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The Nordic Journal of Dance, Volume 6(2), consists of two research articles, two practice-oriented articles, two book reviews and one conference report. The authors are from Finland, Sweden and Norway, and in addition one –who has been living for many years in Denmark–from England. This shows Volume 6(2) as a «truly» Nordic issue. Education in dance seems to be a common theme in both the research articles and the books reviewed. The research articles, amongst other things, question the terms «composition» and «dance technique», which are frequently used, but rarely defined. Professor of choreography Kirsi Monni, based at the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts, Helsinki, has written a philosophically inspired article in which she considers the ontological premises for tools in artists’ education, and she specifically discusses «composition». PhD candidate Irene Velten Rothmund, employed by the Norwegian College of Dance, Oslo, has conducted research on «dance technique» and interviewed students in modern and contemporary dance about how they define this term, and her work articulate the students’ various understandings, and discusses her findings in relationship with relevant research material. Gjertrud Husøy, lecturer, faculty of health education at Stord/Haugesund University College, has written a practically oriented article in which she is questioning the possibilities of positive health effects connected with practicing folk dance and social dancing. The Nordic Journal of Dance is happy to welcome this article on ‘dance and health’, which is a theme we until now scarcely have touched upon. Tanja Råman, choreographer and artistic director of TaikaBox, has written an artistic reflection on a project in which audience, performers, technical team and choreographer are co-creating their performance, using unique tools for digital devices. Rasmus Ölme, head of the Dance and Choreography programme at The Danish National School of Performing Arts, Copenhagen, has reviewed Kirsi Monni and Rick Allsopp’s book Practicing composition: making practice. Interestingly, Ölme’s review is closely linked with Monni’s previously mentioned research article and the theme of composition.
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Mariana Siljamäki, university lecturer at the University of Jyväskylä has reviewed Dance education around the world; Perspectives on dance, young people and change, edited by Charlotte Svendler Nielsen and Stephanie Burridge. Siljamäki writes how this antology, written by 30 expert authors, shows dance as more flexible and adaptable than most people can even imagine, but also that it can serve as a catalyst for new ways of thinking for those who are not familiar with dance. Former Head of Dance Partnership Education, Danish National School of Performing Arts, now MA student at the University of Manchester, Sheila de Val, has written a report from the 13th world congress held by the organization Dance and the Child International (daCi) which took place in Copenhagen this summer. This was a lively event where more than 800 people participated. The conference contained performances, workshops, keynote lectures, research presentations, and more. The overall theme was exploring identities in dance. The next daCi congress will take place in Adelaide, Australia in 2018. To be editor of this issue has been exciting. When asked to be editor many questions came to my mind. How is the actual process of making a journal, will there be enough contributions, and who will the authors be? How does the editorial-board and Dans i Skolen work together, and will there be a sufficient number of peer-reviewers, book-reviewers, report-writers, etc. There is a surprisingly large number of people involved; Named and unnamed persons help the journal in its process of becoming. The Nordic Journal of Dance aims at being interesting and inspiring, and as such a publication which will lead its readers to further questioning, discussion, reading, writing and research. Together dance researchers, dance practitioners and dance writers of all sorts, are responsible for making, upholding and developing the body of knowledge on dance, in the Nordic context. Hilde Rustad |
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