Moving Lessons: Margaret H'Doubler and the Beginning of Dance in American Education

Moving Lessons is an insightful and sophisticated look at the origins and influence of dance in American universities, focusing on Margaret H'Doubler, who established the first university courses and the first degree program in dance (at the University of Wisconsin). Dance educator and historian Janice Ross shows that H'Doubler (1889–1982) was both emblematic of her time and an innovator who made deep imprints in American culture. An authentic "New Woman," H'Doubler emerged from a sheltered female Victorian world to take action in the public sphere. She changed the way Americans thought, not just about female physicality but also about higher education for women. Ross brings together many discourses—from dance history, pedagogical theory, women's history, feminist theory, American history, and the history of the body—in intelligent, exciting, and illuminating ways and adds a new chapter to each of them. She shows how H'Doubler, like Isadora Duncan and other modern dancers, helped to raise dance in the eyes of the middle class from its despised status as lower-class entertainment and "dangerous" social interaction to a serious enterprise. Taking a nuanced critical approach to the history of women's bodies and their representations, Moving Lessons fills a very large gap in the history of dance education. Moving Lessons Is An Insightful Look At The Origins And Influence Of Dance In American Universities, Focusing On Margaret H'doubler, Who Established The First University Courses And The First Degree Program In Dance. Janice Ross Shows That H'doubler Was Both Emblematic Of Her Time And An Innovator Who Made Deep Imprints In American Culture. An Authentic New Woman, H'doubler Emerged From A Sheltered Female Victorian World To Take Action In The Public Sphere, And She Changed The Way Americans Thought, Not Just About Female Physicality But Also About Higher Education For Women.ross Brings Together Many Discourses -- From Dance History, Pedagogical Theory, Women's History, Feminist Theory, American History, And The History Of The Body -- In Intelligent, Exciting, And Illuminating Ways. She Shows How H'doubler, Like Isadora Duncan And Other Modern Dancers, Helped To Raise Dance In The Eyes Of The Middle Class From Its Despised Status As Lower-class Entertainment And Dangerous Social Interactionto A Serious Enterprise. Early Twentieth-century Dance Education And The Female Body -- Nineteenth-century Responses To Women's Health And Sexuality: Art, Fashion, Dance -- Women, Physical Activity, Education: A Nineteenth-century Perspective -- Blanche Trilling: Leader And Visionary In Women's Physical Education -- Margaret H'doubler And The Liberty Of Thought -- Margaret H'doubler And The Philosophy Of John Dewey -- Structuring Experience In The Classroom: Margaret H'doubler Brings Dance To The University, 1917-1926 -- Margaret H'doubler's Classroom: Educational Progressivism In Theory And Action -- Margaret H'doubler's Legacy: Dance And The Performing Body In The American University. Janice Ross. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 225-259) And Index. __Moving Lessons__ is an insightful and sophisticated look at the origins and influence of dance in American universities, focusing on Margaret H'Doubler, who established the first university courses and the first degree program in dance (at the University of Wisconsin). Dance educator and historian Janice Ross shows that H'Doubler (1889–1982) was both emblematic of her time and an innovator who made deep imprints in American culture. An authentic "New Woman," H'Doubler emerged from a sheltered female Victorian world to take action in the public sphere. She changed the way Americans thought, not just about female physicality but also about higher education for women. Ross brings together many discourses—from dance history, pedagogical theory, women's history, feminist theory, American history, and the history of the body—in intelligent, exciting, and illuminating ways and adds a new chapter to each of them. She shows how H'Doubler, like Isadora Duncan and other modern dancers, helped to raise dance in the eyes of the middle class from its despised status as lower-class entertainment and "dangerous" social interaction to a serious enterprise. Taking a nuanced critical approach to the history of women's bodies and their representations, __Moving Lessons__ fills a very large gap in the history of dance education. Contents 6 Illustrations 8 Foreword 10 A Reminiscence 16 Acknowledgments 22 Introduction 26 1. Early Twentieth-Century Dance Education and the Female Body 32 2. Nineteenth-Century Responses to Women’s Health and Sexuality: Art, Fashion, Dance 47 3. Women, Physical Activity, Education: A Nineteenth-Century Perspective 74 4. Blanche Trilling: Leader and Visionary in Women’s Physical Education 96 5. Margaret H’Doubler and the Liberty of Thought 126 6. Margaret H’Doubler and the Philosophy of John Dewey 146 7. Structuring Experience in the Classroom: Margaret H’Doubler Brings Dance to the University, 1917–1926 168 8. Margaret H’Doubler’s Classroom: Educational Progressivism in Theory and Action 216 9. Margaret H’Doubler’s Legacy: Dance and the Performing Body in the American University 224 Appendix 1: Granville Stanley Hall 242 Appendix 2: Dance Department Memorandum, December 1953 246 Notes 248 Bibliography 272 Index 284 An examination of the origins and influence of dance in American universities, focusing on Margaret H'Doubler, who established the first university courses and degree programme in dance. It shows how H'Doubler helped to raise dance - in the eyes of the middle classes - to a serious enterprise.