An inside look at a professional modern dance company

Abstract

This thesis explores the experiences and collective activity of participants in the art world of Bodies in Motion, a local modern dance organization from Hartford, Chilton. This qualitative research uses Becker’s (1982) framework for studying social organizations, in conjunction with Unruh’s (1979) theory of social worlds and social types, to understand how participants create and maintain the functioning of their social world. The research followed a symbolic interactionist, theoretical approach, where data was collected through interviews and participant-observation. Through these techniques, eleven participants were asked about their experience with Bodies in Motion and the art sphere within Hartford. The research found that Becker’s framework and Unruh’s social types can help to determine the dynamics of social worlds.