Thesis
The role that culturally relevant themes play in building African American audiences for dance concerts in Philadelphia
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Jun 2012
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-4412
Abstract
This Master's Thesis examines how culturally relevant themes are currently being used as tools to build African American audiences for professional dance concerts in Philadelphia, PA. This research study provides examples of how dance concert producers and presenters are developing themes around African American history, soul and gospel music, and the black church to create live performance events that are compelling to the growing African American population of Greater Philadelphia. The analysis presented in this Master's Thesis draws from a variety of sources including published guides to African American marketing and outreach, African American focus group studies on arts and cultural event attendance motivations, exclusive interviews with local dance concert producers and presenters, and my personal experience producing a sold-out dance concert series celebrating African American soul and gospel music. Research studies indicate that African American audiences value performances that celebrate various aspects of their culture, including but not limited to cultural history, music, and religion. This Master's thesis discusses the theme development process behind culturally-relevant dance concerts including Eleone Dance Theatre's Carols of Color, the recent premiere of my dance company Roger Lee Dance, and the highly-anticipated premiere of DanceAfrica Philadelphia. The findings presented in this research study are intended to serve as a strong resource for dance concert producers and presenters that are interested in creating more culturally relevant events with a goal of engaging more African American audiences. This study may also be beneficial to arts funders that are looking to support culturally relevant dance work being created, produced, and presented in Philadelphia, PA.
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Details
- Title
- The role that culturally relevant themes play in building African American audiences for dance concerts in Philadelphia
- Creators
- Roger Lee - DU
- Contributors
- Roy Wilbur (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- iv, 40 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Arts Administration; Arts and Entertainment Enterprise; Drexel University; Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design
- Other Identifier
- 4412; 991014632276404721