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1) Recognize where you come from. We all have unique ways of observing and interacting with the world. Take time to think about your own assumptions and biases around the dance, movement, or any other art form you are studying. Keep in mind many cultures have been silenced through "cultural erasure, colonialism, racism, and white supremacist narratives" (Banks, 2023).
2) Look outside of dance. Many cultures do not view dance separate from other performance or cultural art forms like poetry, singing, chanting, and other cultural rituals. What other art forms are included with dance? How are they connected? What new meaning do these practices create when engaged with together?
3) Include the community you are studying in your data collection with practices like "participate observation, fieldnotes, informational conversation with participants, photography, and participation in company dance classes and creative workshop rehearsals" (Banks, 2023). What do the dancers you are studying think about what they are sharing? What is the significance of their practices? What other cultural activities are paired with dance or movement? How is dance learned or passed from person to person? Let the community read your work before completion to "guide, scrutinize, and crosscheck" (Banks, 2023) your observations.
4) Avoid generalization in your findings. It's important to remember that part of ethnographic research is specificity. Your goal should be to bring nuance to a complicated and deep culturally rooted practice.
Banks, O. C., (2023). "Ethnography for Research in Dance Education: Global, Decolonial, and Somatic Aspirations" In R. Candelario & M. Henley (Eds.). Dance research methodologies: Ethics, orientations, and practices (First Edition) (pp. 212-227). Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.