Dancing to Learn: the Brain's Cognition, Emotion and Movement

Dancing to Learn: The Brain’s Cognition, Emotion and Movement is groundbreaking. Interdisciplinary 21st century neuroscience suggests that the brain “choreographs” dance-maker, dancer, and spectator. The book synthesizes new research in neuroscience with knowledge in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and education to offer illuminating insights about dance as a compelling medium of education for everyone.

Key premises are (1) dance is nonverbal language affecting similar places and learning processes in the brain as verbal language, thus a powerful means of communication; (2) dance is physical exercise that sparks new brain cells (neurogenesis and neural plasticity, the brain’s amazing abil¬ity to change through¬out life); and (3) dance is a means to help us cope with stress that can motivate or interfere with learning.

The book explores venues for learning dance and other subjects, dance as an art, liberal art, and applied art, as well as a vehicle to find self, cultural, regional, and national identities. The goal is to enlighten educators, dancers, and the general public, as well as to encourage scientists to explore further the underpinnings of dance.