History of Dance Paper Topics
50 Topic Areas for Dance History Papers (100 points)
Volume and page numbers for the corresponding International Encyclopedia of Dance
article follows each topic area.
Tribal: Australian Aboriginal 1:219-230; African Congolese 2:86,87; Native
American 4:549-575 Hopi 3:373-375 or Plains Indians (Great Plains) 4:560-562; India
3:351-470, Bharata Natya (Natyasastra) 4:575-576
Ancient: Japan 3:578-592 Bugaku 2:5-6 & Kabuki 3:637-641; Roman (Empire)
5:373-378; Greece (Ancient) 3:387-294
(1) Middle Ages (Medieval dance) 4:347-350 300 – 1400 A.D.: 300 – 900s; 1000 1399
Renaissance (dance technique) 5:336-340/(fetes and triumphs) 5:340-341/(court and
social dance before 1800) 5:619-623 1400 – 1500; 1500 – 1600; 1600 - 1700: Court
Dance (social dance) 5:619-636; Early Ballet Three chapters on ballet appear in the
textbook, History of the Dance in Art and Education (793.309 K91h 1997):
Chapter 5
The Golden Age of Ballet, page 82
Chapter 8
Age of Innovation in Ballet, page 141
Chapter 9
Ballet today, page 159
1700 – 1750: Ballet
1750 – 1799: Ballet
1800 – 1850: Ballet; Ballroom (Waltz 6:359-362 & Polka 5:221-223); Quadrilles
5:285-287, Contra (contredanse) 2:255-257, & Square (dancing) 5:685-690;
Black/African American (dance traditions) 6:523-623; Modern (dance technique)
4:437-443/Two chapters on modern dance appear in the textbook, History of the Dance in
Art and Education (793.309 K91h 1997):
Chapter 7 – Modern Dance: The Beginning Years, page 112
Chapter 10 –Modern Dance Today, page 195
1850 – 1899: Ballet; Ballroom (Waltz & Polka); Quadrilles, Contra, & Square;
Black/African American; Modern
1900 – 1925: Ballet; Ballroom; Quadrilles, Contra, & Square; Black/African
American; Modern
1925 – 1950: Ballet; Ballroom; Quadrilles, Contra, & Square; Black/African
American; Modern; Jazz
1950 – 1975: Ballet; Ballroom; Quadrilles, Contra, & Square; Black/African
American; Modern; Jazz
1975 – 2000: Ballet; Ballroom; Quadrilles, Contra, & Square; Black/African
American; Modern; Jazz