About

The Dance Studies Association (DSA) is an international organization of dance scholars, educators, and artists that aims to strengthen the visibility and increase the reach of dance as embodied practice, creative endeavor and intellectual discipline.

A journey into the mind of a building, created and directed by Stephan Koplowitz. Photo by Nick Fancher.

Formed in 2017 as the merged entity of the Congress on Research in Dance (CORD, founded 1969) and the Society of Dance History Scholars (SDHS, founded 1978) DSA is both grounded in and extends the work of those two organizations.

After five years of successful consecutive joint conferences and sustained collaboration by the Boards of Directors of both organizations starting in 2015, CORD and SDHS consolidated their resources to form Dance Studies Association, bringing the field of dance studies into the twenty-first century. DSA is a significant expansion of CORD and SDHS, bringing together hundreds of dance studies scholars and artists, expanding publications, conferences, working groups, awards and membership benefits. While maintaining the 1969 incorporation status in the State of New York, Dance Studies Association signals the tremendous growth of the field over the past fifty years and the need to have a professional organization that represents this incredible breadth of inquiry.

DSA advances innovative analyses of dance by promoting diverse approaches and a globally inclusive, respectful dialogue in the dance field and various related disciplines. It advances the field of dance studies through research, publication, performance, and outreach to audiences across the arts, humanities, and social sciences. As a constituent member of the American Council of Learned Societies, DSA holds annual conferences as well as special topics conferences; publishes original scholarship through Dance Research Journal, Conversations Across the field of Dance Studies, the Studies in Dance History book series, and conference proceedings; supports ongoing working groups and networking; collaborates with peer organizations in the U.S. and abroad; and presents annual awards for exemplary scholarship and leadership.

A Brief History of CORD

A Brief History of SDHS

leadership

bylaws

Management and Contact