GENDERED PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN DANCE EDUCATION IN NIGERIA
Loading...
Date
2024-04
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Theatre and Media Arts, Federal University Oye-Ekiti,Ekiti, Nigeria.
Abstract
Dance as an art form is being taught in many Nigerian universities in departments with such nomenclatures as Performing Arts, Theatre Arts, Creative Arts and Dramatic Arts. Dance learning and tutoring is pivotal to the overall knowledge of any performative art because of its connection with other art forms. It has however been generally observed that the number of women, who study and teach dance in Nigerian universities are relatively few compared to men. This in itself is a gendered position that we find worthy of scholarly mention especially because very scanty attention has been paid to it in previous studies. This study therefore examines the gendered positioning of female dance scholars in Nigerian universities with a view to ascertaining their number and factors responsible for the gendered experiences they go through that leads to fewer participation of women in dance teaching and learning. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were adopted as methods of gathering data, while the interpretive design was used. Gender stereotypes, culture dynamics, modernisation, inadequate curriculum benchmark and low-income capacity were discovered to be the factors debarring women from pursuing and advancing formal dance education in Nigeria. Dance is a lucrative art, yet many women are limited by certain experiences that hold them back from attaining heights that their male counterparts have achieved. We encourage an all-inclusive dance curriculum that will capture latest dance styles and trends, so that emerging female dance scholars can explore diverse areas of dance beyond academic learning, to capture current realities. This paper also suggests that more studies about women in dance education should surface so that gender stereotypes limiting women can be properly discussed for the advancement of scholarship.