Dr. Suzan Moss is a dancer/choreographer teaching in higher education for 26 years. Her exploration of Afro-Caribbean dance and music has included study in Senegal and in Cuba, and work with acknowledged leaders in the field including Rose Marie Guiraud, Emmet McDonald, Baba Chuck Davis, Baba Olatunji, Frank Malloy, and Nafisa Sharriff. She currently teaches several styles of dance and movement at Bronx Community College and supervises the student dance performance workshop. Previously, she directed the dance program at Cleveland State University, served as 2nd Vice President of the American Dance Guild, and practiced dance therapy in numerous social service settings.
Articles
Afro-Caribbean dance, critical thinking, and global activism
Dance educators at every level are aligning their teaching with wider educational goals. The general education movement in higher education, as well as the standards movement in the public schools, ask us to focus on student learning objectives that require analysis, critical thinking, multi-cultural awareness, and student engagement with social problems. This paper describes the pedagogical approach to Afro-Caribbean Dance at Bronx Community College, where the class combines a studio and lecture component. The integration of movement lessons, lectures, and writing assignments is discussed, focusing on addressing these broader educational concerns and motivating student activism.