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How to Incorporate Your Dance Experience in Your College Essays

Of the many moving parts of a college application, the essay might be the most daunting. But consider yourself luckier than other applicants, because your dance experiences can only help you craft a winning essay—whether or not you’re planning to pursue a dance major.

If You’re Going to Major

If you’re gunning for a highly focused dance program, you might think that the audition is the most important component of your application. But don’t neglect to express your dance goals clearly in a general admissions or scholarship essay, says Megan Slayter, chair and associate professor of dance at Western Michigan University. “Just like any department across any university, we’re looking for good grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure,” she says. “Beyond strong written communication skills, we’re looking for your sense of identity as a dancer—that you know who you are and who you want to be as an artist, and why you think we can help you achieve that.”

Cite specific aspects of the college’s dance department that excite you—unique artistic or research resources, or a particular emphasis in the dance major that intrigues. But don’t just tell a university what you think they want to hear. “Over-the-top language that compliments our school doesn’t tell me about you,” Slayter says. “I question the authenticity of a student who tells me, ‘This is the best dance department ever and I can’t imagine being anyplace else!'”

If You’re Not Going to Major

Even if you don’t plan to major in dance, your years of dedication in the studio can show an admissions department why you’d be a great addition to their student body. “Your experience in dance has shaped who you are,” Slayter says. “Dance is a unique voice you can share with an admissions officer to talk about overcoming adversity, working hard to achieve your goals, and sharing a part of yourself with others.”

If you choose to focus on dance in your admissions essay, consider who’s reading your words—usually, non-dancers in the admissions department—and take care to translate your dance life to the language of college life. “Dance builds leadership skills, communication, collaboration, and creativity,” Slayter says. “For example, think about any time you’ve had a large, traveling spatial pattern onstage and have had to figure out who’s crossing up- and downstage. That’s problem-solving!” Brainstorm the skills you’ve built onstage and in rehearsals, and use your essay to prove how those experiences have prepared you for a successful college career—in or out of the studio.

A version of this story appeared in the November 2017 issue of Dance Spirit with the title “Essay All Day.”

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Free Dance Essay Examples & Topics

Dance has been a part of human civilization and culture for centuries. It is one of the best tools for entertainment and communication. What’s more, people choose it as a way of self-expression, a hobby, or an occupation. There are many types of dances. Some are well-known (tango, hip-hop, salsa, ballet), while others are less familiar to most people (kathak, kabuki, electronic dance).

When writing an essay about dance, you can write about any type if the assignment allows doing so. Due to the variety of dances, topic selection can take a long time. However, even after choosing the right idea, it is not always clear how to start your essay on it.

First of all, we recommend looking at the samples. You need to read some dance essay examples and pay attention to their structure. It also gives you an opportunity to polish or change the topic to write about.

Besides, our team has prepared a small guide on writing a dance essay. We have listed several ideas which will help you to write it as well.

How to Write a Dance Essay

If you need to write an essay on dance, it will probably be a narrative or descriptive one or even a critique of some sort. However, even the most creative academic papers have a rigid structure. So, you have to write a 5-paragraph essay. In this section, we will tell you how to do it.

To write an exemplary dance essay, you should follow these rules:

• Developing a solid structure is your goal. It is vital for the reader’s understanding and evaluation of your essay. You’ll need an introduction with a thesis statement, 2-3 paragraphs with arguments and examples, and a conclusion. Creating a good outline will help you to stay focused and follow the structure. Here is how you can do it:
• At first, read some background information about the style that interests you. Take some notes when you are watching a dance performance. Try to focus on small technical details as well as on your impression.
• Decide what you are going to describe in your body paragraphs. Each of them should highlight one idea. Remember that the first sentence of a paragraph is a basis for the supportive sentences after it.
• Write down a short summary of your central paragraphs. Focus on the main thoughts and keywords. It will help you to create the introduction and conclusion. Look at your notes once again to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything.
• Descriptions are vital for your paper. Note everything you notice about the movements, choreography, music, costumes, scenery, props, and performance. Think about your personal response to what you see. Even if you write a narrative essay, you should focus on these aspects.

Provide your interpretation of the dance. Identify all the people whose performance you describe and use examples to support your assumptions. Connect what you’ve seen with your previous studies or experiences.

• The style of your essay should be on point:
• Use descriptive language. Action words should describe the qualities of the movements. Use vivid adjectives to describe the qualities of the details you notice.
• Describe the actions in the present tense. But if you have chosen to write using past forms, don’t mix tense in the essay.
• Follow the requirements of your educational institution. They may include a specific font, margins, and title pages. And don’t forget to write from the third-person perspective.
• Check your grammar and spelling. Exclude repetitive sentences or phrases.
• Leave the paper for a couple of hours and reread it. It should help to notice the possible flaws.

17 Amazing Dance Essay Topics

Having figured out the basic rules, we can move on to ideas for an essay on dancing. In this section, we have collected topics that you can use for inspiration or practice.

We suggest the following dance essay topics for your consideration:

• Why is dance a form of art?
• What makes a good dance?
• National dances among African ethnicities.
• How folk dance reflects the culture of a nation?
• The history of hip-hop dance.
• The importance of dance in my life.
• The origin of Waltz and its significance.
• The influence of modern dance on society.
• The theory of seven movements in dancing.
• The best dance performances in history.
• The benefits of dancing for older people.
• Teaching dance to young children is beneficial to their development.
• Contemporary types of dance in Asian countries.
• What are the disadvantages of a dancing career?
• How does dance appreciation vary among different generations?
• Dance as a way of socialization in high school and college.
• How to critique a dance concert?

Thanks for reading till the end! Below you will find dance essay examples. Studying them will help you look at the topic from different angles and understand how to start writing your own paper.

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124 Dance Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Dance is a captivating art form that allows individuals to express themselves creatively through movement. Whether you are a dance student, a professional dancer, or someone who simply enjoys watching dance performances, writing an essay about dance can be a rewarding and exciting task. To help you get started, here are 124 dance essay topic ideas and examples that can inspire and guide your writing process.

The evolution of dance throughout history.

How does dance reflect the culture and traditions of a society?

The impact of technology on contemporary dance performances.

The influence of ballet on other dance styles.

The role of dance in storytelling.

Analyzing the dance techniques of prominent choreographers.

The importance of dance in physical fitness and well-being.

The portrayal of gender roles in dance.

The connection between music and dance.

The influence of social media on the popularity of dance.

Examining the cultural appropriation in dance.

The therapeutic benefits of dance for individuals with mental health issues.

The role of dance in religious ceremonies.

The challenges faced by professional dancers and how they overcome them.

The impact of dance on self-confidence and body image.

Analyzing the role of dance in musical theater.

The representation of emotions through dance.

The influence of different dance styles on each other.

The portrayal of identity and ethnicity in dance performances.

The role of dance education in schools.

The influence of dance on fashion trends.

The challenges faced by male dancers in a predominantly female industry.

The relationship between dance and architecture.

The impact of dance competitions on the dance community.

The portrayal of social and political issues through dance.

Analyzing the use of props and costumes in dance performances.

The portrayal of love and relationships in dance.

The impact of globalization on dance styles and techniques.

The representation of historical events through dance.

The role of dance in preserving cultural heritage.

The portrayal of masculinity and femininity in dance.

The influence of different dance cultures on each other.

The impact of dance on cognitive development in children.

The challenges faced by dancers with disabilities and how they overcome them.

The portrayal of fantasy and imagination in dance performances.

Analyzing the role of improvisation in dance.

The representation of social justice issues through dance.

The influence of dance on popular culture.

The portrayal of power dynamics in dance.

The impact of dance on social bonding and community building.

The role of dance in promoting diversity and inclusivity.

The challenges faced by dancers in maintaining a work-life balance.

The portrayal of mythology and folklore in dance performances.

Analyzing the role of the choreographer in the creative process.

The influence of different dance techniques on each other.

The impact of dance on brain development and cognitive abilities.

The portrayal of spirituality and transcendence in dance.

The role of dance in promoting physical and mental well-being in older adults.

The challenges faced by dancers in dealing with injuries and how they recover.

The representation of social media culture in dance performances.

The influence of dance on the fashion industry.

The portrayal of dreams and aspirations in dance.

The impact of dance on the tourism industry.

The role of dance in promoting environmental awareness.

The challenges faced by dancers in navigating the competitive nature of the industry.

The portrayal of war and conflict through dance.

Analyzing the use of lighting and stage design in dance performances.

The influence of different dance genres on each other.

The impact of dance on self-expression and individuality.

The portrayal of spirituality and ritual in dance.

The role of dance in promoting social change and activism.

The challenges faced by dancers in achieving work-life balance.

The representation of fairy tales and folklore in dance performances.

Analyzing the role of music in dance choreography.

The influence of dance on body image and self-esteem.

The impact of dance on the rehabilitation process for individuals with physical disabilities.

The portrayal of cultural assimilation and identity in dance.

The role of dance in promoting empathy and understanding.

The challenges faced by dancers in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

The portrayal of historical figures and events in dance performances.

Analyzing the role of rhythm and timing in dance.

The influence of different dance traditions on each other.

The impact of dance on stress reduction and mental well-being.

The portrayal of spirituality and religion in dance.

The role of dance in promoting social cohesion and unity.

The challenges faced by dancers in dealing with rejection and criticism.

The representation of nature and the environment through dance.

Analyzing the role of partnering and lifts in dance choreography.

The influence of different musical genres on dance styles.

The impact of dance on body awareness and physical literacy.

The portrayal of cultural appropriation and misrepresentation in dance.

The role of dance in promoting teamwork and collaboration.

The challenges faced by dancers in maintaining a positive body image.

The portrayal of human rights issues through dance.

Analyzing the use of symbolism and metaphor in dance performances.

The influence of different dance movements on each other.

The impact of dance on self-discipline and perseverance.

The role of dance in promoting social justice and equality.

The challenges faced by dancers in dealing with performance anxiety.

The representation of fantasy and mythology in dance performances.

Analyzing the role of breath and energy in dance.

The influence of different cultural practices on dance techniques.

The impact of dance on emotional intelligence and empathy.

The portrayal of cultural diversity and inclusivity in dance.

The role of dance in promoting body positivity and acceptance.

The challenges faced by dancers in managing their mental health.

The portrayal of human emotions and experiences through dance.

Analyzing the use of space and dynamics in dance performances.

The influence of different dance aesthetics on each other.

The impact of dance on social skills and communication.

The portrayal of spirituality and mindfulness in dance.

The role of dance in promoting cultural understanding and appreciation.

The challenges faced by dancers in balancing artistic expression and technical proficiency.

The representation of social inequality and injustice through dance.

Analyzing the use of rhythm and musicality in dance choreography.

The influence of different dance traditions on contemporary dance styles.

The impact of dance on self-esteem and body confidence.

The portrayal of cultural identity and heritage in dance.

The role of dance in promoting emotional well-being and resilience.

The challenges faced by dancers in maintaining a healthy body image.

The portrayal of environmental issues and sustainability through dance.

Analyzing the role of lines and shapes in dance.

The influence of different dance cultures on each other's storytelling techniques.

The impact of dance on cognitive abilities and memory.

The portrayal of cultural appropriation and authenticity in dance.

The role of dance in promoting social integration and inclusion.

The challenges faced by dancers in managing performance pressure.

The representation of dreams and aspirations in dance performances.

Analyzing the use of improvisation and spontaneity in dance choreography.

The influence of different dance genres on body awareness and movement.

The impact of dance on self-confidence and self-expression.

The portrayal of cultural assimilation and diaspora in dance.

