Career Readiness and Preparation Criteria in Undergraduate Dance Degree Programs

In this book, Klein seeks to develop a rubric that can assist colleges, universities, and communities in providing stronger outcomes for students seeking a career path in dance. Beginning with an overview of the historical development of dance and dance education in the United States, this book closely examines the current cultural, educational, and political structures, functions, and mechanisms that influence prevailing public views of this art form in mainstream American life. These views frame fundamental topics for the field of post-secondary dance education regarding curriculum, instruction, and definitions of professional career possibilities. The analysis and interpretation of this research is filtered through a specific lens, with the intention of discovering the effective and ineffective principles and practices within the three examined institutions, which can be applied to developing high success rates of employment among students graduating from future programs. It is further hoped that this study will serve as a catalyst for inter-academic dialogue, in order to strengthen and advocate for the integrity and position of dance education in American colleges and universities.