Dance refers to sequences of body movements (and lack of them) that are purposeful, intentionally rhythmical, and culturally influenced expressions that typically are accompanied by music and sometimes by props and costumes. Dance plays an important role in adolescence, with some aspects of dance being studied considerably and others essentially ignored. Somewhat surprisingly, for example, researchers essentially have ignored how the dance that may come to mind when thinking of dancing, a sort of play and spontaneous response to music, actually has not received much attention. Instead, research has focused on formal dance, dance as an after-school group activity, dance as a form of therapy, and dance as a social event that can bring hazards to youth.
Dance can be formal, as in actions that are purposeful presentations, such as a performing art (e.g., ballet). This aspect of dance is one that, for example, tells stories and emotionally moves audiences. In this manner, dance is a mode of...
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Levesque, R.J.R. (2011). Dance. In: Levesque, R.J.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Adolescence. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1695-2_465
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