The role of dance in promoting physical and mental well-being in diverse populations.

These dance essay topic ideas and examples provide a wide range of options for you to explore and expand upon. Choose a topic that interests you the most and allows you to showcase your knowledge and passion for dance. Remember to conduct thorough research, provide supporting evidence, and present your ideas in a clear and concise manner. Happy writing!

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319 Dance Essay Topics & Research Questions on Hip Hop, Ballet, & More

Dancing is a universal form of expression and movement. It has been an integral part of human culture for centuries. From traditional cultural dances to contemporary urban dance styles, this art form transcends language barriers and brings people together.

But dancing is not just about entertainment. It is significant in various aspects of society, from its role in expressing emotions to its impact on mental health.

In this article, our expert team delves into the diverse world of dance. Below, you’ll find interesting dance topics to write about and explore the cultural, social, emotional, and physical dimensions of dance. Read till the end to find a writing guide with examples.

🔝 Top 10 Dance Essay Topics

✏️ dancing essays: writing prompts, 🎓 dance essay titles, 💃🏻 argumentative essay topics about dance, 🕺🏾 hip hop research paper topics, 🔎 dance research paper topics, 📜 dance history research paper topics, 🩰 ballet research topics, ❓ dance research questions, ✍️ dance essay: writing guide, 🔗 references.

• Cultural significance of dance.
• Mental health benefits of dancing.
• Gender roles in dance.
• Dance as nonverbal communication.
• Technological innovations in dance.
• Social impact of dance activism.
• Dance education in schools.
• Emotional expression in dance.
• Dance and cultural identity.
• Politics of dance movements.

Why I Love Dance: Essay Prompt

Are you passionate about dance and want to write about it? Consider including the following points in your essay:

• Explain your deep-rooted passion for dance. Reflect on how dance has influenced your life, shaped your identity, and impacted your personal growth.
• Describe the specific styles or dance genres you are passionate about and explain why they hold a special place in your heart. Share experiences that have strengthened your love for dance, such as memorable performances, challenges , or inspirational moments.
• Discuss how dance has enriched your life and contributed to your overall well-being. Convey your dedication to dance and the importance of this art form in your life.

What Does Dance Mean to You: Essay Prompt

This essay is your chance to reflect on the place of dance in your life. Here are some ideas to include in your paper:

• Express your understanding and connection to dance. Describe what dance means to you on a deeply personal and emotional level. Share your unique perspective on the effects of dance on your life choices and identity.
• Discuss how dance has impacted your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Write about its contribution to your personal growth and development. Describe the emotions and sensations you experience while dancing and how they enrich your life. Discuss any memorable dance experiences, performances, or interactions with fellow dancers that impressed you.
• Depict your passion and appreciation for dance. Articulate the role of dancing in your life. Consider how dance has allowed you to express yourself , connect with others, and navigate life.

Hip Hop Essay Prompt

Are you a fan of hip-hop dance? Then you might enjoy writing an essay about it! Consider the points below to cover in your paper:

• Explore the art and culture of hip-hop. Discuss the origins and evolution of hip-hop dance, including its roots in African, Caribbean, and African-American dance traditions. Study the key elements of hip-hop dance, including its unique style, movement vocabulary, and musicality.
• Discuss the impact of hip-hop dance on popular culture , including its influence on music videos, films, fashion, and the entertainment industry. Analyze the social and cultural significance of hip-hop dance, including its role as a form of self-expression, community-building, and activism . Discuss the diversity and inclusion within hip-hop dance, including its ability to bring people of different backgrounds together.
• Describe any personal experiences or connections with hip-hop dance , and discuss how it has influenced your understanding of dance and culture. Convey your appreciation for hip-hop dance’s artistry, creativity, and cultural relevance. Provide insights into this dynamic and influential dance form.

Why Dance Is a Sport: Essay Prompt

There’s been a long-lasting debate about whether dance should be considered an art or a sport. You can present your opinion on this issue in your essay. Here is a prompt to guide you:

• Study the arguments on both sides of the debate and articulate your stance. Discuss the physical demands of dance, including athleticism, strength, and endurance. Compare them to the criteria used to define sports.
• Explore the competitive nature of dance , including competitions, rankings, and performance expectations . Discuss the training, dedication, and discipline required for dance and compare them to other recognized sports.
• Examine the artistic and creative elements of dance and how they may differentiate dance from traditional sports. Discuss any challenges or controversies surrounding the classification of dance as a sport. It might be the lack of standardized rules, funding, and recognition.
• Consider the cultural, historical, and societal factors influencing perceptions of dance as a sport. Present your argument supported by evidence and examples. Provide a nuanced perspective on this complex and debated topic.

Below, you’ll find plenty of ideas for a college essay about dance. Read on to find a suitable topic for your paper!

Modern Dance Essay: Topics

Modern dance significantly differs from traditional dance forms like ballet. Nowadays, dancers prioritize emotional expression instead of following rigid rules. Here are some interesting dance titles & ideas for your essay on modern styles:

• The diversity of contemporary dance styles.
• Psychological determinants of choosing a particular dance style.
• Creative Movement and Dance in My School.
• Sociopolitical concerns through the prism of dance.
• Modern dance as a form of protest against classical dance.
• Modern Black dance: race in motion.
• Significant people who contributed to the modernization of dance.
• Features of post-modern dance.
• Art Therapy: Creativity as a Critical Part of Art Therapy.
• The new American dance forms.
• Modern dance in the US vs. Europe: differences and similarities.
• Injuries in modern dance: career options for dancers.
• The concepts of modernity, race, and nation in the early modern dance forms.
• Oxygen uptake during a modern dance class.
• Physical Therapy Services for Sports Injuries.
• Socio-demographic correlates of modern dance genre preferences.
• Indian modern dance and feminism.
• Self-expression in modern dance.
• National and transnational modern dance.
• Principles of modern dance therapy.
• Regular engagement in modern dance and depression treatment.
• Modern dance pioneers who revolutionized this art: a case of Lester Horton.
• Incorporating Physical Activity into Lesson Plans.
• Mood changes of people attending dance classes.
• Modern dance classes: can one learn to dance online?
• Evolving gay stereotypes in modern dance.
• Dance as a reflection of culture.
• Depression and Physical Exercise.
• German modern dance during the Nazi rule.
• Body image and modern dance engagement.
• Eating disorders in professional modern dancers.
• Significant elements of modern dance.
• Dance as a hobby and professional activity.
• Art Education, Its Role and Benefits.
• Examples of popular modern dance styles.
• Controversial dance practices.
• Is folk dance considered modern dance?
• Does modern dance come with serious choreography similar to classical dance?
• Class and ethnicity reflected in dance.
• Physical Activity and Sports Team Participation.
• Modern dance in France.
• The transformative power of flamenco dancing.

Dance Critique Essay: Topics

A dance critique essay requires you to evaluate carefully a particular dance performance or a specific aspect of this art form. Check out some dance titles for an essay to inspire your critical response :

• Degradation of dance quality in the 21st century.
• Passion versus physical characteristics in dance performance.
• Racism and gender discrimination at the dance competitions.
• Gender inequality in professional dance.
• Subway dance – a subculture or simply a weird place for practice?
• Dancing and Its Effects on Self-Esteem .
• How did industrialization contribute to the departure from classical dance?
• The rise of burlesque as a rebellion against ballet.
• The Role of Music and Movement in Education.
• The ideology and importance of radical dance.
• The Wigman technique of dance.
• José Limón’s contribution to contemporary dance.
• The place and influence of the American Dance Festival in modern American dance traditions.
• Art, Music, and Dance in Therapeutic Treatment .
• Combination of choreography and multimedia in Alwin Nikolais’s works.
• The flaws and loopholes of early modern dance.
• Popularization of African American dance across the world.
• Ballet elements in contemporary dance.
• The Importance of Arts in the School Curriculum .
• The contribution of Grete Wiesenthal to modern dance development.
• What place does concert dance occupy in the dance typology?
• Place of women in dance – now and then.
• Differences between modern and contemporary dance styles.
• Pole dance’s potential for inclusion in the Olympic Games list.

Dance Reflection Essay: Topic Ideas

Are you looking for thought-provoking dance topics to talk about in a reflection paper ? Check out the list below:

• What features and character traits should a good dance teacher possess?
• What does it mean to be a dance revolutionary?
• What did modern dance pioneers do to create new dance types?
• Should professional dance be taught in college?
• Sports Psychologist: Working With Athletes.
• The national dance of my country.
• My first experience in a dance class.
• My music preferences for dancing.
• Dances with Wolves Essay – Movie Analysis .
• Dancing as a personal form of relaxation and meditation.
• Why do some people prefer dancing alone at home and others need an audience?
• My favorite movie about dancing.
• Ballet as my passion and my greatest disappointment.
• My opinion of dancing as a profession.
• Music in the Service of Social Movements.
• Importance of dancing in my culture.
• What I think makes a good and bad dancer.
• My experience of participating in a dance contest.
• The role of dance in my family.
• My fascination with Indian dance.
• My dream is to become a hip-hop dancer.
• Benefits I see in regular dancing.
• The pros and cons of professional engagement in dance.

There are some controversial issues related to dance you can explore in your paper. Below, you’ll discover a list of dance topics to express your reasoned opinion about.

• Dance can be a tool for social change .
• How can culture be reflected through dance?
• Should College Athletes Be Paid?
• The impact of the environment on dance perception.
• The importance of dance styles and types for specific cultures.
• Dance as an intangible cultural heritage.
• Is dance a kind of sport?
• Sports-Related Problems and Conflicts .
• Why do people start to dance?
• Why is the audience attracted to dance performances?
• What is the motivation behind starting to dance at an early age?
• Why is contemporary dance more popular than classical dance today?
• The Cognitive Performance and Physical Activity Link.
• Are modern dance styles, like hip hop, easier than ballet dancing?
• Dance training is highly traumatic and shouldn’t be practiced at an early age.
• The risk of trauma and permanent injury among professional ballet dancers.
• Street dance is not serious dance.
• Exercise – The Mind and Body Connection.
• The impact of motivation and self-confidence on dance performance.
• Dancing positively affects the physical and cognitive health of aging adults.
• Dance is a tool against aging .
• Different dance styles and genres require different physical endurance and energy expenditure.
• Music Incorporation into Classes.
• Importance of choosing your dance style according to your BMI and bodily peculiarities.
• Partner dancing is healthier for motor control and coordination than solo dancing.
• Benefits of ballroom dancing.
• The economic effect of dance development.
• What is the hardest dance style?
• Cultural Appropriation in Music .
• Ghost dance as a religious movement.
• Electronic dance as a new subculture.
• Techniques of dancing to jazz music.
• Flamenco dance as a reflection of Spanish passion.
• Students’ Motivation and Satisfaction of Music Festival .
• Cultural significance of feminist dance films.
• The impact of proper nutrition on dance performance.
• The art of staging a dance performance.
• The social significance of street dance.
• Creative Art Therapy for Mental Illness.
• What does dance have to do with math?
• Belly dance as a recreational activity.
• Interpretative dance as a strong therapeutic tool.
• The use of dance therapy for individuals with Down syndrome.

