Rechoreographing Learning

The way we usually talk about movement and dance splits the mind from the body, and this study by Sandra Cerny Minton questions that split. It looks at the kinesthetic sense, a faculty that is easy to overlook, along with body awareness and somatic practices.

Minton considers how thinking can be grounded in the body. Her discussion covers mental imagery, nonverbal communication, empathy between people, and symbol systems. She also examines what happens in the brain during learning.

Her central claim is that paying closer attention to bodily sensations gives people a foundation for knowing, communicating, learning and teaching through movement and dance. On that basis she argues for why movement and dance belong in school curricula and considers how they might be included.

The book is written for scholars and students of teaching methodology, and it suits courses in physical education, dance and education.