An Assessment of the Functions of Dance in the Broadway Musical: 1940/41-1968/69
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| Language: | English |
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Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK
1976
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| Online Access: | http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1566302070902458 |
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ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-bgsu15663020709024582021-08-03T07:12:44Z An Assessment of the Functions of Dance in the Broadway Musical: 1940/41-1968/69 Glann, Janice Graham Dance Despite recognition of dance as a basic element of the American musical comedy, research has been limited largely to choreographic achievements and design. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the ways in which dance contributes functionally to the total structure of a musical. The musicals analyzed were limited to those originally produced on Broadway from the 1940/41 theatre season through the 1968/69 season, with performance runs of more than 400. The libretti for sixty-eight musicals, and the complete scores for fifty-four, served as the primary sources. Four hundred twenty-two dance sequences were analyzed. "Dance" was identified by its explicit indication in the libretto or score of a musical, and excluded choreographic design or execution of a dance. ''Function" was defined as the accomplishment of dramatic purpose related to plot, character, theme, atmosphere/mood, or adornment/other. Approximately eighty per cent of the dance sequences performed only a primary function. Twenty per cent shared co-equal functions, or had one or more secondary functions. The results of the study revealed that one in every three sequences analyzed served plot; one in every five served character; one in every ten served theme; one in every three served atmosphere/mood; and one in every seven served adornment only. Dance was identified as contributing significantly to the elements of plot and atmosphere, less to the element of character, and only occasionally to theme. In the musical of 1940-1969, dance clearly functioned for purposes other than simple adornment. Although sixty-five per cent of dances were in conjunction with song or dialogue, functional reinforcement provided by the dance was mostly essential. The study concluded that musicals in the period of investigation showed a consistent and generally uniform application of dance to a broad array of dramatic functions, regardless of the number of dances within a given musical, and regardless of the artists involved with the original productions. 1976 English text Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1566302070902458 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1566302070902458 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws. |
| collection |
NDLTD |
| language |
English |
| sources |
NDLTD |
| topic |
Dance |
| spellingShingle |
Dance Glann, Janice Graham An Assessment of the Functions of Dance in the Broadway Musical: 1940/41-1968/69 |
| author |
Glann, Janice Graham |
| author_facet |
Glann, Janice Graham |
| author_sort |
Glann, Janice Graham |
| title |
An Assessment of the Functions of Dance in the Broadway Musical: 1940/41-1968/69 |
| title_short |
An Assessment of the Functions of Dance in the Broadway Musical: 1940/41-1968/69 |
| title_full |
An Assessment of the Functions of Dance in the Broadway Musical: 1940/41-1968/69 |
| title_fullStr |
An Assessment of the Functions of Dance in the Broadway Musical: 1940/41-1968/69 |
| title_full_unstemmed |
An Assessment of the Functions of Dance in the Broadway Musical: 1940/41-1968/69 |
| title_sort |
assessment of the functions of dance in the broadway musical: 1940/41-1968/69 |
| publisher |
Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK |
| publishDate |
1976 |
| url |
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1566302070902458 |
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AT glannjanicegraham anassessmentofthefunctionsofdanceinthebroadwaymusical194041196869 AT glannjanicegraham assessmentofthefunctionsofdanceinthebroadwaymusical194041196869 |
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