Hip-hop dance is a popular street dance style that emerged in the second half of the 20th century. It encourages freedom of expression and is characterized by freestyle movements, particularly drops to the ground and sharp turns. If you seek to write a paper on hip-hop, here are catchy dance titles to inspire you:

• The role of dance in hip-hop culture.
• Chinese Hip Hop and Identity .
• Hip-hop dance and body power.
• Hip-hop as an African diaspora dance style.
• Meanings and messages in hip-hop dance.
• Genders, Sexuality, and Hip-Hop .
• Origins of hip-hop.
• Injury incidence in hip-hop training and performance.
• Commercialization of hip-hop dance.
• Core elements of hip-hop dancing.
• The Uprising of Hip-Hop: Music History .
• Hip-hop dance in modern ballet choreography.
• Low back pain in hip-hop dancers.
• B-boying in hip-hop.
• Motivations of hip-hop dancers for professional engagement with this dance style.
• The “breaks” concept in break dancing.
• The Evolution of Hip-Hop Culture .
• The roots of hip-hop choreography.
• Battling among hip-hop crews.
• Hip-hop scandals – sex and violence in hip-hop content.
• Theorizing hip-hop dance.
• Hip-Hop’s Response to Crime Analysis .
• Hip-hop dance consumption: who is the target audience?
• Globalization and hip-hop dancing.
• Principles of hip-hop dance codification.
• Hip-hop as a black social dance.
• Metaphors in hip-hop dance moves.
• Black feminism in hip-hop dance.
• Concepts of Elite Culture and Popular Culture .
• US Ebonics as the language of American hip-hop choreography.
• Extreme kinematics in hip-hop performances.
• What injuries are the most common among hip-hop dancers?
• Can hip-hop be a professional career?
• Basic rhythmic movements of hip-hop dance.
• Hip-hop practice’s impact on the dancer’s mood.
• Body poetics in hip-hop performances.
• Standards for judging hip-hop contests.
• Cultural Movement: Hip-Hop Related Films.
• Le hip hop – a French hip-hop subculture.
• The hip-hop culture in New York.
• Perceptions of race in the hip-hop community: white vs. black dancers.
• Hip-hop theater in London: a new level of dance style’s legitimization.

Do you want to learn more about dance? Then why not write a research paper on that? Below, you’ll discover a list of engaging dance topics to research.

• Novel approaches to dance: a blend with architecture at the Barnes Foundation’s exhibition.
• Dance from an anthropological perspective .
• Politics and poetics in dance.
• The biology of dance movements’ language.
• Teaching dance: should it be art or sport?
• Dance ethnology.
• Women in dance since antiquity : the images of sylphs and sirens.
• Philosophy of the dance: universal or nationally bound?
• What is a dance movement?
• Dancing and the brain.
• Psychology of dance.
• Dance as a mighty psychotherapeutic tool.
• Should national dance be included in the school curriculum?
• Living through psychological trauma in dance.
• The role of dance improvisations.
• Reform and revival of old dance styles.
• The role of space and subjectivity in dance.
• Shakespeare and the dance tradition of England.
• The social anthropology of dance performances.
• Theories and methodologies in dance research.
• A Eurocentric approach to the study of dance.
• Dance and the body.
• Dance as a method of self-study.
• Computer technology and dance.
• The evolution of Irish dance.
• The contribution of Merce Cunningham to modern dance.
• How does dance stimulate social fantasy?
• Partner dancing as a way to strengthen relationships in a couple.
• Verbal language of dancers and choreographers.
• The political side of national dancing.
• Dance and physics.
• The mind-body concept in dance.
• What can be regarded as contemporary dance?
• Dance imagery in various dance styles.
• What makes people dance? The philosophy of bodily movement.
• Dancing out one’s emotions: the dance of anger or happiness.
• The neural basis of human dance movements.
• Isadora Duncan’s revolutionary dance theory.
• The challenges of the interactive dance genre.
• Dance from the position of existential phenomenology.
• Dualism and body-soul separation: a dance perspective.
• Dance and embodiment.
• Dance and self: a philosophical perspective.
• Body as object vs. subject in dance.
• Freedom and intention in body movements during dance.
• Staged dance: the concept of created body.
• A tension between the personal and the universal in dance.
• Health benefits of recreational and professional dance.
• Japanese dance as an embodiment of culture.
• Turning body and identity into dance choreography.

The history of dance dates back millennia. So, there is so much to explore! Check out possible dance research project ideas for your history paper:

• Approaches to rethinking dance history.
• The elements of early European modern dance.
• Feminist perspectives on dance history.
• Dance at the dawn of history.
• History of somatic education and its relationship to dance.
• History of classic theatrical dancing.
• New media use in dance history reconstructions.
• The evolution of dance and sexuality relationship.
• Tools for capturing dance from the past.
• Dances in prehistory.
• Early records of dance performances in historical manuscripts.
• Ancient Greek dance traditions and forms.
• Dancing in Ancient Rome.
• Dance at court: the 16th-17th centuries in Europe.
• Evolution of dance from royal court to theater in the 18th century.
• The early dancing traditions in the 17th-century US.
• Dancing genres in Medieval Europe.
• The history of waltz: origin, evolution of dance elements, and traditions.
• How did the tango dance emerge?
• The emergence of belly dance.
• Flamenco dance history: a style born in Andalusia.
• Historical perspectives on dance research.
• The Ojibwa dance drum: history of the practice.
• Yoeme performs as a narrative of Yaqui history.
• The evolution of African American dance.
• The African roots of Latin American popular dance.
• Ethnographic elements of modern dance performances.
• The dance halls of Britain, 1918-1960.
• A historical overview of social dance.
• Global history of dance development.
• Dance in the French baroque opera.
• The history and meaning of tango dancing in Argentina.
• What materials to use when studying dance history?
• A cultural history of dance in the troubled areas: a case study of Palestine.
• The hidden history of capoeira: intersections of battle craft and dance.

Ballet is a highly formalized dance form with rigid rules and predefined positions. If you’re interested in this classical type of choreography, check out the dance research topics below:

• Is free dance a subtype of ballet?
• The evolution of ballet traditions by Isadora Duncan.
• Russo-American ballet at the start of the 20th century.
• Emerging American ballet: the 1930s onwards.
• Romantic and classical ballet traditions in the 19th century.
• Classical ballet in Russia.
• Classical ballet vs. modern dance: key similarities.
• Injuries in professional ballet.
• Static and functional balance in ballet dance.
• Ballet as a form of ethnic dance.
• The impact of ballet dance attire on female dancers’ self-perception.
• Endurance of pain among ballet dancers.
• The concept of the ideal ballet body.
• Methods of preventing hip and knee injuries in professional ballet.
• Physiological eligibility characteristics for classical ballet.
• Evolution of ballet dancer identity in the process of training.
• Incidence of sprained ankles in ballet dancers.
• Physiological responses to active ballet exercise among dancers of different ages.
• Importance of artistic performance ability in ballet dancers.
• Disordered eating patterns among ballet dancers.
• Management of stress fractures in ballet dancers.
• Ballet dancer career: an international perspective.
• Incidence of scoliosis in young ballet dancers.
• Travesty dancing in the 19th-century ballet tradition.
• Gender issues in ballet.
• The cultural power of ballet.
• Degenerative joint disease risks among female ballet trainees.
• Hip arthrosis as a long-term consequence of ballet training.
• History of the “Apollo’s Angels” ballet.
• Sleep quality in professional ballet dancers.
• Heteromasculinity images among male ballet dancers.
• Postural stability before and after a ballet injury.
• Dance classicism as an ideology.
• Royal Ballet’s dancers and body perception.
• How do professional ballet dancers perceive injury and aging?

Are you looking for research topics about dance in the form of questions? We’ve got you covered! Look through the list below to find good dance topics to research:

• How does dance education foster creativity in children?
• How do feminists view belly dance?
• What is the impact of technology on dance performances?
• How to preserve indigenous peoples’ traditional dance forms?
• How have traditional gender roles been challenged through dance?
• What creative strategies do choreographers employ?
• What is the impact of dance on community building?
• What factors contribute to the commercialization of dance?
• How does dance function as a means of storytelling?
• What is the link between dance and spirituality in different religions?
• What is the role of costumes and stage design in dance performances?
• What are the cognitive benefits of dance for older adults?
• How has ballet adapted to modern artistic movements?
• How has globalization affected the cross-cultural exchange of dance styles?
• What dance styles have been influenced by flamenco?

Do you need help writing an essay on dance? Below, we’ve prepared a short guide with examples. Read on to learn how to write each section of your dance essay.

Dance Essay Introduction

The introduction is the opening paragraph of an essay that should engage the readers. Use a hook to grab the readers’ interest and introduce your topic. It can be a catchy quote, interesting question, or controversial statement.

Hook example : Imagine a world where bodies move in perfect harmony, telling stories without words. That’s the magic of dance, an art form that transcends language and culture, captivating audiences for centuries.

After that, you can provide some background information about the subject. End your introduction with a thesis statement .

Thesis Statement about Dance

The thesis statement outlines the central argument or purpose of the essay. It is the last sentence of your introduction, summarizing the whole paper. Your thesis should include all the main points mentioned in your writing in the same sequence.

Dance thesis example : Dance is not only a form of artistic expression but also a means of communication, a tool for personal growth, and a reflection of cultural identity.

Essay about Dance: Body Paragraphs

The essay’s body contains paragraphs that provide evidence and support for the thesis statement. Each section should begin with a topic sentence that presents a point related to your central argument.

Topic sentence example : One significant aspect of dance is its ability to convey emotions and stories through movement.

Evidence, such as examples, facts, or research, should support the topic sentence. The evidence should be analyzed and explained to show how it supports the thesis statement.

Evidence example : In classical ballet, dancers’ graceful movements and facial expressions can portray a wide range of emotions, from love and joy to sorrow and anger.

Dancing Essay: Conclusion

The conclusion is the final part that summarizes the main points made in the essay’s body. It should also restate the thesis statement in a paraphrased form without introducing new information. The conclusion should leave a lasting impression and a sense of closure.

Conclusion example : In conclusion, dance is a powerful form of expression beyond mere movement. It is a universal language conveying emotions, facilitating personal growth, and reflecting cultural identity.

How to Describe Dancing: Words & Tips

When describing dancing in an essay, use vivid and sensory language to convey the experience. Words such as “graceful,” “rhythmic,” “expressive,” and “dynamic” can capture the movement and style of dancing.

Emotive words like “joy,” “passion,” “energy,” and “freedom” can convey the emotional impact of dancing. Describing the physical sensations of dancing can make the description more immersive. You can write about the feeling of one’s body in motion, the sound of feet tapping, the swish of skirts, or the rush of adrenaline.

Metaphors or similes, such as “floating like a butterfly,” can add depth and creativity. Overall, using vivid language that engages the senses and emotions will benefit your paper.

We hope you found a perfect essay topic in this article. Use our free online title generator to get even more creative topics about dance and writing inspiration.

• Dance 260: Introduction to Dance: Dance Topics | BYU Library
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414 Proposal Essay Topics for Projects, Research, & Proposal Arguments

725 research proposal topics & title ideas in education, psychology, business, & more.

Essay on Dance

500 words essay on dance.

Dancer refers to a series of set of movement to music which we can either do alone or with a partner. Dancing helps us express our feelings and get active as well. If we look back at history, dance has been a part of our human history since the earliest records. Thus, an essay on dance will take us through it in detail.

My Hobby My Passion

Dance is my favourite hobby and I enjoy dancing a lot. I started dancing when I was five years old and when I got older; my parents enrolled me in dance classes to pursue this passion.

I cannot go a day without dance, that’s how much I love dancing. I tried many dance forms but discovered that I am most comfortable in Indian classical dance. Thus, I am learning Kathak from my dance teacher.

I aspire to become a renowned Kathak dancer so that I can represent this classical dance internationally. Dancing makes me feel happy and relaxed, thus I love to dance. I always participate in dance competitions at my school and have even won a few.

