Developing movement skills in performing arts: an investigation to stimulate a more creative, imaginative and sensitive movement skill engagement through a democratically orientated approach

The presentation discusses research which investigates how dance teaching practice and pedagogy can be adapted to stimulate creative, imaginative and sensitive movement skills in students studying performing arts, by adopting a more democratic approach. The research has two objectives. Firstly, to establish a mode of interaction which is modeled on the democratically oriented process in Jo Butterworth’s didactic – democratic spectrum (2004, 55), between the teacher and students. Secondly, to develop a pedagogy which can be used in practical research on existing somatic practices, establishing a more democratically orientated process to develop movement skills, whilst encouraging students to become independent and engaged learners