Exploring Postsecondary Experiences for Dance Majors in Texas with Backgrounds in Competitive Dance and/Or Drill Team

Abstract

ABSTRACT The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the experiences of college dance majors in Texas who have a background in studio dance, competitive dance, or drill team as they navigate the culture of dance in postsecondary education. At this stage in the research, the experience of college dance majors will be generally defined as the benefits and challenges they face, the positive and negative impacts of these challenges and benefits, and the interpretations they have of their existence within the culture of dance in postsecondary education, as well as how they define that culture of dance. Findings from this study show dance majors from this participant pool who had consistently challenging experiences regarding their own integration into postsecondary programs. The conclusion of this study provides a recommendation for postsecondary dance programs to consider curriculum revision to better suit the needs of a significant demographic within their student populations.