Dance became my passion from an early age. Listening to the beats of a dance number, I started to tap my feet and my parents recognized my talent for dance. Even when I am sad, I put on music to dance to vent out my feelings.

Thus, dance has been very therapeutic for me as well. In other words, it is not only an escape from the world but also a therapy for me.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Hidden Language of the Soul

Dance is also called the hidden language of the soul as we use it to express ourselves when words fall short. The joy which comes with dancing helps us get over our sorrow and adversity sometimes.

Moreover, it is simply a translator for our hearts. What is most important to remember is that dance is not supposed to be perfect. There is no right way of dancing, as long as your heart is happy, you can dance.

When we talk about dance, usually a professional dancer comes to our mind. But, this is where we go wrong. Dance is for anybody and everybody from a ballet dancer to the uncle dancing at a wedding .

It is what unites us and helps us come together to celebrate joy and express our feelings. Therefore, we must all dance without worrying if we are doing it right or not. It is essential to understand that when you let go of yourself in dance, you truly enjoy it only then.

Conclusion of the Essay on Dance

All in all, dance is something which anyone can do. There is no right way or wrong way to dance, there is just a dance. The only hard part is taking the first step, after that, everything becomes easier. So, we must always dance our heart out and let our body move to the rhythm of music freely.

FAQ of Essay on Dance

Question 1: Why is Dance important?

Answer 1: Dance teaches us the significance of movement and fitness in a variety of ways through a selection of disciplines. It helps us learn to coordinate muscles to move through proper positions. Moreover, it is a great activity to pursue at almost any age.

Question 2: What is dancing for you?

Answer 2: Dancing can enhance our muscle tone, strength, endurance and fitness. In addition, it is also a great way to meet new friends. Most importantly, it brings happiness to us and helps us relax and take a break from the monotony of life.

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For starters, you should browse our large collection of free samples that cover most diverse Dance College Essay topics and showcase the best academic writing practices. Once you feel that you've figured out the major principles of content organization and taken away actionable ideas from these expertly written College Essay samples, developing your own academic work should go much easier.

However, you might still find yourself in a situation when even using top-notch Dance College Essays doesn't let you get the job done on time. In that case, you can get in touch with our writers and ask them to craft a unique Dance paper according to your individual specifications. Buy college research paper or essay now!

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Ancient music had very distinct styles, musical instruments and elements were easily distinguishable as the songs progressed. The following is an analysis of five songs in terms of the style, tempo, musical elements and form.

- Analysis of the song “Crazy Blues” by Mamie Smith and her Jazz group (Recorded August 10 1920) (cfa.arizona.edu)

Several musical instruments as were use in the song. The sound of a trombone comes first then that of a clarinet and violin follow in unison. The sounds produced by these instruments produce a very distinct tune. When the Mamie Smith sings, several elements of music can be noted these are timbre, harmony, pitch and rhythm.

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Alvin Ailey proved he was gifted in more than one way. Raised by a young single mother, life was far from easy for him. He rose from poverty to become a figure that greatly influenced the 20th century modern dance. Alvin Ailey’s rise from poverty all the way to the top and finally succumbing to AIDs is an interesting story. He certainly had his weaknesses, but Alvin Ailey is an individual who will forever remain in the hearts of dance lovers (Ailey & Bailey 1995).

Good Example Of Essay On Cultural Activity (College Dance Event)

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Take modern forms of communication, social media, twitter precisely, choreograph a few communicative moves, add captivating video, and you have a breathtaking dance performance, as a result. During this spring semester of 2014, I happened to attend a dance performance that warranted the description of outstanding. Directed and choreographed by David Roussève, "Stardust" is a trendsetter in the world of dance. Performed in the amazing auditorium at the University of Maryland, the movements, and the accentuations of video and lighting effect were breathtakingly presented, making the 85 minutes the dance lasted worth the sacrifice.

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Translating Your Ballet Experience Into a Meaningful College Admissions Essay

If you’re hoping to major or minor in dance, crafting a stellar college application essay is an important part of that journey. But how can you write about your passion for ballet in a way that is meaningful to college admissions professionals—many of whom may not be dancers or artists themselves? First, recognize that “you are different in a good way,” says Brock Snyder, associate dean of high school academic programs at University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. “As a trained dancer, you have a piece of the puzzle that a lot of high-schoolers don’t have. Applying to colleges is not the time to be modest.”

Here are some other tips to help you set your essay apart.  

1. Know Why the Essay Matters

Have you been honing your technique and artistry to prepare for dance department auditions? At some schools, you must be admitted to the college or university as a whole before you can audition to join the dance program or be considered for dance scholarships. That means that the essay, as part of your primary application package, carries a lot of weight.

How much weight, exactly? “It used to be that GPA mattered most, then test scores, and the essay would rank third or even fourth, after teacher recommendations,” says Snyder, who has been counseling prospective college students for 17 years, and high school dance students for 14 years. “Now, I’d say the essay is number two. That’s why it’s so important to put a lot of thought and care into it.”

“There are two main things we look for in an essay,” says Odessa Armstrong, an admissions counselor at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. “One: Can you write? The writing sample shows us if you’re ready to write at the college level. Two: Who are you, as a person? The other parts of your college application don’t tell us much about you. In the essay, you share in your own words who you are, and that helps us see if you’ll be a good fit in our community.”

2. Find the Right Story

In a college application essay, you’re aiming to tell a complete story in a relatively short word count. That said, “You have to dig deeper than ‘I started dancing when I was 6 and I remember my first pair of pointe shoes,’ ” says Snyder.

“A story has to have tension in it,” explains Perri Meeks, dean of the upper school at Brooklyn’s Poly Prep, which offers dance as part of its curriculum. Meeks previously worked in undergraduate admissions at Barnard College in New York City, as well as in graduate admissions at Columbia University’s Teachers College. “An essay that lists your resumé will never read as strongly as a more emotional or reflective piece. Why is ballet important to you? What are the values you’ve gotten from your practice of ballet? Have you developed certain skills, like discipline and focus? What friendships have you made? Was there a time you failed?”

Your essay could focus on something practical, like time management. You could talk about overcoming the odds to follow your dreams. You could discuss finding your way back to the stage after an injury or burnout. Or you could share what you learned from tackling a challenging role or entering a competition.

Whatever topic you choose, strive to include specific, rich details that are unique to your perspective and experience. “I love when writers can paint a picture,” Armstrong says. “Put me in that place, whether it’s the dance studio, a performance, or another setting. Use figurative language. Incorporate all of the senses. When I read an essay that is well-written and tells a story that captivates me, I’m excited.”

Put in the Work

At UNCSA, college essay prep starts the summer after junior year. “We encourage students to go on the common application and review the essay prompts, and then to go ahead and start outlining and drafting,” says Yasmine Bell, a guidance counselor for UNCSA’s high school academics program. Meeks recommends high school juniors and rising seniors jot down notes about what they did and how they felt. “Looking back a few months later, you can find common themes that might have a place in your essay,” she says. 

When you have a complete draft, it’s time to get feedback. Show it to your dance teacher, your English teacher, your guidance counselor, your parents—anyone you trust to be honest with you about what’s working and what’s not. Ask for comments on your themes and the story you’re telling, as well as on the grammar and general flow of the essay. Then, be prepared to revise…and revise again. (And again.) “It’s okay if the finished product is different than what you conceived at the beginning,” Meeks says. “Give yourself time to explore your ideas and to find the best way to express them.”

The goal is to send out something that only you could write. The essay should be about your dance journey, and it should feel like it’s written in your authentic voice. “Your passion, your discipline, your commitment to your art—that will all be transferable to whatever you choose to do in the future,” Snyder says. The college essay is only the beginning.

Balancing College and Career: 3 Dancers, 3 Different Degree Paths

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Home — Application Essay — Nursing Schools — Dance: Lessons in Confidence and Perseverance

Dance: Lessons in Confidence and Perseverance

• University: University of Rhode Island

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Words: 561 |

Published: Jul 18, 2018

Words: 561 | Pages: 1 | 3 min read

I dreamt of the crowd in the darkness, a single spotlight shining down on me as I graced the stage with my movement, a sparkling array of costumes, and the feeling of soothing, crisp air. From the moment I stepped into my first dance class, I knew that dance was what I wanted to do. Through hard work, patience, and perseverance I advanced through the different levels each year, eventually performing with a ballet company. Going to school in the morning, then training each afternoon: I quickly learned that ballet was not strictly a physical activity but a mental undertaking as well.

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The most common illusion dancers harbor is their confidence in themselves, whether it be maintaining strong posture or the stunning smile they hold as they fly through the air. Little does the audience realize that dancers have thousands of thoughts running through their minds: what the next step is and what it will take to execute it, both physically and intellectually. While performing the Kitri variation, I was constantly thinking of the twenty pirouettes I had ahead of me and of how I would be able to make them travel across the stage. I quickly learned the 'fake it till you make it' method; that if you project confidence in what you're doing, others will believe in you, and eventually you will, too.

One of the most difficult things I had to face while training for dance was the struggle to be 'perfect.' I wanted each and every move to be the best it could and also to gain the praise of my teacher. To gain that praise, I would have to work for countless hours, even months to get it right. I remember my first pointe class, barely being able to stand on my toes, let alone dance across the room. I finally came to the realization that nothing will ever be 'perfect.' I had to have faith in what I was doing, and in myself. If you continually compare yourself to others you will only be putting yourself down, but if you compare yourself to where you were when you started, the growth is unbelievable.

Despite all the challenges I faced in the studio, performing the same steps over and over, trying to get it perfect, and building my confidence slowly, it was still the one place I felt the most like myself. As I stood at the barre doing tendu, all the worries and problems of the day vanished into the background. I could express myself in my movement or take on a new character, a princess or a slave. For just a few hours, I could be someone completely new.

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Though I eventually fell out of love with my dream of pursuing dance as a full career, the lessons I learned along the journey are ones I will keep with me throughout my life. Continuing to live through the stage with musical theater, I take on the persona of new characters with the same confidence I learned so well through dance. While developing a growing passion for leadership, I take the lessons of hard work, developing confidence, and aiming to do my best with me in every situation I face. No matter what 'stage' I face next, I know that I can use these skills to approach whatever challenge life may bring me.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 53 stellar college essay topics to inspire you.

College Essays

Most colleges and universities in the United States require applicants to submit at least one essay as part of their application. But trying to figure out what college essay topics you should choose is a tricky process. There are so many potential things you could write about!

In this guide, we go over the essential qualities that make for a great college essay topic and give you 50+ college essay topics you can use for your own statement . In addition, we provide you with helpful tips for turning your college essay topic into a stellar college essay.

What Qualities Make for a Good College Essay Topic?

Regardless of what you write about in your personal statement for college , there are key features that will always make for a stand-out college essay topic.

#1: It’s Specific

First off, good college essay topics are extremely specific : you should know all the pertinent facts that have to do with the topic and be able to see how the entire essay comes together.

Specificity is essential because it’ll not only make your essay stand out from other statements, but it'll also recreate the experience for admissions officers through its realism, detail, and raw power. You want to tell a story after all, and specificity is the way to do so. Nobody wants to read a vague, bland, or boring story — not even admissions officers!

For example, an OK topic would be your experience volunteering at a cat shelter over the summer. But a better, more specific college essay topic would be how you deeply connected with an elderly cat there named Marty, and how your bond with him made you realize that you want to work with animals in the future.

Remember that specificity in your topic is what will make your essay unique and memorable . It truly is the key to making a strong statement (pun intended)!

