Dance Education in New Zealand Schools 1900-2008 by Jan Bolwell was published by Massey University in July 2009. It takes the form of a 25-page issue of Tiraeraka: Dance in New Zealand.

Bolwell tells us about a series of passionate, eccentric individualists who each forced dance education in a startling new direction. Their changes reflect a century of immense social change. Should girls avoid exercise, being too delicate? What is the purpose of teaching dance in schools:  training wee soldiers, or for health, therapy, discipline or self-expression? What place does Maori dance play in New Zealand education?

The story culminates in an arts curriculum that makes dance part of school experience in primary and secondary schools. 

Amazing photos bring historical dance alive.

This is a precious tale, told for the first time in full. All primary teachers and all dance and physical education teachers need it among their resource materials. It's a most unassuming monograph, but it's one reference work that's a pleasure to read.

Order Dance Education in New Zealand

Send your name and postal address with a $25 cheque to:

Jan Bolwell
6 Porter Place
Paekakariki 5034
Kapiti Coast, New Zealand

Enquiries: +64-4-905-8203 or jansun @ paradise.net.nz*

*When emailing, remove the spaces in this email address. It's changed here to prevent spam.