Dance on the Historically Black College Campus

“Ebright’s illumination of the historical and artistic contributions of the HBCU campus is a welcomed voice in the survey of twentieth and twenty-first century American Dance. Her work is especially poignant at a time when inclusivity and diversity and its importance in dance scholarship is becoming more prevalent in national discussions. Her analysis further illustrates the value in the fusion of western dance with dances of the African diaspora and gives us a template for progressive dialogue in dance academia.”
—Steve Rooks, Professor of Dance, Vassar College, USA

This volume explores the history of dance on the historically black college and university (HBCU) campus, casting a first light on the historical practices and current state of college dance program practice in HBCUs. The author addresses how HBCU dance programs developed their institutional visions and missions in a manner that offers students an experience of American higher education in dance, whilehonoring how the African diaspora persists in and through these experiences. Chapters illustrate how both Western and African diaspora dances have persisted, integrated through curriculum and practice, and present a model for culturally inclusive histories, traditions, and practices that reflect Western and African diasporas in ongoing dialogue and negotiation on the HBCU campus today.