Figure 1.--This photograph at Tower Hill Country Day School shows the children participating in some kind of interperative dance. The school was located in Wilmington, presumably Deleware. The photograph was taken in 1942 or 43. This was done in a special room and not their class. Notice the teacher playing the piano.

Some schools did have dance programs, although our information on these programs is still very limited. There are a wide range of dance types. We have, however, noted only a few types of dance used in school dancing programs. Most commonly this was social dancing. I think most public schools offered dance lessons as part of gym. Some schools also did square dancing. This was common in the 1950s and 60s. I'm less sure before and after. A reader writes, "When I was in elementary school (in Washington) and Jr High (in California), during the late 50's through mid-60's, we learned to square dance in gym class. I should stress we HAD to learn to square dance. In Junior High, we did it in our PE uniforms. In elementary school, it was in our regular school clothes. When I was in 5th and 6th grades there were Friday night square dances that we held in the next town that we sometimes attended." Younger children may have done iterperative dance in some schools. I do not recall this in the schools I attended, but have seen photographs of these classes. This is mostly only possible in primry school, at leat for the boys. Teenagers are too self conscious for this to function in secondary schools. And mot schools do not have dance programs. Many childrn, mostly girls, take dancing lessons through private tuition. Balet is the most common, but there is also tap, interperative and Irish step dancing to choose from. Unlike music and instrumental instruction, dancewas commonly done in gruup instruction. Thus the children enroll in privte dance schools. The type of dnce instruction varied in public schools and private dancing chools.

Public Schools

Some public schools did have dance programs, although our information on these programs is still very limited. There are a wide range of dance types. We have, however, noted only a few types of dance used in school dancing programs. Most commonly this was social dancing. I think most public schools offered dance lessons as part of gym. Some schools also did square dancing. This was common in the 1950s and 60s. I'm less sure before and after. A reader writes, "When I was in elementary school (in Washington) and Jr High (in California), during the late 50's through mid-60's, we learned to square dance in gym class. I should stress we HAD to learn to square dance. In Junior High, we did it in our PE uniforms. In rimary school, it was in our regular school clothes. When I was in 5th and 6th grades there were Friday night square dances that we held in the next town that we sometimes attended." Younger children may have done iterperative dance in some schools. I do not recall this in the schools I attended, but have seen photographs of these classes. This is mostly only possible in primary school, at least for the boys. The younger the children, the more willing they are to participate, at least the boys. Thegirls are more likely to participae at older ages. Teenagers are too self conscious for this to function in secondary schools. And most secondary schools do not have dance programs. There are some special schools for the arts wjich do have dance programs. Here children without financial resources can get dance instruction in ballet and other dance forms. Sone states have given more attention to dance than others. Maryland for example has an Office of Dance Education whicas a mission sttement mintains that "The dance education curriculum recognizes that all students have the right to an arts education as a fundamental part of basic education. Dance has been recognized as one of the four fine arts, a core subject in Maryland Public Schools. Dance education enables students to discover their own innate capacity for the communication of ideas, thoughts, and feelings through the medium of dance."

Private Schools

Many childrn, mostly girls, take dancing lessons through private tuition. The children are enrolled in specilised schools where classes are held after school hours and on the weekends. This is where most dance instruction tkes places. Ballet is the most common, but there is also tap, interperative and Irish step dancing to choose from. Unlike music and instrumental instruction, dancewas commonly done in group instruction. Thus the children enroll in privte dance schools. This can be expensive and require a substantial commitment by parents. It also limits the children who can prticipate.

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Created: 7:05 PM 11/15/2004
Last updated: 7:42 AM 1/2/2016