Date of Award
2003
Document Type
Thesis
Publisher
Edith Cowan University
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts Honours
Faculty
Faculty of Communications and Creative Industries
Abstract
Research into the psychology of theatrical dancers has indicated that as a group, dancers may be a high-risk population for psychological disorders. The majority of this research however, has only sampled ballet dancers. In consideration of the fact that contemporary dance is philosophically and aesthetically different from ballet, it is proposed that the experience of contemporary dancers may be different from that of ballet dancers and thus their psychological experience and potential problems may also be different. It is suggested, therefore, that results from studies on ballet dancers may not generalize to contemporary dancers. In support of this proposition, the purpose of this study is to explore the notion that there is a difference in the psychological distress, potentially experienced by ballet dancers compared to contemporary dancers.
Recommended Citation
Shum, V. (2003). Art Irritates Life-- and Vice Versa : An Exploration of the Nature of Dance and its Effect on the Psychological Well-Being of Ballet and Contemporary Dancers. Edith Cowan University. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/936