In-depth Guide to Dance Research
Whether you are a novice or an experienced researcher, the Albert S. Cook Library has a wealth of resources for dance research. If you are new to dance research, start here to see an overview of the various types of resources you can consult. This is not an exhaustive list of resources, but will lead you to the Reference stacks where you will find these and other related reference sources. Any resources listed as "Reference" are kept in the 3rd floor Reference area and must be used in the building.
General Dance Research Tools and Indexes
If you have never written about dance topics before and don't know where to start, try ones of these guides to research in dance. They will give you a listing of some basic dance sources and reference titles for a variety of dance topics.
| Call Number | Description |
|---|---|
| Ref GV1595.A1B6 |
Research in Dance: A Guide to Resources (1994) - describes recommended reference books as well as indexes to dance literature |
| Ref AZ221.B55 |
The Humanities: A Selective Guide to Information Sources (2000) - annotated guide to research titles in dance and other performing arts |
| Ref GV1785.G47 |
Dancers and Choreographers: A Selected Bibliography (1995) - recommended sources that focus on dance personalities |
Dance Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
Sometimes in your research, terms, names, and places can be unfamiliar. Use one of these basic guides to check correct spelling and definitions so you are clear when writing or using search terms in research tools. If your research centers on a particular choreographer, composer, or performer, many of these titles will have biographical sketches of important figures in dance. These articles will give a quick overview to the topic without overwhelming you, and (in many cases) give you a bibliography of recommended works to investigate.
| Call Number | Description |
|---|---|
| Ref GV1585.C73 |
Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2000) - comprehensive dictionary of dance terms, compositions, and composers |
| Ref GV1585.P74 |
Dance Words (1995)- guide to technical terms in dance arranged by topics in dance |
| Ref GV1601.R3 |
Dance Handbook (1988) - compendium of biographical, historical, and dance company information [note date of volume - consult more recent sources for updates to information] |
| Ref GV1585.I586 |
International Encyclopedia of Dance (1998) 6 vols. - lengthy articles on all forms of dance with bibliographies for further research |
| Ref GV1585.I57 |
International Dictionary of Ballet (1993) 2 vols. - articles on dancers, choreographers, and ballets |
| Ref GV1585.B46 |
International Dictionary of Modern Dance (1998) - similar to above title, includes lists of personalities by specialty and nationality |
| Ref GV1587.5.D36 |
Dance Annual Directory (2003 - ) - yearly directory of companies, funders, venues, and educational programs |
| Ref GV1785.A1C58 |
Biographical Dictionary of Dance (1982) - includes essays on dancers, composers, and choreographers |
| Ref GV1623 .G56 |
Social Dancing in America: A History and Reference (2007) - describes social dancing in the US within a historical and social context |
Musical Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
If you are researching a composer or a specific ballet or musical theater work, these guides to music and composers are a good place to get some basic information.
| Call Number | Description |
|---|---|
| Ref ML105.B16 |
Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians (2001) - classic work covering international composers, performers and notables, this edition expanded to six volumes |
| Ref ML105.H38 |
Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music (1996) - includes composers and performers of classical, jazz, and some pop music |
| Ref ML106.U3B87 |
Dictionary of American Classical Composers (2005) - newly revised edition organizes 650 biographical entries representing composers from the late 18th century through the 20th |
| Ref M2.W88 |
Women Composers - Music Through the Ages (1996) - 7 volumes of biographical essays complete with musical examples |
Guides to Musical Genres, Styles, and Periods
Sometimes you are asked to write about a style of music (jazz, gospel, etc.) or a genre (symphonic, musical theater, etc.) that you know nothing about. Try these books to understand the important people, places, and works that are related to your topic.
