Psychology of Dance

Whatever the age and ability level of your dancers, Psychology of Dance provides the essential concepts and practical applications you can use to enrich their performance and personal and artistic growth.

Price: £17.99
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Developer / Lead Author Taylor, Ceci
Publisher / Supplier Human Kinetics
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Psychology of Dance is the long-awaited guide to helping dancers of all ages and abilities reach their fullest artistic potential. This first-of-its-kind reference not only gives you an understanding of the psychological issues that most influence dance performance, but also provides easy-to-use techniques that help you meet the psychological needs of your dancers.

With Psychology of Dance, you'll learn how to design, implement, and maintain a Psychological Program for Enhanced Performance (PPEP). This comprehensive mental training program will enhance each dancer's performance as it:

• builds motivation and develops self-confidence;
• presents techniques for maintaining optimal performance intensity;
• shows how to improve concentration and use dance imagery;
• provides strategies for overcoming slumps and avoiding stress and burnout; and
• helps the injured dancer through the physical and psychological rehabilitation process.

The book also features a special format that follows the progression of a dance performance. Each chapter begins with a quote from a famous dancer that sets the mood. Then "Dress Rehearsal" describes a common scenario related to the topic at hand and asks how you might handle the situation. "Center Stage" appears in each chapter to highlight and suggest possible applications of the information covered, and "Encore" revisits key points in the chapter. The authors also include inventories that help both you and your students identify their strengths and areas of concern.

Whatever the age and ability level of your dancers, Psychology of Dance provides the essential concepts and practical applications you can use to enrich their performance and personal and artistic growth.

Additional Information


Chapter 1. Motivation
• What Is Motivation?
• Identifying Individual Motivation
• Symptoms of High and Low Motivation
• Developing Motivation
• Encore

Chapter 2. Self-Confidence
• Problems of Low Self-Confidence
• Benefits of High Self-Confidence
• Developing Self-Confidence
• Additional Strategies to Build Self-Confidence
• Encore

Chapter 3. Intensity
• What Is Intensity?
• Symptoms and Causes of Intensity
• Identifying Optimal Intensity
• Controlling Over-Intensity
• Controlling Under-Intensity
• Preperformance Routines
• Encore

Chapter 4. Concentration
• What Is Concentration
• Understanding Concentration Styles
• Enhancing Concentration
• Encore

Chapter 5. Dance Imagery
• Understanding Dance Imagery
• When to Use Dance Imagery
• Developing a Dance Imagery Program
• Encore

Chapter 6. Slumps, Stress, and Burnout
• What Is a Slump?
• Finding the Causes of Slumps
• Preventing Slumps
• Slumpbusting Plan
• Stress and Burnout
• Encore

Chapter 7. Psychology of Dance Injury Rehabilitation
• Psychological Factors in Injury Rehabilitation
• Psychological Rehabilitation Program (PReP)
• Encore

Chapter 8. Developing a Psychological Program for Enhanced Performance (PPEP)
• Designing a PPEP
• Implementing a PPEP
• Maintaining a PPEP
• Encore

Developer / Author(s)


Jim Taylor, PhD, is a psychologist recognized for his work in the psychological aspects of performance in sport and the performing arts. He has implemented a psychological services program for the Miami City Ballet, lectured at the Hartford Ballet Company, and served as a consultant and member of the faculty at the DanceAspen Summer School. A former associate professor at Nova University in Ft. Lauderdale, Dr. Taylor has published more than 140 scholarly and popular articles, including a series of articles in Dance Teacher Now, and presented more than 150 workshops internationally. Jim is a former dancer and world-ranked Alpine ski racer and holds a second-degree black belt in karate.

Ceci Taylor's 40 years of experience as a professional dancer, professor of dance, and dance counselor have given her unique insight into the psychological demands of dance. With master's degrees in both dance and counseling, she has used her rich background to lecture and write about the psychological issues of dance, including coauthoring a column in Dance Teacher Now. A professor emeritus at St. Joseph College (Hartford, CT) and counselor to the Hartford Ballet, Ceci hopes this book will inspire other instructors to recognize the need to address the spirit as well as the body of the dancer.

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