#2: It Shows Who You Are

In addition to being specific, good college essay topics reveal to admissions officers who you are: your passions and interests, what is important to you, your best (or possibly even worst) qualities, what drives you, and so on.

The personal statement is critical because it gives schools more insight into who you are as a person and not just who you are as a student in terms of grades and classes.

By coming up with a real, honest topic, you’ll leave an unforgettable mark on admissions officers.

#3: It’s Meaningful to You

The very best college essay topics are those that hold deep meaning to their writers and have truly influenced them in some significant way.

For instance, maybe you plan to write about the first time you played Skyrim to explain how this video game revealed to you the potentially limitless worlds you could create, thereby furthering your interest in game design.

Even if the topic seems trivial, it’s OK to use it — just as long as you can effectively go into detail about why this experience or idea had such an impact on you .

Don’t give in to the temptation to choose a topic that sounds impressive but doesn’t actually hold any deep meaning for you. Admissions officers will see right through this!

Similarly, don’t try to exaggerate some event or experience from your life if it’s not all that important to you or didn’t have a substantial influence on your sense of self.

#4: It’s Unique

College essay topics that are unique are also typically the most memorable, and if there’s anything you want to be during the college application process, it’s that! Admissions officers have to sift through thousands of applications, and the essay is one of the only parts that allows them to really get a sense of who you are and what you value in life.

If your essay is trite or boring, it won’t leave much of an impression , and your application will likely get immediately tossed to the side with little chance of seeing admission.

But if your essay topic is very original and different, you’re more likely to earn that coveted second glance at your application.

What does being unique mean exactly, though? Many students assume that they must choose an extremely rare or crazy experience to talk about in their essays —but that's not necessarily what I mean by "unique." Good college essay topics can be unusual and different, yes, but they can also be unique takes on more mundane or common activities and experiences .

For instance, say you want to write an essay about the first time you went snowboarding. Instead of just describing the details of the experience and how you felt during it, you could juxtapose your emotions with a creative and humorous perspective from the snowboard itself. Or you could compare your first attempt at snowboarding with your most recent experience in a snowboarding competition. The possibilities are endless!

#5: It Clearly Answers the Question

Finally, good college essay topics will clearly and fully answer the question(s) in the prompt.

You might fail to directly answer a prompt by misinterpreting what it’s asking you to do, or by answering only part of it (e.g., answering just one out of three questions).

Therefore, make sure you take the time to come up with an essay topic that is in direct response to every question in the prompt .

Take this Coalition Application prompt as an example:

What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What's the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?

For this prompt, you’d need to answer all three questions (though it’s totally fine to focus more on one or two of them) to write a compelling and appropriate essay.

This is why we recommend reading and rereading the essay prompt ; you should know exactly what it’s asking you to do, well before you start brainstorming possible college application essay topics.

53 College Essay Topics to Get Your Brain Moving

In this section, we give you a list of 53 examples of college essay topics. Use these as jumping-off points to help you get started on your college essay and to ensure that you’re on track to coming up with a relevant and effective topic.

All college application essay topics below are categorized by essay prompt type. We’ve identified six general types of college essay prompts:

Why This College?

Change and personal growth, passions, interests, and goals, overcoming a challenge, diversity and community, solving a problem.

Note that these prompt types could overlap with one another, so you’re not necessarily limited to just one college essay topic in a single personal statement.

• How a particular major or program will help you achieve your academic or professional goals
• A memorable and positive interaction you had with a professor or student at the school
• Something good that happened to you while visiting the campus or while on a campus tour
• A certain class you want to take or a certain professor you’re excited to work with
• Some piece of on-campus equipment or facility that you’re looking forward to using
• Your plans to start a club at the school, possibly to raise awareness of a major issue
• A study abroad or other unique program that you can’t wait to participate in
• How and where you plan to volunteer in the community around the school
• An incredible teacher you studied under and the positive impact they had on you
• How you went from really liking something, such as a particular movie star or TV show, to not liking it at all (or vice versa)
• How yours or someone else’s (change in) socioeconomic status made you more aware of poverty
• A time someone said something to you that made you realize you were wrong
• How your opinion on a controversial topic, such as gay marriage or DACA, has shifted over time
• A documentary that made you aware of a particular social, economic, or political issue going on in the country or world
• Advice you would give to your younger self about friendship, motivation, school, etc.
• The steps you took in order to kick a bad or self-sabotaging habit
• A juxtaposition of the first and most recent time you did something, such as dance onstage
• A book you read that you credit with sparking your love of literature and/or writing
• A school assignment or project that introduced you to your chosen major
• A glimpse of your everyday routine and how your biggest hobby or interest fits into it
• The career and (positive) impact you envision yourself having as a college graduate
• A teacher or mentor who encouraged you to pursue a specific interest you had
• How moving around a lot helped you develop a love of international exchange or learning languages
• A special skill or talent you’ve had since you were young and that relates to your chosen major in some way, such as designing buildings with LEGO bricks
• Where you see yourself in 10 or 20 years
• Your biggest accomplishment so far relating to your passion (e.g., winning a gold medal for your invention at a national science competition)
• A time you lost a game or competition that was really important to you
• How you dealt with the loss or death of someone close to you
• A time you did poorly in a class that you expected to do well in
• How moving to a new school impacted your self-esteem and social life
• A chronic illness you battled or are still battling
• Your healing process after having your heart broken for the first time
• A time you caved under peer pressure and the steps you took so that it won't happen again
• How you almost gave up on learning a foreign language but stuck with it
• Why you decided to become a vegetarian or vegan, and how you navigate living with a meat-eating family
• What you did to overcome a particular anxiety or phobia you had (e.g., stage fright)
• A history of a failed experiment you did over and over, and how you finally found a way to make it work successfully
• Someone within your community whom you aspire to emulate
• A family tradition you used to be embarrassed about but are now proud of
• Your experience with learning English upon moving to the United States
• A close friend in the LGBTQ+ community who supported you when you came out
• A time you were discriminated against, how you reacted, and what you would do differently if faced with the same situation again
• How you navigate your identity as a multiracial, multiethnic, and/or multilingual person
• A project or volunteer effort you led to help or improve your community
• A particular celebrity or role model who inspired you to come out as LGBTQ+
• Your biggest challenge (and how you plan to tackle it) as a female in a male-dominated field
• How you used to discriminate against your own community, and what made you change your mind and eventually take pride in who you are and/or where you come from
• A program you implemented at your school in response to a known problem, such as a lack of recycling cans in the cafeteria
• A time you stepped in to mediate an argument or fight between two people
• An app or other tool you developed to make people’s lives easier in some way
• A time you proposed a solution that worked to an ongoing problem at school, an internship, or a part-time job
• The steps you took to identify and fix an error in coding for a website or program
• An important social or political issue that you would fix if you had the means

How to Build a College Essay in 6 Easy Steps

Once you’ve decided on a college essay topic you want to use, it’s time to buckle down and start fleshing out your essay. These six steps will help you transform a simple college essay topic into a full-fledged personal statement.

Step 1: Write Down All the Details

Once you’ve chosen a general topic to write about, get out a piece of paper and get to work on creating a list of all the key details you could include in your essay . These could be things such as the following:

• Emotions you felt at the time
• Names, places, and/or numbers
• Dialogue, or what you or someone else said
• A specific anecdote, example, or experience
• Descriptions of how things looked, felt, or seemed

If you can only come up with a few details, then it’s probably best to revisit the list of college essay topics above and choose a different one that you can write more extensively on.

Good college essay topics are typically those that:

• You remember well (so nothing that happened when you were really young)
• You're excited to write about
• You're not embarrassed or uncomfortable to share with others
• You believe will make you positively stand out from other applicants

Step 2: Figure Out Your Focus and Approach

Once you have all your major details laid out, start to figure out how you could arrange them in a way that makes sense and will be most effective.

It’s important here to really narrow your focus: you don’t need to (and shouldn’t!) discuss every single aspect of your trip to visit family in Indonesia when you were 16. Rather, zero in on a particular anecdote or experience and explain why and how it impacted you.

Alternatively, you could write about multiple experiences while weaving them together with a clear, meaningful theme or concept , such as how your math teacher helped you overcome your struggle with geometry over the course of an entire school year. In this case, you could mention a few specific times she tutored you and most strongly supported you in your studies.

There’s no one right way to approach your college essay, so play around to see what approaches might work well for the topic you’ve chosen.

If you’re really unsure about how to approach your essay, think about what part of your topic was or is most meaningful and memorable to you, and go from there.

Step 3: Structure Your Narrative

• Beginning: Don’t just spout off a ton of background information here—you want to hook your reader, so try to start in the middle of the action , such as with a meaningful conversation you had or a strong emotion you felt. It could also be a single anecdote if you plan to center your essay around a specific theme or idea.
• Middle: Here’s where you start to flesh out what you’ve established in the opening. Provide more details about the experience (if a single anecdote) or delve into the various times your theme or idea became most important to you. Use imagery and sensory details to put the reader in your shoes.
• End: It’s time to bring it all together. Finish describing the anecdote or theme your essay centers around and explain how it relates to you now , what you’ve learned or gained from it, and how it has influenced your goals.

Step 4: Write a Rough Draft

By now you should have all your major details and an outline for your essay written down; these two things will make it easy for you to convert your notes into a rough draft.

At this stage of the writing process, don’t worry too much about vocabulary or grammar and just focus on getting out all your ideas so that they form the general shape of an essay . It’s OK if you’re a little over the essay's word limit — as you edit, you’ll most likely make some cuts to irrelevant and ineffective parts anyway.

If at any point you get stuck and have no idea what to write, revisit steps 1-3 to see whether there are any important details or ideas you might be omitting or not elaborating on enough to get your overall point across to admissions officers.

Step 5: Edit, Revise, and Proofread

• Sections that are too wordy and don’t say anything important
• Irrelevant details that don’t enhance your essay or the point you're trying to make
• Parts that seem to drag or that feel incredibly boring or redundant
• Areas that are vague and unclear and would benefit from more detail
• Phrases or sections that are awkwardly placed and should be moved around
• Areas that feel unconvincing, inauthentic, or exaggerated

Start paying closer attention to your word choice/vocabulary and grammar at this time, too. It’s perfectly normal to edit and revise your college essay several times before asking for feedback, so keep working with it until you feel it’s pretty close to its final iteration.

This step will likely take the longest amount of time — at least several weeks, if not months — so really put effort into fixing up your essay. Once you’re satisfied, do a final proofread to ensure that it’s technically correct.

Step 6: Get Feedback and Tweak as Needed

After you’ve overhauled your rough draft and made it into a near-final draft, give your essay to somebody you trust , such as a teacher or parent, and have them look it over for technical errors and offer you feedback on its content and overall structure.

Use this feedback to make any last-minute changes or edits. If necessary, repeat steps 5 and 6. You want to be extra sure that your essay is perfect before you submit it to colleges!

Recap: From College Essay Topics to Great College Essays

Many different kinds of college application essay topics can get you into a great college. But this doesn’t make it any easier to choose the best topic for you .

In general, the best college essay topics have the following qualities :

• They’re specific
• They show who you are
• They’re meaningful to you
• They’re unique
• They clearly answer the question

If you ever need help coming up with an idea of what to write for your essay, just refer to the list of 53 examples of college essay topics above to get your brain juices flowing.

Once you’ve got an essay topic picked out, follow these six steps for turning your topic into an unforgettable personal statement :

• Write down all the details
• Figure out your focus and approach
• Structure your narrative
• Write a rough draft
• Edit, revise, and proofread
• Get feedback and tweak as needed

And with that, I wish you the best of luck on your college essays!

What’s Next?