| Call Number | Description |
|---|---|
| Ref ML100.G16 |
Garland Encyclopedia of World Music (1998-2003) - multi-volume work with each volume devoted to a particular set of countries |
| Ref ML102.P66G84 |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music (1998) - 8 volume set covering performers, groups, labels, and more |
| Ref ML101.U6N48 |
New Grove Dictionary of American Music (1986) - 4 volume set devoted to a wide variety of genres ranging from Native American to Broadway |
| Ref ML102.J3B555 |
Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Jazz and Blues (2005) - historical profiles arranged by decade of people and styles |
| Ref ML102.G6E63 |
Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music (2005) - compendium of important people, places, groups |
| Ref ML102.R27B96 |
Encyclopedia of Rap and Hip-Hop Culture (2006) - defines terms, styles, and peoples |
| Ref ML100.B38 |
Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (2003) - organized by musical genre, presents people, photos, and musical examples |
| Ref ML1102.R6R64 |
Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll (2001) - guide to groups and artists, see also the 1995 edition also in Reference |
| Ref ML102.J3N48 |
New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2001) (2001) - 3 volumes - each article is signed and includes a brief discography and bibliography |
| Ref MLB37 |
Billboard Encyclopedia of Classical Music (2004) - complete treatment of periods and composers with composition highlights and timelines |
| Ref ML102.O6N5 |
New Grove Dictionary of Opera (1992) - 4 volumes - in addition to biographical entries includes detailed synopses of operas - also available electronically on Grove's database described later |
| Ref ML102.M88 E94 |
Historical Dictionary of the Broadway Theater (2008) - profiles shows, performers, and venues |
Costume Dictionaries/Encyclopedias
These books will describe modes of dress from all cultures and throughout history.
| Call Number | Description |
|---|---|
| Ref GT507.E53 |
Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion (2005) 3 vols. - articles ranging from historical dress to body piercing with bibliographies |
| Ref GT595.P393 |
Complete Fashion Sourcebook (2005) - images and descriptions of formal and everyday dress from 1920-1989 |
Timelines
Sometimes, it is helpful to place the topic that you are writing about within a larger framework of events in history. Use these timelines to help you understand what was going on in the world at the time that a work premiered or a dance was popular.
| Call Number | Description |
|---|---|
| Ref D11.M39 |
Chronology of World History (1999) 4 vols. - timeline of events in the arts, politics, society, and history |
| Ref D422.B76 |
Timelines of the 20th Century (1996) - descriptions of key events in the arts and other subjects |
| Ref NX447.5 .B76 |
Timelines of the Arts and Literature (1999) - chronology specifically devoted to events in the arts |
Electronic Reference Books
A new and rising category of reference sources are the library's electronic reference books which have full text articles and can be accessed both on and off campus. The electronic reference tools listed below can be found in the Subject Gateway to Dance on the Cook Library web page.
If you are accessing these from off campus, you will first need to log in through ResearchPort to access these.
Go to http://cooklibrary.towson.edu and click on
Find: Articles - Subject Gateways - Dance.
International Encyclopedia of Dance - full text entries of important people, companies, and topics in dance
Oxford Encyclopedia of Theatre and Performance- includes other disciplines beyond dance with profiles of personalities and works
Grove Music Online (now also known as Oxford Music Online) - offers complete full text of:
- Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
- Oxford Dictionary of Music
- Oxford Companion to Music
- Grove Dictionary of Jazz
- Grove Dictionary of Opera (limit of 4 simultaneous users)
Biography Resource Center - full text biographical articles from reference books and includes contemporary and historical persons (limit of 4 simultaneous users)
Academic Complete (ebrary) - searchable database of full text electronic books, including biographical accounts of musicians, composers, and performers
Early English Books Online - includes some musical scores, but mostly has full text of books published in the United Kingdom and the US from 1473-1700.
Audio Streaming Services
The library also offers access to two online streaming services for audio files.
Naxos Music Library - streaming service of complete recordings from record labels owned by the Naxos company. Covers mostly classical music genres. Includes biographical sketches of composers, and in many cases, album liner notes.
Smithsonian Global Sound - streaming service in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution which includes most of the recordings on the Folkways record label. International in scope, also covers spoken word.
Searching for Books, Scores, and Recordings on your Topic
Albert S. Cook Library Catalog
- Start with the catalog for materials kept in the Albert S. CookLibrary. 
The library catalog lists all materials that are owned in the library, including scores and sound recordings. Most of these materials can be checked out.
This web site has specially designed Google Gadgets to help you search the library catalog for materials in the performing arts - try one of these links to search for materials. There are also a number of Wozworld Quick Guides to help you search for specific types of materials (scores, recordings, etc) in the catalog. These are step by step guides with illustrations. Look for these guides under the Wozworld Guide link on this web site.
USMAI Combined Catalog
Once you have exhausted the holdings here at Cook Library, you can search this catalog to see holdings in all other libraries in the state university system. With the exception of AV items and reference/reserve/special collection material, all other items listed in the USMAI catalog can be sent to Cook Library for you to borrow and return. Additionally, you may visit any state university school with your TU OneCard and borrow materials in person.
