Dance as Black Art: Development and Reception of African American Dance in the Black Arts Movement

Abstract

African American dance played a significant role in the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s. This thesis has proven that African American dance developed as a significant and serious art form in this period. Furthermore, African American choreographers incorporated black protest in their choreographies during the decades of the Black Arts Movement. Lastly, African American dance was mostly well received, and audiences across divisions of race and color started to accept it, and eventually mainstream dancers started adopting African American dance styles and dance moves.