Writing a college essay is no simple task. Get expert college essay tips with our guides on how to come up with great college essay ideas and how to write a college essay, step by step .

You can also check out this huge list of college essay prompts  to get a feel for what types of questions you'll be expected to answer on your applications.

Want to see examples of college essays that absolutely rocked? You're in luck because we've got a collection of 100+ real college essay examples right here on our blog!

Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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College Essay: Freedom Through Dance

 I watched my dancers walk out from the wings, wearing the white costumes we carefully picked out, and onto the brightly lit stage, presenting themselves to the audience that was concealed by shadows. The dance that I have choreographed no longer belongs to me. My hands are shaky, my breathing is rapid, but I am not anxious or scared. Instead, I am excited because my long history in dance has given me the courage to be vulnerable and share parts of myself with the world.

  The beginning of my sophomore year was incredibly lonely. By some cruel twist of fate, I ended up without any of my friends in my classes. I ate lunch alone for almost two months. Each day, I hoped no one would look at me and see the shame written all over my face. The feeling of isolation was so consuming that I could not bring myself to tell anyone, which made me feel even more alone. Near the end of the year, my school dance teacher approached me about choreographing a piece of my own and teaching it to a group of dancers. This opportunity to choreograph granted me the chance to divulge my emotions, and share the stories that were vulnerable and personal to me through movement instead of words.

Ever since I began dancing at my local rec center at the age of 2, dance has empowered me to express myself. When I decided to take dance more seriously, I switched to a studio where I began to train in many styles, like ballet, tap, modern and jazz. Dance quickly became one of the most important things in my life. My studio was my second home and the friends I had made became my second family. The performing aspect of my studio was my favorite. This feature allowed me to share what I had learned and show off what I could do. These performances made me more confident in sharing myself with the world, and gave me a lesson in discipline and responsibility, lessons that would help me now with my choreography project.  

My creative process began with interweaving all the lessons I had learned in dance with the emotions and feelings I had experienced throughout that year. I had to find movements, lighting and formations that could convey a story of isolation and loneliness. There were auditions to run and choreography to teach, as well as taking charge of a large group of dancers by myself. Emotional work also needed to be done. I had to be honest with myself about what I had gone through and build up the strength to be vulnerable, not just with my audience but with myself, which was the hardest thing of all. What made it easier was the connection I had built with dance, knowing that I don’t always have to express what I’m feeling through words.

Before I knew it, I was standing in the wings, clenching and unclenching my fists, praying that the dance would go well. Throughout the performance I felt myself getting lost in the piece; the only thing that woke me was the sound of the audience’s applause. I knew I had succeeded in conveying my story. The process of confronting my emotions and translating them into choreography had paid off. My eyes were opened to the realization that I was so lucky to have found such courage and freedom of expression through dance. Even in my hardest moments, I will always have dance to turn to as a creative outlet, a way to express my emotions and an instrument to tell my story.

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Extracurriculars.

How Competitive Dance Can Give Your College Applications an Edge

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The value of strong extracurriculars on your college application cannot be understated. With selective colleges now receiving applications from far many more academically qualified applicants than they can accept, it is often extracurricular involvement that will set some students ahead of the rest. Presenting a profile of extracurriculars that speaks to your passions, drive, and initiative can be a critical piece of any application.

Some students think that extracurriculars must consist of school-recognized clubs or teams, and that independent interests or hobbies cannot count as an extracurricular activity, but this is not true. In reality, anything that you spend time pursuing on a regular basis outside of your required academic coursework can count as an extracurricular.

For many students, this means sports teams, art, and student government. For others it might mean debate club or math olympiad. And for thousands of students across the country, it means dance.

While some might think of dance as a sport and others might think of it as an art, how you perceive and present your participation in it will depend largely on your personal approach to it during your high school years. Some students will pursue competitions actively, while others will find other meaningful ways of participating. Regardless, one thing is certain. If you have spent significant time and energy pursuing dance during high school, your commitment and success should be highlighted on your college application.

To learn more about the many outlets for pursuing dance in high school, and the various ways in which you make sure that your avid pursuit of it shines through on your college application, keep reading.

How Might I Participate in Dance As a High School Student?

Although some people might think of dance as a hobby sometimes outgrown by the teen years, dance can in fact be a serious and rigorous pursuit. Some dancers even go on to make a career out of their dancing.

There are many different ways that you can participate in dance as a high school student. If you are taking lessons outside of school, you might join your dance studio’s competition team or at least participate in performances and recitals. If you are not participating in dance outside of school, you might join your school’s dance team, cheerleading squad, or drill team.

While there are obviously some significant differences between cheerleading or drill team and traditional dance, there are many more similarities. Many critical skills, such as rhythm, flexibility, strength, and even some of the steps and specific moves translate well between all three pursuits. If you are looking to put your dance skills to use but cannot find a dance team, consider a cheerleading team or drill team instead.

Finally, you might choose to pursue dance more casually. Perhaps you take night classes at the local community center, or you’re teaching yourself to dance salsa. These might not place you directly in the world of competitive dance, but they could still qualify you as a dancer and count as an important extracurricular activity on your college application. Later, we’ll discuss how you might pursue some of these less structured pursuits.

What Kinds of Dance Qualify As An Extracurricular?

If you’re a dancer, you already know that the varieties of dance styles and the ways in which dancers apply their craft are virtually endless. The same can be said for which varieties of dance qualify as an extracurricular.

You might be a classical ballerina, or you might prefer jazz, tap, or lyrical dance. Maybe you only dabbled casually in dance before joining the cheerleading or drill team. Or perhaps you are more involved in the performing arts, and you apply your singing, acting, and dancing skills on stage in theatrical productions.

The type of dance you pursue does not determine whether or not it qualifies as an extracurricular activity. Instead, the extent to which you pursue it, the amount of time you spend on it, the regularity with which you participate, and your passion for it are the real factors that will determine its importance on a college application.

For more about what types of specific activities should be included on a college application, see our post What Counts as an Extracurricular? . -->

How to Reinforce Dance As a Serious Endeavor on Your College Applications

Competitions.

Dance competitions exist at just about every scale imaginable. There are small, local competitions, sometimes held within a single studio, and there are huge international competitions held as large, annual events, taking over entire hotels and conference centers. If you’re interested in competitive dance, there is something to suit every level of involvement.

One thing that differentiates dance from other competitive events is that dance competitions are organized and conducted by independent competition production companies. This means that private companies are always the ones running the competitions and responsible for making the rules for each competition.

Because there is no national oversight or governing body, every competition will be slightly different. You need to be certain that you know the specific rules at each competition, so that you don’t unknowingly break one or enter your routine in the wrong category. There are usually rules governing time limits along with rules specific to dance styles (for example, no acrobatics allowed in ballet routines).

While there is no national governing body, there are smaller governing bodies that oversee dance competitions at certain levels. This is particularly true of high school dance competitions. In fact, the National Dance Team Championship is endorsed by the National Federation of State High School Associations, which is the same national service and administrative organization responsible for high school athletics and fine arts programs in speech, debate, theater, and music. In addition, many states have state-wide high school dance competitions.

At a dance competition, dance routines can be solos, small groups, or teams, but you will usually compete on behalf of a team, with your individual scores counting towards your team’s score. Each routine will be judged by a panel of judges, usually current and former dance professionals themselves.

If you participate in dance competitions consistently enough, you’ll find that there is a community of friends that forms in the dance competition circuit. Especially if you are traveling to out-of-state competitions, you will likely make friends with other competitors staying at the same hotels as your team, since there is often time to socialize between routines and before and after the daily competition schedule.

In addition, larger competitions usually include some fun, bonus activities. Some are social in nature, and others are rooted in dance. These usually include workshops, master classes, and banquets.

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If you are interested in pursuing dance competitively, here are a few top tier competitions to consider:

National Dance Team Championship

NDTC is the only national-level dance team championship that is endorsed by the National Federation of State High School Associations. It usually takes place at Disney World, and certain routines are aired live on ESPN. It is administered by Universal Dance Administration (UDA), which also runs dance camps along with multiple other dance competitions. 

NexStar National Talent Competition

The NexStar National Talent Competition is run by the Star Dance Alliance and features several national events throughout the country each year. It is also a feeder to the World Dance Championship and World Dance Pageant, both of which are open by invitation only.

Youth America Grand Prix

For more classical dancers, the Youth America Gran Prix calls itself “ the world’s largest global network of dance.” It holds workshops, scholarship auditions, master classes, and audition classes throughout the U.S. and abroad, and culminates in a the week-long New York Finals, where the world’s most promising dancers receive in-depth mentoring and increased scholarship, professional, and performance opportunities.

If dance competitions aren’t entirely your thing, there are other ways to exhibit your passion for and dedication to dance. Here are a few ways to get involved:

Teaching Dance

Teaching dance allows you to give back to your community, share your passion with others, and demonstrate important leadership skills.

You can volunteer to teach dance informally as a teaching assistant at your dance studio, or you could organize a more formal class through your local library, community center, or elementary school. You might teach a weekly class that meets over the course of a few months, or you might teach a single workshop once a month. Either way, you are participating in dance in a meaningful way and serving others at the same time, so it’s a win-win.

Start a Dance Club At Your School

Another way to pursue your passion for dance outside of competitions is by starting a non-competitive dance club at your school. You might focus on a particular style of dance and choreography, or you might study broader varieties. You could even start a cultural club geared towards a specific style of dance. 

Starting a club shows a real ability to take initiative, and it’s not as difficult as you might think. You can read more about the general process for starting your own club in our post, How to Start a Club in High School .

Organize a Talent Show

Talent shows are a great way to showcase talent in a safe, non-competitive environment. While some talent shows do have an element of competition, it’s not a necessity, and generally people participate because they want to perform, not because they want to win.

Organizing a talent show gives you the perfect opportunity to perform in front of others without the pressure of being judged and having your score impact the performance of your team. It also provides other students at your school with the same opportunity. Sometimes, students are too shy to share their talents that aren’t readily apparent in a traditional high school environment. Talent shows are a great way to coax hidden talents out from under the surface, and they are usually a fun experience for all involved.

To take your talent show a step further, you might even turn it into a fundraiser by selling tickets and donating the money to an important cause.   A local nonprofit supporting visual or performing arts would be a fitting and grateful recipient of any money raised.

Create an Online Portfolio

One final way to showcase your passion and success in dance is to create an online portfolio. You can use a blog platform with free templates to design it . Then, upload video clips of your performances and other relevant material, such as costume design or teaching experience. You can even upload an artist’s statement to highlight how dance has impacted your life and who you are today.

Then, when you list dance as an extracurricular activity on your college application, you can link to your online portfolio. Of course there is no guarantee that any of the admissions committee members will click through to view your work, but if it influences even one person’s opinion, it will have been worth it.

The world of dance can be confusing to navigate from a college admissions standpoint. It is not as closely tied with your high school activities as many other extracurriculars are, and if you choose to pursue it outside of dance competitions, you might feel as though you have little to show for the time and energy you’ve expended. By participating in competitions, teaching dance to others, or finding other ways to highlight your hard work, you’ll prove that your pursuit of dance is as serious and ambitious as any other extracurricular activity.

Looking for help navigating the road to college as a high school student? Download our  free guide for 9th graders  and our  free guide for 10th graders . Our guides go in-depth about subjects ranging from  academics ,  choosing courses ,  standardized tests ,  extracurricular activities ,  and much more !

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Ordering the Disorderly

Ellie’s essay skillfully uses the topic of entropy as an extended metaphor. Through it, we see reflections about who they are and who they aspire to be.