WorldCat
This database lists books, scores, and AV materials that are held in all public libraries, state and private university libraries, and organizational libraries across the country. This includes the materials owned at Peabody Conservatory. Through your interlibrary loan account, you may request any materials that are listed in WorldCat that are not available for loan through the USMAI Combined Catalog. Once the Interlibray Loan Department identifies a loaning library, you will be notified that your material is available for pick up at Cook Library. These items often have a shorter borrowing period than other items in the USMAI system libraries.
Other Options
You also have borrowing privileges at Goucher College, Loyola/Notre Dame Colleges, Villa Julie College (now Stevenson University), the Decker Art Library at Maryland Institute, College of Art, and Baltimore Hebrew University. If you borrow materials from these schools, you must return them yourself directly to these libraries. You have visiting privileges at the Arthur Friedheim Library of Peabody Conservatory. You may use their databases and resources in the building, but you do not have borrowing privileges. If you see materials that you would like to borrow, request them by using your ILLIad Interlibrary Loan Account.
Dance Journals
To see a list of availability and access modes for all of the dance journals subscribed to by Cook Library:
- Start at the Cook Library web site
- Go to Resources - Journals/Periodicals (direct access to the jourals page is at http://cooklibrary.towson.edu/journalsTU.cfm)
- In the Search by Subject Category box, click the arrow and choose Music, Dance, Drama, and Film
- Click on Search
- Click on Dance
Print Journals at Cook Library
Cook Library subscribes to a number of dance journals in print format only. While these issues may be indexed in electronic databases, sometimes, the only way to view their content is to visit the library and make a photocopy of the article you want. All print journals are kept in the Periodicals Department on the 2nd floor of the library and are used in the library only. There are photocopiers available to use, and photocopies are 10 cents per page. A complete list of the music periodicals subscribed to in print can be viewed at the Periodicals Desk.
Searching for Journal Articles about Dance Topics
It is best to start searching for journal articles by consulting a proprietary database that indexes journals and, in some cases, delivers the electronic full text of the article. Some of the major databases helpful in music research are listed below.
All of the databases described below can be found by going to the Subject Gateway to Dance on the Cook Library web page.
Off campus users can access resources through Research Port. See the Wozworld Guide to off campus access for assistance.
Primary Dance Databases
International Bibliography of Theatre and Dance with Full Text - offers both indexing and abstracts for journal articles as well as full text delivery and/or access links
Research in Dance Education - offers only indexing to conference papers, reports, and articles. No full text online. Use library catalogs, especially Worldcat, to track down special reports
International Index to the Performing Arts - similar to IIMP above, but indexes different journals (limit of 4 simultaneous users)
Multidisciplinary Databases which include Dance Topics
Humanities Abstracts, Academic Search Premier - multidisciplinary databases covering a wide variety of topics which will include some articles on dance
JSTOR - full-text journal articles from the 1800's - 2002, includes a good bit of music journals
Academic Search Premier - multidisciplinary database covering a wide variety of topics from history to culture to arts
JSTOR - full-text journal articles from the 1800's - 2002, includes a good bit of music journals
Arts and Humanities Citation Index, 1988 - present - includes topics that cross into science, no full text in database, but sometimes available through Find It button (limit of 5 simultaneous users)
ERIC (Ebsco) - indexes and includes some full text documents relating to dance education
Physical Education Index - useful to research dance therapy and dance education
Lexis/Nexis Academic - full text newspapers and business periodicals from around the world, good for searching for reviews of performances and premieres. Requires patience and skill in using search fields to uncover results.
New York Times and New York Times Historical - databases indexing New York Times newspaper covering the present day back to the first issues. Full text is available, but many photos are blocked due to copyright restrictions. Good for obituary notices of composers and reviews of recitals and performances in the New York area
Websites
The Dance Subject Guide web page (on the Cook Library web page listed under Resources - Subject Gateways - Dance) lists a number of web sites for dance research that I have selected. Visit this list to find some good quality sites to use in getting started in your research.
Need More Help?
If you find that you need personalized assistance in your research, I am happy to meet with you to work one-on-one to find resources. Please either phone me, (410) 704-2498 or email lwoznicki@towson.edu to set up an appointment. I will contact you to find a time that is good for both of us to meet. If you need immediate assistance and can't wait for an appointment with me, please call the Reference Desk at 410 704-2462 to speak to a Reference Librarian. Remember to check the link for Wozworld Guides on my web page and my blog to see if there is a Quick Guide that covers the research skill that you need.
Beginning in mid-semester of Fall 2008, I will be in the Center for the Arts in the Commons Area on a weekly basis offering on-the-spot help. Look for further details on my web site home page and Wozworld Blog regarding the exact day and time that this session occurs.