. I went into this project
already set in my opinion, which I know is wrong to do, that dance television is not beneficial for
the dance world, but I started to see my set opinion change. First of all, I found more sources that
were written in the context that dance television shows, such as So You Think You Can Dance
and Dance Moms, provide more positive effects in the dance world than negative effects. I knew
that I would find more sources leading into that conclusion, but I didnt think that my opinion
would actually be affected especially since I have personal experience with my view on dance
transitioning from believing it to be a competition to an art. "Dance reality TV shows are
creating more job opportunities for dancers, providing choreographers with a new platform for
their work, and sometimes even catapulting both to celebrity status" (2011, 1, Victoria
Looseleaf). This quote helped me form my research question by making me realize that these
shows not only provide more jobs for dancers, but they also provide more jobs for
choreographers. "Anything that promotes dance is going to be helpful" (2010, 1, Sara Hamdan).
This quote was so simple. It was the quote that made me want to challenge myself to view other
opinions other than my own.
Have dance related television shows made an overall positive or negative impact in the
dance community around me? I hope to be open to both sides and be able to finally make a
decision on what I believe. My opinions on the impact of dance television lean in the direction of
believing dance television is helpful in the dance community. Some questions I have are:
Where does all the money go within these television shows? What jobs have the dancers gained
after being broadcasted on these shows? I believe that there are two main sides of the dance
one. One being the concert dance, or theatre dance, side that serves as a theatrical representation
ART ACCORDING TO WHOM? 6
of a story performed with music and classically trained dancers. The other side of dance being
the competitive dance side which is where competitors perform dances in any of several
permitted dance stylessuch as acro, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, modern, and tapbefore a
common group of judges. I want to know why the two sides of dance world tend to not get along
or agree, and . I want to know what dancers and choreographers in Louisville think on this topic
now. If both sides of the dance industry got the same recognition, would one side still look down
on the other? In what ways are these television shows actually educating the public about dance?
I want to clear things up and show what dance television is and what it does. Though
sources have already changed my mind, somewhat, and made me think harder, I want to find
more. I think that it would be more effective to relate this project to the dance world around me
as opposed to the collective dance world. If I got the input of various dancers and experienced
choreographers that are around me, then I could be fully confident with this project because it
wouldn't just be the full industry to look it. It would be more inclusive and representative of the
dance community around me.
I would first like to read more. I think to understand dance now, and what's happening in
result of dance television, one must understand dance throughout history. I know much about
dance history now, but I want to know "why" those artists perceived dance that way and relate it
to today to see how it has changed and figure out why. I want to know why dance television
came to be what it is and what transition was made. I know I will not find books on that
specifically, but I can find historical dance books and literature to provide details on what many
concert dancers and choreographers are trying to preserve today. I have read some books already
at the UofL Library and Kentucky Virtual Library. I want to do this next week- the week of
November 1.
ART ACCORDING TO WHOM? 7
I would really like to interview people involved in the dance world from both sides. The
purpose of interviewing respected people would be to gain information about how people are
reacting to dance television. What it has taught them, what choreographers they like, what
dancers they look up to, and then wrap it up by seeing where they gained their essential
knowledge or love for dance from. I want to ask choreographers at the Moving Collective dance
company, for example, that have had experience themselves with both conflicting sides of dance
and experience with working with dancers from both backgrounds. I would like to do the same
thing with studio owners and choreographers. I know that my coach for 14 years and Louisville
Ladybird coach, Sheryl Knight, has a strong argument to defend competitive dancing all around.
She is just an example of someone I could interview from that side. This is just a minor part of
my project, but my intention is to prove what effect dance television has on the dance world
around me. If I ask these people what dancers or choreographers they appreciate, or their feelings
on the impact of dance television, then I could visually see what these shows are providing for
the dance public. Ordinary people that don't dance could also be questioned to see the general
public's view on dance. When they think of dancing, do they see big kicks or turns, etc.? I can
start doing this Sunday the 28 at rehearsals, practice, and after school.
I think a big component is knowing what is behind these television shows. Finding out not
what only happens on the show, but also where the money goes or what the dancers do after the
show. It's probably not likely to reach someone from a show such as SYTYCD, but I am sure I
could find articles that state where money goes. This can be done at any time next week. It will
probably take more time.
I know that I will find other ways to research and will add them as I go. I plan for my final
product to be written paper. It might be in the form of somewhat an argument paper because I am
ART ACCORDING TO WHOM? 8
not really sure if any other type would be best. I feel it would be more effective that way. I will
do that starting a month before it is do because writing a big paper takes me a long while
especially to feel satisfied with it.
A problem that I find myself possibly facing is not being able to find enough sources. If this
happens, then I can always resort to different forms of sources such as databases because those
have always helped in the past. My interviews can serve as great research as well. Another
problem that I feel that I might come across is being able to stick to my topic question. I already
see myself edging away into another topic like concert dancing vs. competition dancing. I can't
do that because I know that I wanted to do the effects of dance television. A way that I can
prevent this from happening is asking myself repeatedly "Does this relate to my topic question?
Or is this venturing out into another question's territory?"















