Dance Research Guide: Web Sites

WEB SITES

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Web Sites

Citing Web Sites:

Evaluating Web Sites: There are many quality web sites that contain information of interest to dance majors. However, the Internet will contains may sites which have little or no value to the researcher and are essentially advertisements. The goal of many pages is to sell the reader something, be it dance tickets, music, or equipment. The Internet contains also information which may not be true, may be biased or is designed for children. When using information from the Internet you will need to act as the reviewer since there are no rules governing what can be published. A few rules to keep in mind when looking at Internet web sites are:
Authority, Objectivity, Accuracy, Currency, Content/Relevancy, Aesthetics.

AUTHORITY

Is there an author or sponsoring body (organization, company) and is the name of the author or sponsoring body listed?
Are the author's) qualifications or credentials listed?
Is contact information (e-mail, address, or phone number) included?
Is the listed name different from the "Webmaster"?
Where is the document published? Check the URL domain (.edu, .org, .com, .gov).

OBJECTIVITY

Has the author or organization clearly stated the goals and/or aims of the site? (The Web often functions as a virtual soapbox).
If objectivity is important, is the information presented in an objective manner?
Is a particular point of view being presented?
Is there a bias, either explicit or implied?
Is the information presented free of advertising? If there is advertising, is it clearly differentiated from the informational content?
Is this an "Infomercial" Web page? (On the Web, the distinction between advertising and information can easily become blurred).

ACCURACY

If facts and figures are given, are they accurate?
Are the sources for any factual information clearly listed?
Can they be verified in another source?
How does this information compare with other sources of information on this topic?

CURRENCY

When was the page produced?
When was it last updated?
Is any information on the page outdated?
Are the links up-to-date? Are there references to sites which have moved?

CONTENT/RELEVANCY

Does the page meet your research needs or purpose?
Is the subject adequately covered?
Are the links (if any) evaluated/annotated and do they complement the page's theme?
If other sources are quoted, is the information accurately cited?
Is all the information on the site free, or is there a fee to link to some or all of the information?

AESTHETICS

Is there an appropriate balance between text and images?
Is the design of the page visually appealing or is it too cluttered?
Is there an option for text only, or frames, or a suggested browser for better viewing?
If page requires special software to view the information, how much are you missing if you don't have the software?

Citing Web Sites:
Just as you would for any other source used in research pages, you must site the web page which you have used in the bibliography. Exactly how you will cite the page varies greatly depending on the style guide that your professor required the class to use. If you are not sure as to exactly which style guide to use and it is not listed in the syllabus, check with your professor. Below you will find listed a web page of links to online style manuals. There is also a copy of all the of commonly used style guides kept at the Reference Desk of the Pollak Library.

How Do I ...Cite Sources: This is a web site that links to a number of methods of citation for web sites.
Electronic Styles: A Handbook for Citing Electronic Information. Kept at the Reference Desk.
MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing. Kept at the reference Desk.
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Kept at the Reference Desk.
Columbia Guide to Online Style. Kept at the reference Desk.
A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, These, and Dissertations by Turabian, kept at the Reference Desk.
Chicago Manual of Style, kept at the Reference Desk

CSUF Suggested Dance Internet Sites

Jump to: General | Specialized & Cultural

Dance: General

CSUF: Department of Dance

Artslynx International Dances Resources

Ballet.co
This site is a good resource for U.K. ballet coverage. It features a monthly magazine with a mix of latest reviews, a brief weekly newsletter, and links to other ballet sites.

BalletCompanies.com
Links to1800 ballet and dance companies all over the world.

Copyright of Choreographic Works
Overview of legal history of copyrighting choreographic works in terms understandable to non-lawyers. Discusses the definition of "choreographic work," the nature of "originality," the distinction between "expression" and "idea," the requirement of "fixation in a tangible medium," infringement, derivative works, and the role of expert testimony. Article by Julie Van Camp, Professor of Philosophy, CSULB, 1994.

CyberDance News and Information
Links to magazines, events, auditions, competitions, research and FAQ's, dance and technology, newsgroups, bulletin boards & chat lines, articles and reviews.

Dancing Online: Internet Dance Magazine
Articles, ballet, choreographers, dancers, fashion, performers, and directly.

Great Performances: Free To Dance [PBS]
Three-part documentary that chronicles the crucial role that African-American choreographers and dancers have played in the development of modern dance as an American art form. A co-production of the American Dance Festival (ADF) and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in association with Thirteen/WNET New York.

Scholarly Societies Project: Dance
Directory of scholarly organizations in the field of dance.

Society of Dance History Scholars
a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting study, research, discussion, performance, and publication in dance history and related fields

Dance: Specialized & Cultural

Alegria: the Mexican Folklorico Home Page
The music and dance of Mexico. Especially interesting is the link "Regional Dances."

American Ballroom Companion: Dance Instruction Manuals 1490-1920 [American Memory]
Full text copies of over 200 dance manuals. From the Library of Congress.

Archives of the Early Lindy Hop
History, movies that contain the Lindy Hop, biographies of dances and choreographers, and extensive links to a variety of swing dances.

Artslynx International Dance resources
Contains a wide range of quality dance sites. This site is especially useful for the international dance links, contains dance links to African, American Folk, Asian, American Indian, Aboriginal, India, Indonesian, Mexican, Slavic and more.

Australian Dance Resources
People, companies, performances, oral histories, education, research, news and more.

Ceolas: The Celtic Music Archive
This web site is especially usefully for the link to Celtic Dance. The user will find that this link has a substantial directory of Scottish and Irish dance.

Danish Folkdance
Links to resources on Danish folkdance.

English Folk Dance Project
The music and essence of English dancing, including Cotswold Morris dance.

Ernesto's Tango Page: Argentine Tango
Links to tango information resources from many countries.

Hula Articles and Internet Links
An About.com site that contains information on hula of Hawaii and Polynesia.

Irish Dance
Includes information on the history of dance in Ireland and a directory of links.

Renaissance Dance: The Rendance Archive
Information on everything to do with European dance from the 15th to early 17th centuries.

Sapphire Swan Dance Directory
The following types of dance are represented: Balkan; Ballet; Ballroom; Belly Dancing; Cajun Dancing; Chinese Dance; Clogging; Contra Dancing; Country Western; English Country; Flamenco; Folk Dancing; Greek Dance; Historical Dance; Hungarian; Indian Dance; Irish Dance; Jazz Dance; Latin Dance; Lindy Hop; Modern Dance; Morris Dancing; Salsa; Samba; Scandinavian Dance; Scottish Dance; Square Dancing; Swing Dancing; Tango; Tap Dance; Vintage Dance; Zydeco.

Society of Dance History Scholars: Online Resources
This listings is especially useful for the links to dance history, Ballroom dance, Swing Dance, Tango, Southeast Asian Dances. Also try the link under "Miscellaneous Genres." Here you will find Brazilian, Africian, Bharathananatyam, Chhau, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, and Mohini Attam, (India), Butoh, Hula, Tap, Middle Eastern, Flamenco, Samba and more.

Tap Dance Homepage
Contains history, audio files of tap, tap steps, biographies, a dictionary, notation and more.

What is Morris Dancing?
Explanation, history, and bibliography of Cotswold Morris dancing.

World of Butoh Dance: Japanese Avant-garde Dance from the 1960s
Resources on the Japanese art of Butoh Dance.

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This site is prepared and maintained by Cynthia Bruns, Reference Librarian, Pollak Library, California State University Fullerton. Last updated: 06/20/08