A factual overview of types of artistic dance is an obvious starting point in any course, as it provides at least some shared examples for discussion. This factual introduction is obviously a necessary starting point for the general education student. But although many dance majors have some awareness of the dance universe, they know shockingly little about dance history, dance in other cultures, or genres in which they do not specialize. Modern dance students have seen too little ballet. Few have seen the historical performances available through videotaped reconstructions.
Nobody seems to have seen much non-western dance.
The dance major should be encouraged to try out different approaches to understanding the artform they love to enrich their appreciation of movement. The general studies student should be encouraged to draw on perspectives from other disciplines with which they are more familiar. All are introduced to new approaches to knowledge, regardless of their awareness of the primary subject matter. Students also need an introduction to the types of knowledge possible about this or any other artform. The diverse perspectives and methodologies of artistic and humanities disciplines enhance the understanding of dance as a cultural phenomenon and, in turn, of ways to approach other cultural phenomena.