ART ACCORDING TO WHOM? 9
Timeline and Evidence
My projected timeline for my dance project is shown below. It shows the weeks and dates I
plan on completing my tasks and activities. It also shows what I plan on doing and how long I
think each part will take me. I will begin on Saturday, November 1, 2014 and I will end on
Friday, January 9, 2015. My project will last me ten weeks, and I plan on taking holiday breaks
off if that is possible.
Week Dates Activity Evidence Estimated
Hours
1 Nov. 1 Go to public library
and research history of
dance (slightly). What
the original
choreographers in
history envisioned
dance as, etc.
Research statistics on
television impacting
people up to this year
Photo copies of
book(s) pages
relevant to my
research
Picture of me
at the library
1 hour 30 min.
2 Nov. 2







Nov 2
Generate questions to
ask choreographers
generally about how
dance television has
impacted their dance
community they
surround their self in.

Interview Theresa
Bautista and Amanda
Johnson at Moving
Collective rehearsal
Copy of
interview
questions and
answers
(Interview
questions the
sane for
everyone)
30 minutes







30 minutes
3 Nov 3 Begin making chart
differentiating what
concert choreographers
view
differently/contrastingly
with competition
choreographers


Copy of half-
filled
informational
chart
40 minutes
4




Nov. 7




Interview GSA
dancers that are at
Career Day.


Copy of
interview
questions and
answers.

1 hour between
the two
locations


ART ACCORDING TO WHOM? 10
5. Nov. 9 Using the information
given by all interviewed
so far, make a
somewhat detailed final
decision on whether
dance television overall
helps or doesnt help
the dance world.
Make conclusions after
looking at findings.

Notes that I
will make and
copies of my
product of
thought
collection

30 min.
6 Nov. 11-12 Continue with my
chart contrasting and
comparing the two
sides and how they
were impacted by dance
television.

Research on where
money is trailed within
the dance television
shows, where these
dancers end up, etc.
Make note of that.
Copy of fully
filled chart and
copy of my
findings
through
research
1 hour 30 min
7 Nov. 13 Generate specific
interview questions.

Interview two dancers
that I know auditioned
for SYTYCD and made
it to the third round of
auditions.
Copy of
interview
questions and
answers.
1 hour 30 min.
8 Nov. 16


Nov. 17
Generate specific
interview questions.

Interview dancers I
know and do not know
at my home studio and
other studios I have not
visited before. Ask
questions to dictate
where their knowledge
of dance came from.
Copy of
interview
questions and
answers.

Pictures with
dancers I
interview.
20 minutes




2 hours
between all
three studios
visited
9 Dec. 1 Generate specific
interview questions.



Interview a few peers
at my school in my
dance discipline. Ask
questions to dictate
where their knowledge
Copy of
interview
questions and
answers.

Pictures with
dancers I
interview.
40 minutes
whole
ART ACCORDING TO WHOM? 11
of dance came from.
10 Dec. 7-9 Relate emails received
from dance professors
and teachers at
universities with those I
have already collected
Copy of emails 1 hour
11 Dec. 14- Jan.9 Compile data to aid
my conclusion. Use
facts and personal
experiences I collected
from those around me
who are directly
affected by dance
television whether they
are aware or not.
Describe what we as
dancers and
choreographers should
do and focus on, etc.
Copy of
product
1 hour 30 min.
Total: 11 +
hours


ART ACCORDING TO WHOM? 12
Human Resources
The list below lists all the people I intend to include within my project process and how they
will assist my project. Communication with people is shown and failure of the party to uphold a
part in my project is understood and can be reconciled.
Person(s) Role Communication Plan B
Theresa Bautista Interviewed by me to
gain input and voice
on concert dance
side. (Effect of dance
television).
Interview Christephor Gilbert
Amanda Johnson Interviewed by me to
gain input and voice
on concert dance
side. (Effect of dance
television).
Interview Christephor Gilbert
Sheryl Knight Interviewed by me to
gain input and voice
on competition dance
side. (Effect of dance
television).
Interview (have
already asked)
Melissa Herberger
Becky Cosman Interviewed by me to
gain input and voice
on how dance
television might
impact studio growth
or decrease. (Effect
of dance television).
Interview (have
already asked)


Ainsley Thompson
Taylor Thompson Interviewed by me to
hear experience with
auditioning for shows
such as SYTYCD.
(Effect of dance
television).
Interview (Forgot her name but
I can contact on
Facebook if needed.)
Freshman Dance
Majors
Interviewed by me to
gain input and voice
on
concert/competition
dance side. (Effect of
dance television).
Interview Sophomore dance
majors
Team Members Interviewed by me to
gain input and voice
on
concert/competition
dance side. (Effect of
dance television).
Interview (have
already asked)
Other dance team
members other than
my own.
Professors Emailed/interviewed
by me to gain
knowledge on how
Interview (have
already asked some)
Other professors
ART ACCORDING TO WHOM? 13
dance television
impacts their
students knowledge
of dance and interest
in dance
Studio Dancers Interviewed by me to
gain input and voice
on concert dance
side. (Effect of dance
television).
Interview (have
already asked some)
Different studio
choice for different
people to interview

Facilities, Equipment, and Budget
Below are the materials I will need and the intention I have to getting what I need.
Materials Obtainment Cost Payment Method
Places to interview Already obtained
through me already
being at these places
at that time.
Rehearsals
None None
Gas to get where I
need to go such as the
library and interviews
(all places I will
already be, so I will
not have to make
separate
arrangements to get
there.)
Places already
provided by school
campus, studio(s),
home, etc.
I am already there
Already paid N/A