Professor: Dr. Thomas Hagood

Tuition: $520 member / $595 non-member

12 Weeks; 3 NDEO-Endorsed PDCs

Human beings are uniquely organized, from the shape of our ears to the ways in which we interact with the world through movement. Dancers and those who teach dance are aware of the stylistic (‘individual’) differences that exist among us as we move, both expressively and as we go about the daily business of life.

Dance theorists Margaret H’Doubler, Rudolf Laban, Josephine Rathbone, and Valerie Hunt developed taxonomies for articulating individual differences in human movement. Valerie Hunt’s approach, “Movement Behavior Analysis and Profiling” (MBA/P) and informed by Laban and Rathbone’s work, was developed during her years as professor of Women’s Physical Education at the University of California-Los Angeles. Conceptually it is closely related to LMA, but it includes discreet categorizations and considerations that provide it with a unique profile as a system for movement analysis. Both systems, LMA and MBA/P, are of value to the dancer and educator. In its simplified form MBA/P requires less training for its effective use. This twelve-week course will expose OPDI students to the content, organization, and use of MBA/P. The materials are presented, and a series of reflection papers, observations, and learning experiences are assigned to encourage your consideration of the information and its potential in communicating observed, individual differences in human movement. A comprehensive course manual developed by the instructor is supplied, supplemental readings and resources are cited.

Book required: None

Questions about this Course?  Email opdi@ndeo.org

This is a NEW course.

Thomas K. Hagood is recognized for his writings on the history and policy for dance in American higher education. Texts and original research examine the life and work of Margaret H’Doubler and Alma Hawkins, the organization and sociology of dance in American education, curriculum design for dance, and kinesthetic potentials in dance education. At the University of Utah he was TA to Sally S. Fitt (1978-1980) and assisted in the development of her text, Dance Kinesiology. At Wisconsin he delved into the teaching legacy of Margaret H’Doubler and consolidated the data that would lead to his dissertation and 2000 text A History of Dance in American Higher Education: Dance and the American University, the first comprehensive history and analysis of the development of dance in the American academy. In 2006 he was invited to be founding editor of the Cambria Press’s book series in dance, a series he currently edits with Dr. Luke Kahlich. He served as con vening president and 1st past president of the National Dance Education Organization, founding past president of the Florida Dance Education Organization (FDEO), PI and content area chair of the NDEO’s Research in Dance Education Project. Awards include the 2002 NDEO Special Honors Award, 2005 NDEO Visionary Award, and the 2005 FDEO Leadership Award. Currently serves the NDEO’s OPDI, and directs URBANEediting, “an editing, text development, and coaching service for those who bring creativity to life, work, and communication.”