First Name:
Joshua
Last Name:
Carr
Major Department:
Psychology
Thesis Director:
Marianne Adams
Date of Thesis:
May 2014
This thesis addresses the potential for dance to be used as a tool to build and strengthen community bonds. Specifically, this thesis addresses the interplay between dance and the formation of interpersonal relationships, during the creative process and participation in dance activity. The numerous benefits of dance, as a physical activity, have been documented; furthermore, dance, as a creative art, has been seen to have emotional, psychological, and pro-social benefits. Along with these benefits, this thesis provides information regarding the creation and maintenance of a dance organization, Entropy Dance Crew, which will act a model for the community that can be created using dance. Finally, as an arts-based research project, this thesis provides anecdotal accounts of the process involved in creating a dance performance while creating a sense of community between the participants. Through the integration of these perspectives, this thesis provides evidence that dance may be used to create and strengthen community bonds. Keywords: Dance, Community Bonds, Entropy Dance Crew