Pack Light, But Be Prepared

In Pablo’s essay, the act of packing for a pilgrimage becomes a metaphor for the way humans accumulate experiences in their life’s journey and what we can learn from them. As we join Pablo through the diverse phases of their life, we gain insights into their character and values.

Tikkun Olam

Julieta illustrates how the concept of Tikkun Olam, “a desire to help repair the world,” has shaped their passions and drives them to pursue experiences at Hopkins.

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Classical Reflections in Herstory

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Dances of Colonial America

This section is broken into nine subsections, dealing with different aspects of dancing and dance music, and including significant detail on the more important dance types. Adapted from Kate Van Winkle Keller and Charles Cyril Hendrickson, George Washington, A Biography in Social Dance , the section ends with a brief bibliography. These materials are of course presented in much greater depth in the book.

Dances of Washington's Time

Eighteenth-century social dance is a complex topic. Every occasion where dancing occurred looked different from most others. Important variables that affected the performance were the participants, the on-lookers, the reason for the gathering, the location, the temperature of the room, the hour of the day, and the amount and type of beverages everyone had been drinking. Each of these could change what dance types were selected and how they were actually performed.

A popular country dance might be selected in the spring of 1779 at an officers’ ball hosted by General Greene at the Artillery Park Ballroom in Pluckemin, New Jersey, with music provided by one of the American regimental bands. The same country dance might be chosen six months later in a private room of a ramshackle tavern in Sunbury, Pennsylvania where some of the same officers, a few local merchants, and their families, and a local fiddler might gather, hosted by the innkeeper himself. Patriotic toasts and minuets might open both occasions. The tunes and the figures might be the same, but there the similarities would probably end.

Dancing has always been a public expression of personal abilities. In the eighteenth-century, dance events were one of the few venues that brought men and women together in a social setting. There they could publicly display themselves and their families, and solidify friendships that could help with business or political dealings. Since marriages created or continued power dynasties, these dances were important as showcases for eligible partners. On the frontier, dancing after community corn husking certainly helped the romances of young people who spent their days on homesteads far distant from one another.

On plantations, African Americans weary from days of toil alone in the fields could gather in groups to relax with dances from their homeland across the sea. It was a chance to reaffirm themselves as a community. In all of these events, the participants enjoyed the pleasure of moving together in time, feeling a sense of oneness with each other, and relishing the physical release from daily pressures and cares. In addition, the musicians, showiest dancers, hosts, managers, and even the caterers gained in status, affecting local balances of power in small but significant ways.

In the century between 1660 and 1760, as the old court-directed society crumbled and the merchant class gained in size and power, the need to establish a social order that all would recognize became urgent. A heavy burden fell on the obtaining and display of consumer goods to define differences. Domestic architecture, clothing, dining customs, and material goods served these functions. In addition, physical demeanor played an increasingly important role. Dance was the art that filled this need, serving the elite well. Instruction in manners, genteel behavior, and movement created visible and portable signs of personal and commercial achievement. Where seventeenth-century sumptuary laws had kept newcomers at bay in the past, a new code of conduct developed that did not require legislation. The test of a gentleman was whether he had the time to absorb the mounting intricacies of taste, grace, fashion, and elegance. The eighteenth-century aesthetic of austerity and nonchalance was considerably harder to emulate than seventeenth-century opulence and bravado.

The “Rules of Civility” that Washington copied out show how real the layers of his society were. In these rules, every social encounter was assessed; participants ranked each other and acted appropriately. As you can see in the rules below, walking and talking with someone in a building or in the street had an etiquette that if mishandled could give insult:

57th In walking up and Down in a house, only with One in Company if he be Greater than yourself, at first give him the Right hand and Stop not till he does and be not the first that turns, and when you do turn let it be with your face towards him, if he be a Man of Great Quality, walk not with him Cheek by Joul but Somewhat behind him.

The depth of a bow was important.

26th In Pulling off your Hat to Persons of Distinction . . . make a Reverence, bowing more or less according to the Custom of the Better Bred, and Quality of the Person.

Frontier and plantation communities were small and tightly knit. Everyone knew everyone else and there was no need to engage in one-ups-man ship. It was in larger population areas that dance came to be used as a badge of membership. Like paper money, gentility was presumed to stand for tangible social assets and was generally accepted at face value. The dance floor was the place where a person’s command of the attributes of gentility: costume, manners, movement grace, and ease, were put to the ultimate and most public test. In 1776, John Adams both acknowledged and decried this display as the “exterior and superficial accomplishments of gentlemen upon which the world has foolishly set so high a value” (Cary Carson 271).

Dance fashions were set by cultivated urban societies as expressions of social status. Enterprising dance professionals devised appropriate movement vehicles to satisfy these needs. Successful dances were promoted as “the latest” or “the most fashionable,” and they displayed the performers to best advantage. Dancing teachers reaped financial gains from the sale of public classes, private lessons, and pre-ball review events. That these lessons and public perception were important is reinforced by William Turner’s advertisement to newly wealthy merchants of Boston in the boom times before the war. In 1774, having just returned from London where he gathered the latest dance fashions, he offered private lessons to “grown gentlemen and ladies, & assures the utmost secrecy shall be kept till they are capable of exhibiting in high taste” (Boston Evening Post May 30, 1774). Tomlinson begins his treatise called The Art of Dancing Explain’d (London, 1735) saying

Let us imagine ourselves, as so many living Pictures drawn by the most excellent Masters, exquisitely designed to afford the utmost Pleasure to the Beholders.

In the eighteenth-century, dance was meant to be enjoyed as much by the audience as by the participants. As Cary Carson points out, taste and gentility were sought after and acquired after diligent application and validated only by open demonstration. (Carson 272, 656) Life, in a way, was theater. It needed a setting, props and an audience, and it was full of aspiring imitators. Rules and standards helped to distinguish the genuine article from the counterfeit.

Main Dance Types

Two dance types, the French minuet and the English country dance, became the staple of eighteenth-century ballrooms in much of the western world, from Moscow to Philadelphia and Mexico City. Ideally suited for performance by dancers of varying skills and abilities, each offered a distinct structure that was fairly easy to learn. Like thorough-bass technique in music, by which fairly simple compositions could be realized in different ways by musicians of varying skills, these dances could be embroidered by their performers to suit their skills and the occasion on which they were being danced. Masters could create new dances every year; composers wrote new tunes. Printers had increasingly cheaper methods by which to reproduce these effusions and the public bought them eagerly.

By 1752, a sufficiently large market had developed that Nicholas Dukes prepared an expensive eighty-three page engraved book with detailed diagrams for the most common country dance figures and the basic figures of the minuet. In his introduction, he explained his purpose.

Though I propose Chiefly to Treat on the different parts of the figuring of Country Dances, yet first of all I will take the Liberty to acquaint every Gentleman or Lady who is desirous of performing Country dances, in a Genteel, free, & easy manner, the necessity they are under of being first duly Qualified in a Minuet; that beautifull dance being so well calculated and adapted as to give room for every person to display all the beauties & Graces of the body which becomes a genteel Carriage. As this dance is the Ground work of all other dancing, I thought it my duty to recommend ye knowledge of it.

The menuet ordinaire or ballroom minuet was the chief dance of ceremony and ritual. Devised in the 1660s for the French court, it was a dramatic and powerful dance. Using one of several standard step-sequences and a specific floor pattern, it left some latitude for individualization through ornamentation. Alone on the floor with their concentration on each other and moving with four steps in six beats, two dancers move on a symmetrical track using the entire dance space. Honors to partner and the company open and close the dance. The remainder of the dance consists of parallel passes across the floor and one- and two-hand turns.

The minuet has a complex basic step, but it is not a string of different steps as in other composed dances like gavottes or allemandes. The challenge of the minuet is the smooth execution with one’s partner, something akin to ice-dancing. It is hard to do so that it looks easy, which, of course, is the desired effect. The minuet became a ritual of the ballroom for the entire eighteenth century. A symbol of precedence and power, the first minuet was performed by the leading man and most important lady present while the rest of the company watched. It served to remind everyone of his or her position within the group. Balls at court often consisted of nothing but minuets as the clamor to be seen attracted more and more dancers.

In America, minuets opened most formal occasions, the Governor, senior military officer, leading merchant, or the host of the event dancing with the most senior ladies present. That the minuet was daunting echoes from account after account of frightened dancers, trembling knees, and laughable performances. It is no wonder that everyone relaxed when the minuets were over and the country dances could begin.

Country Dance

The best-documented group dance of the period is the eighteenth-century version of the English country dance, arranged for “as many couples as will” standing in lines, partner-facing partner. The figures of over 25,000 dances were published with their music in English books between 1700 and 1830 and many more in Ireland and Scotland and Holland. The figures for over 2,800 dances appear in American collections handmade or published between 1730 and 1810. Most of these dances appear to be of English origin or inspiration; several of the collections are direct copies of English books. Democratic rather than hierarchical, each country dance is constructed so that after one repetition of the figures, the leading couple is in second place and repeats the figures with the next one or two couples. This progression continues down through the entire line and back up, until the leading couple is again at the top and each couple in the set has had a turn leading the dance.

Before 1680, Americans probably danced earlier forms of the English country dance using familiar renaissance steps: the single, the double, and perhaps some steps from the galliard for the more energetic. Once the new French technique was introduced, the basic step became a smooth pas de bourrée, with a demi-coupé for setting and honors. Optional steps included pas de rigaudon (rigadoon), assemblé, balancé, chassé, contretemps, and pas de gavotte (Keller 18–20). For most occasions, deportment and performance style was still formal and presentational. Despite the informal-sounding name, country dances were not undisciplined romps.

At a ball or dancing party, the top couple in the set selected the dance. They not only had to know how the dance figures fit the music, but were responsible for selecting steps appropriate for the abilities of the dancers present, and, by their performance of the first round, the phrasing of steps and figures to the music, a daunting responsibility. Calling the figures as the dance progressed was not an American invention as is often claimed. In 1752 Nicholas Dukes suggests that the top couple might recite the names of the figures when they selected the dance of their choice (Dukes iv).

Public prompting was used in the late 1770s in London by Francis Werner who played on the harp and directed the figures at the same time (Werner title page). It did not become a wide-spread practice until the nineteenth century when the dancers no longer selected the dances to be performed and dance events drew less homogeneous companies.

Several other types of dance appeared in early American ballrooms, promoted by dancing masters to hold their pupils’ interest and by fashionable dancers who wished to keep one step ahead of the crowd. In the 1680s, possibly inspired by the English country dance and using many of the same figures, French dancing masters developed another type of country dance, terming it contredanse. For the next hundred years, as the English longways progressive dance with increasingly simpler figures became the favorite of middle-class ballrooms, the French type developed into a more and more complex, non-progressive dance, usually in closed set formation, suitable for the most elite dancers.

Lacking a clear notation system and, unlike the English country dance, too complicated to transmit in words, these did not become widely fashionable at first. In the 1760s, La Cuisse perfected a system of depicting the figures graphically and these interesting and challenging dances began to appear in print. Almost immediately, English dancers adopted a fairly basic type of French contredanse, the cotillon, anglicized as “cotillion.”

This dance was usually but not always performed in a square of four couples. A cotillion consisted of a number of standard verses called “changes” followed by a chorus that was distinctive to that particular dance. The changes were movements such as circles, hand-turns, hands-across, allemande turns, and rights-and-lefts (chain). The figure, or chorus, was repeated after each change. A cotillion might be performed with as many as eight or ten changes. They employed similar steps to those used in country dances, but usually in more complex combinations, a boon to dancing masters whose services were less needed as the country dances became simpler and simpler to meet the needs of a wider and wider consumer base.

