2026 Theses Doctoral

Unseen Choreographies: Male New York City Secondary School Dancers Navigating Gender and Society

Rekoert, Pascal

This qualitative multi-site case study investigated the experiences of adolescent male dancers in New York City’s secondary schools. Framed by a multilayered theoretical approach that included Butler’s (2006, 2011) gender performativity, Foucault’s (2012) panopticism, and Connell’s (2005) hegemonic masculinity, the study described the complexities of maleness within the female-dominated dance classroom.

Analyzing curricular dance across three diverse secondary public schools, data were collected through extensive field notes and semi-structured interviews with 18 student participants and three dance teacher informants and reported through narrative portraiture. Findings revealed that boys use complex strategies of self-regulation and movement control, such as reducing hip articulation and strategic nonparticipation, to maintain masculine legitimacy and manage peer surveillance.

The three theoretical perspectives uncovered a layered ecology of performativity, surveillance, and hierarchy, where gender is constantly policed, reinforced through bodily actions, and hierarchically maintained. Although hegemonic culture suggests this binary should be enforced (Site 2), moments of micro-resistance and hybrid expressions show the potential for reimagining masculinity (Sites 1 and 3).

This study argued that transforming dance education requires an ecological approach that legitimizes multiple masculinities and reduces the disciplinary costs of visibility, ensuring that participation does not come at the expense of male social status.