Amanda Clark is a Professor and Dance Program Coordinator at Western Kentucky University, where she teaches all levels of jazz and tap dance technique, along with dance theory coursework. She received an MFA in Dance from the University of Oklahoma and a BPA in Dance Performance from Oklahoma City University. Amanda’s choreography has been presented nationally and internationally and encompasses a mix of classical and contemporary approaches within the jazz and tap dance genres. Amanda’s primary research interests lie in the history and pedagogy of jazz and tap dance. Sara Pecina is the Director of Dance at Berry College. She received her MFA in Dance from the University of Oklahoma and graduated with a BA in Dance from Western Kentucky University. She has presented research on the history and pedagogy of jazz and tap dance both nationally and internationally at various dance conferences, including both the National Dance Education Organization and the Dance Studies Association annual conferences. Sara is a certified mat Pilates instructor and has also trained to teach Dance for Parkinson’s Disease with Mark Morris Dance Group and is in the American Tap Dance Foundation’s Rhythm Tap Teacher Program.
A wonderful combination of readable, user friendly and important information, without oversimplification Karen Reedy, George Mason University, USA. This book is an outstanding resource for dance appreciation. It simultaneously covers the history of each form of dance, while discussing the aesthetics of the form, to the practicalities of what that form look like in the studio while taking a class. There is a very thorough discussion of the origins of dance, which also help us understand the relevance of dance in society in the 21st century. Additionally, the movement prompts help the student to understand the concepts presented in their own bodies. I highly recommend this text, it has everything needed to appreciate dance from all perspectives. Jennifer Mizenko, University of Mississippi, USA