Cotillions were introduced in America in the early 1770s. It is interesting to note that the longways English country dance type has remained in use to the present in New England, having been the fashionable group dance when much of that area was settled. In contrast, the cotillion was at its height of fashion in urban ballrooms between 1780 and 1810, a period during which many European migrants arrived in eastern cities, and many others left for new homes over the mountains. Ironically, it was the cotillion that was carried west and was the basis of traditional American square dancing, recently declared our “national folk dance” and far more associated with cowboy culture than the French ballrooms that gave it birth.

Hornpipes and Jigs

Among other dances in the new French style were those which came to be known as jigs and hornpipes—the names were used interchangeably at this time. These were free-form, display dances for one or two dancers. Early hornpipes were in 3/2, 6/8, or 2/4 meter, but by 1770 most were in 2/4. Such a dance was a personal routine created with step combinations and floor patterns particularly adapted to the skills of the soloist for whom or by whom it was constructed. It could be completely choreographed for a stage or ballroom performance or be entirely a product of personal improvisation, changing every time it was danced.

A hornpipe made famous by Pennsylvanian John Durang, a theatrical dancer active from the early 1780s, survives in a nineteenth-century description. The music and sketchy instructions for the steps were published by his son and employ both cultivated and vernacular dance movements (Durang 158). Durang’s drawings of himself dancing, such as that illustrated here, show that he used standard French techniques such as the foot positions and arms in opposition. Hornpipes and jigs were ubiquitous. All classes of people danced them in all sorts of places, from the opera stage to the back-water tavern, with differing results depending on the time and place. Period images show that routines by sailors in wharf-side pubs were quite different from the dances performed as a “Sailor’s Hornpipe” in professional theaters.

One type of impromptu vernacular jig for which descriptions survive had an extremely long and cross-cultural life. It was called a “cut-out jig,” “Virginia jig,” or “Negro jig” in eighteenth-century records and was probably derived from African-American roots. A very similar dance called “Red River Jig” was collected in the 1980s among the Gwich’in Athapaskan Indians who live in the sub-arctic borderlands between Alaska and Canada. This is a step dance performed by one couple on the floor at a time, with everyone else standing as interested spectators and getting ready for their own participation (Mischler 65-69). This same type of dance was observed by the Fletts in Kilberry, Scotland in the 1960s. There the floor would hold many dancers who cut in on one another.

the Everlasting Jig . . . was really a sort of romp. Partners would stand up and jig opposite each other until someone cut in between them. The man or woman displaced had to go off and cut in between another pair. This frolic continued for as long as the piper chose to play (Flett 155).

Samuel Johnson and James Boswell saw a version of this free-form dance on the island of Skye in Scotland in 1773. It is curious that the dance was called “America.”

We had . . . in the evening a great dance. We made out five country squares without sitting down: and then we performed with much alacrity a dance which I suppose the emigration from Skye has occasioned. They call it “America.” A brisk reel is played. The first couple begin, and each sets to one—then each to another—then as they set to the next couple, the second and third couples are setting; and so it goes on till all are set a-going, setting and wheeling round each other, while each is making a tour of all in the dance. It shows how emigration catches till all are set afloat. (Flett 155)

Another cross-cultural group dance was the Scottish reel, a dance for three or four people in a line. Passages of footwork in place are alternated with traveling on a weaving track. Because of their informal nature, reels were usually impromptu. Little instruction was needed to perform them although they often involved complex individual footwork displaying well-developed personal skills. While simple country dance figures such as circles, hand-turns, and elbow swings may have been danced by the lower classes, the reel was probably the group dance of choice on most occasions. It offered both structure and individual freedom within an improvisational framework.

Allemandes, Gavottes, and Rigadoons

These dances were solos or duets that were choreographed for specific dancers and consisted of individually designed tracks on which the dancer performed combinations of baroque dance steps such as coupé, battement, jeté, pirouette, pas de sissone, and pas tombé. The dances were taught in dancing schools and danced as demonstration or show-off dances in the ballroom or in the theater, but were not group dances. Some of the steps used in these dances, such as the allemande step, rigadoon, and pas de gavotte were occasionally used in social dances, particularly in cotillions.

Although each of these dance types has a specific name, the music may be called a jig, reel, march, gavotte, hornpipe, allemande, and beginning in the 1790s, waltz. While it might indicate a tune’s origin, the name of the music did not limit its use to any particular kind of dance. In general, rigadoons were usually danced to duple-meter tunes, and minuets were always danced to triple meter tunes. Allemande, minuet, and gavotte tunes were all used for country dances and any lively tune could be used for reels and jigs. The distinction musicians of today make between 2/4 and 6/8 rhythms for reels and jigs did not pertain in the eighteenth century.

Bibliography

Carson, Cary, et al.  Of Consuming Interest: The Style of Life in the Eighteenth Century.  Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1994.

Dukes, Nicholas.  A Concise & Easy Method of Learning the Figuring Part of Country Dances, by way of Characters. To which is Prefixed The Figure of the Minuet.  London: 1752.

Durang, Charles.  The Ballroom Bijou.  Philadelphia: 1855.

Durang, John.  Memoir.  Ed. by Alan S. Downer.  Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1966.

Flett, J. P. & T. M.  Traditional Dancing in Scotland.  London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1964.

Keller, Kate Van Winkle Keller.  “If the Company can do it!” Technique in Eighteenth-Century American Social Dance.  3rd edition. Sandy Hook: The Hendrickson Group, 1996.

Mishler, Craig.  The Crooked Stovepipe.  Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1993.

Werner, Francis. For the Year 1778.   Three New Minuets with Seven Favorite Cotillions . . . dedicated to the Nobility and Gentry Subscribers to Almacks &c. By Francis Werner.  Where he plays the Cottilons on the Harp and directs the Figures.  London: Jold [John] Rutherford, 1778.

* This essay was adapted from Kate Van Winkle Keller and Charles Cyril Hendrickson,  George Washington, A Biography in Social Dance  (Sandy Hook, CT: The Hendrickson Group, 1998), pp. 18–23

by Charles Cyril Hendrickson and Kate Van Winkle Keller

Created and published september 18, 2001. updated september 18, 2015..

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Archives & manuscripts, dance chronicle papers 1959-1994 [bulk 1988-1992].

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Dance Chronicle Papers, (S)*MGZMD 156 . Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

This collection documents the editorial content of Dance Chronicle. The collection spans the years 1959-1994 (Bulk dates 1988-1992). It consists of correspondence, edited articles before publication, published articles, and research material.

Dance Chronicle: Studies in Dance and the Related Arts began publishing in 1978. George Dorris and Jack Anderson began as, and continue to be its editors. The scholarly journal is published three times a year.

The journal covers a wide variety of topics, relating to dance including music, theater, film, literature, painting, and aesthetics. Individual issues have been devoted to Moscow’s Island of Dance, Bournonville, and the Camargo Society. Articles have ranged from renaissance and baroque dance, and dance for Broadway, Hollywood and BBC television. Specific articles on dancers and choreographers have included Maya Plisetskaya, Merce Cunningham, the Judson Dance Theater, Trisha Brown, and Meredith Monk. Established dance historians as well as a new generation of scholars offer material for the journal.

This collection contains correspondence between the editors and authors of Dance Chronicle . Addition information is included about ballets, organizations, photographs and college dance programs. Also included are edited drafts of articles written for Dance Chronicle . This material does contain some correspondence.

A unique part of the collection contains correspondence, manuscript drafts, and photographs about the unpublished autobiography of Mia Slavenska. This material was sent to George Dorris.

The collection is important in providing information about the interaction between editor and author, and also in the scholarship it brings to the dance community.

The Dance Chronicle papers are arranged in four series:

This series contains correspondence between George Dorris, the editor of Dance Chronicle , and authors, agents, subscribers of the journal. Some of the names that appear are Margaret Severn, Anthony Fay, Burton Mumaw, and Jane Sherman.

This series contains material that was used in the production of the journal Dance Chronicle . Some of the subjects include, catalogs, programs at colleges, magazines and clippings.

This series contains drafts of articles that appeared in Dance Chronicle . Some authors that are included: Lynn Matlock Brooks, Janet Davis, George Dorris, and Sybil Shearer.

This series contains material about the unpublished manuscript written by Croatian ballet dancer Mia Slavenska. There is correspondence, drafts of manuscripts, and photographs.

• Sub-series 1 - Correspondence: 1988-1994
• Sub-series 2 - Manuscript: undated
• Sub-series 3 - Photographs: 1921-1996

Source of acquisition

The Dance Chronicle Papers were donated to the Jerome Robbins Dance Division in 1995-2000 by George Dorris and Charlotte P. Heimann.

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Processed by Leslie Reyman; Machine-readable finding aid created by Leslie Reyman.

Separated material

• Audio Tapes
• 1. Mia Slavenska via Anthony Fay
• 2. Doris Stlively
• 3. Dialogue between Maria, Mia and Squash about The Key
• 4. Dorris—Florance by First Swan Lake
• 5. Mia, Maria and Squash—The Man who asked to marry me.
• 6. Anthony’s tape for Squash.
• 7. Creators of Magic
• 8. End of Childhood years (chapter III).
• 9. Letter to Squash, 1988 July 13
• 10. Pegazues, Politics and Point Shoes, Autobiographical memoirs by Mia Slavenska
• 11. San Francisco Ballet, Chapter VI
• 12. Letter to Charlotte, 1988 July 1
• 13. Chapter III, Foreign Lands
• 14. Speech, Zuma Renaud, UCLA 1973 Feb. 2
• 15. Dorris—New to the Reader
• 16. Dorris—The 2 Favorites
• 17. Dorris—Dedication
• 18. Dorris—Mia, Maria end
• 19. Dorris—Creators of Magic
• 20. Letter to George
• 21. Letter to G. Dorris, 1989 Feb. 5
• 22. Letter to George Dorris 1988 Oct. 24
• 23. All about Vincent
• 24. Letter to George Dorris 1988 Oct. 5
• 25. Letter to Dorris, undated
• Two Floppy Discs 1. The Island of Dance Back-up

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Kentucky Coach Mark Pope offers elite 2025 five-star power forward

Andrew stefaniak | 11 hours ago.

• Kentucky Wildcats

Mark Pope is starting to recruit the 2025 class , and one player he and the Kentucky coaching staff just offered is five-star power forward Nate Ament. He is ranked as the 16th best player in the 2025 class according to 247Sports composite rankings. Ament is from Warrenton, Virginia, possesses a ton of athleticism, and is a great shooter from deep.

Coach Pope offered Ament this week, joining other elite programs like Duke, Kansas, and Creighton.

Watching film on Ament he is a prototypical Coach Pope forward as he can pass the basketball and shot. He can handle the basketball and pulls forwards and big men away from the rim. Ament is a player that Coach Pope will push hard after in this class as he would add just what this staff wants.

Here is the scouting report on Ament from Eric Bossi of 247Sports , "Pushing 6-foot-8, Ament is a guy who broke out on the national scene during the spring and summer of 2023 while playing with Team Loaded NC. While he's still a bit on the thin side, Ament is a mobile and skilled forward who has the skill and ball skills to play out on the wing where he has tremendous size. Or he can be used as a small ball four-man who opens up defenses and pulls other bigs away from the basket, thanks to his ability to shoot from deep. There is a lot of projectable upside for Ament because of his overall size, athleticism and frame that he can easily grow into down the road. While he's not yet a finished product and certainly needs to add more strength, he is a guy who already makes the game look pretty easy and appears to have a very bright future."

ANDREW STEFANIAK