From Eroticism to Transcendence: Ballroom Dance and the Female Body by Sally Peters Created by Jessica Labbé Edited by Dr. Kay Picart
Review Question: Why and how does Peters separate social dancing from exhibition or competition dancing?
Discussion Question: Do you agree or disagree with this characterization of social versus performative partner dancing?
Review Question: What is Van Den Berg’s “landscape”?
Review Question: How does the view of Peters’ body change within various dances?
Discussion Question: What role does costuming and adornment play in ballroom dancing? What role does it play in common social dancing, such as in themed clubs (country, disco, techno, etc)?
Review Question: Why is “the exposition of the inner self [as] a paired venture... more problematic for the woman than in other forms of dance”? (151)
Discussion Question: Do you find Peters’ concept that the woman must be aggressive while being led by the male partner problematic? Why or why not?
Review Question: What pattern is apparent in all Astaire- Rogers films?
Discussion Question: Do you agree with Peters’ description of the relationship between the dancer and the audience that “Just as [the audience] sees in the dances what they want to see, so the dancers become what the audience desires”? (156) Why or why not? Which perspective are you speaking from: the dancer or the audience?
Concluding Questions: How does Peters’ description of a connection with dance compare to that of Taylor? What do you think are the reasons for these similarities? Can you identify with their experiences? Why or why not?