Dance Psychology Lectures
Lecture 1: What is Dance Psychology?
Dance Psychology is the study of dance and dancers from a scientific and psychological perspective. In this lecture I define the scope of Dance Psychology. You will be introduced to four areas of Psychology from a dance perspective – these are social psychology, developmental psychology, cognitive psychology and biological psychology. I then look at different styles and methods of dance and consider these from a psychological perspective. I end with an overview of the other topics covered in this webinar series.
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Lecture 2: A Scientific Perspective
As Dance Psychology is the study of dance and dancers from a scientific and psychological perspective, it is important to have an understanding of the research methods that underpin the discipline. In this webinar we look at Dance Psychology from a scientific, research-based, perspective. You will be introduced to six key steps in the scientific method: Observation, Question, Hypothesis, Experimentation, Analysis and Reporting. Each of these steps is discussed within a Dance Psychology perspective.
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Lecture 3: Are Humans Born to Dance?
In this lecture, you will explore the fascinating interplay between nature and nurture in the development of dance and rhythmic behavior. You’ll learn about the innate abilities of babies to detect rhythm, move in response to music, and learn through body movement, supported by key research studies. We’ll examine how movement shapes musical preferences, the role of prenatal and early-life experiences, and the social and neurological foundations of dance. By the end, you’ll gain insights into whether humans are born to dance, how nurture influences this capacity, and how dance connects us socially and culturally from infancy onward.
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