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Young Singaporeans’ Perceptions on Dance in Physical Education

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Contextualized Practices in Arts Education

Part of the book series: Education Innovation Series ((EDIN))

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Abstract

This study explores young Singaporeans’ (13–17 years old) perceptions of dance, especially their views on the nature and purposes of dance in schools. The data were drawn from a macro-study of students’ experiences and views of Physical Education (PE), which includes Dance Education, The aim of the broad study is to identify, document and promote best practices in PE in three dimensions, namely, games, dance and gymnastics, as contextualized across three levels of schooling (primary, secondary and pre-university). This particular “Dance Dimension” focuses on adolescents (n=85), who provided data through focus group interviews conducted in two secondary (Sec) schools and two junior colleges (JC). The findings provide teachers and policy makers with useful insights into what dance for the youth is all about and to allow for meaningful curriculum planning and developing the dance curricula in the long term.

An erratum to this chapter can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4560-55-9_42

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Education & Sports Science Academic Group at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

    Leong Lai Keun & Joan Marian Fry

Authors
  1. Leong Lai Keun
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  2. Joan Marian Fry
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leong Lai Keun .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Visual and Performing Arts Academic Group at the National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

    Chee-Hoo Lum

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Sample Questions

  • Do you dance? Are you interested? Not interested or not offered? Why not interested?

  • Do you all do anything like dance in your PE? How do you find the experience?

  • Can we have dance in PE? What is dance like as a PE lesson? What does dance mean to you when we talk about dance?

  • What do you think of dance? Dance is like…

  • Tell me what the modern dances are?

  • How important is dance lessons to you? Why is it important or not important?

  • If you were offered dance, do you think you’d enjoy it?

  • Folk dance, if it is offered, do you think that you will be keen?

  • Do you think dance not restricted to folk dance, any kind of dance that is very popular now, those street dance for instance, will appeal to you?

  • Do you think you will continue to take up dance lessons outside of school now that you have some experience of it, and why?

  • Do your dance lessons contribute to your physical well-being?

  • Do dance offer opportunities for developing any aspects of confidence or self-esteem?

  • What is it that you don’t like about dance?

  • Do you think dance lessons make you more aware of your body movement and in what way?

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Keun, L.L., Fry, J.M. (2013). Young Singaporeans’ Perceptions on Dance in Physical Education. In: Lum, CH. (eds) Contextualized Practices in Arts Education. Education Innovation Series. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4560-55-9_11

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