Editorial

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“Riding the wave of intensity” is a paper about flow and dance. It is based on a written assignment about my teaching practice at the Ingrid Jespersen School in Copenhagen, where I taught a group of 20 youngsters from 12–13 years of age. In my work as a dancer and teacher I have always been interested in a state of being in which you are completely focused and concentrated. The liberating, self-forgetful feeling fills your body and this activity is all that matters. I became aware of this state particularly during this teaching practice. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi describes this state as <italic>flow</italic> in his book <italic>Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience</italic> from 1990. My motivation for writing this paper is to share my experience about flow and dance and furthermore to give concrete inspiration on how to achieve flow in dance classes.</abstract>

Riding the Wave of Intensity

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In Norway dance in school is mainly placed within the subject of physical education. This paper is based on a study conducted together with students in physical education teacher education. The main focus is to explore experiences in dance improvisation and contact improvisation as described by physical education student teachers. The study is influenced by phenomenological thinking. The analysis makes evident that the students experienced the subject of dance improvisation and contact improvisation in many different ways. Yet, how the student teachers express their experiences can be divided into the different roles of <italic>student-dancers</italic> experiencing dancing and <italic>student-teachers</italic> trying to decide whether what they do in the dance classes can be used in teaching in schools.</abstract>

Dance in Physical Education: Experiences in Dance as Described by Physical Education Student Teachers

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This paper explores the place where dance and religious faith meet. It gives examples of learning experiences and processes of personal and spiritual growth that occur there. The paper is based on a study of dance in Christian contexts in contemporary Norway, that is part of the RESEP (<italic>Religion as Aestheticizing Practice</italic>) research project based at the University of Agder, Norway. The empirical material is based on participant observation of dance in churches and other Christian settings and on interviews with approximately 50 dancers in these settings. Dance provides the participating dancers with multidimensional meaning and perceived benefits. Through narratives and quotations, the paper sheds light on three ways in which the dancers in question experience processes that lead to growth through dance: 1) as a holistic and attractive way of learning and communicating, 2) as personal growth; by mastering dance through self-expression in a supportive environment, expressing and processing emotions, and moving towards better mental and physical health and wholeness, 3) as spiritual growth; by providing an interface with God that strengthens one’s listening to both God and oneself, and as a way of living their faith in interaction with others.</abstract>

Dancing Towards Personal and Spiritual Growth

The Invention of Norden

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Volume 14 (2023): Issue 2 (December 2023)

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Nordic Journal of Dance

 Nordic Journal of Dance – practice, education and research was established in 2010 within a network called DENN: Dance in Education Nordic Network  The goals and values of DENN are:  “Bringing together expertise across borders, sharing ideas about pedagogical strategies and concrete methods, promoting exchange in dance teacher training across the Nordic countries, promoting dialogue, opening doors and collaborating.”  The DENN network aimed at establishing a Nordic Journal of dance practice, research, containing both peer reviewed research articles, and practice related articles from the field of dance in education in general, in a Nordic context. Nordic Journal of Dance is thus a Nordic collaboration between researchers within dance, dance history, pedagogy, artistic research and more, connected to relevant institutions in all the Nordic countries. These researchers are all represented in the editorial board.  The purpose of the journal is to: Develop the quality of dance practice, education and research in the Nordic context. Exchanging experiences and knowledges in the doing, learning and teaching of dance/movement. Strengthening the Nordic perspective on movement, dance and education. Giving researchers a place to present their work and increasing the quality of publications within dance research.  Nordic Journal of Dance represents one of very few opportunities for researchers to publish their work. It is the only journal focusing on dance research in a Nordic context. Our impression is that it has a substantial impact. NOFOD – Nordic Forum for Dance Research is also a collaborator, having two representatives in the editorial board.  Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 