In simple terms
A friendly intro before the formal notes — no formulas yet.
Your Dance Detective's Handbook
The Dance Investigation is your chance to become a detective, exploring a dance world you've never encountered before. You'll choose an unfamiliar dance tradition, investigate its history, movements, and meaning, and then present your findings in a 1,500-word written report.
Imagine you are a cultural journalist assigned to a country you've never visited. You wouldn't just describe the food and buildings; you would investigate why people eat what they do, how the architecture reflects their history, and what their traditions signify. The Dance Investigation is the same: you don't just describe the steps of an unfamiliar dance, you analyse how and why it exists within its specific socio-cultural context.
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Choose Wisely: Select an unfamiliar dance genre that genuinely interests you and has sufficient, credible research material available. Your choice is the foundation of your entire project.
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Formulate a Focused Question: Craft a specific, analytical research question. Instead of 'What is Capoeira?', ask 'To what extent does the dual identity of Capoeira as both a dance and a martial art reflect its history of resistance and social liberation in Brazil?'
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Investigate and Analyse: Gather information from academic journals, documentaries, and (if possible) primary sources. Go beyond describing what you find; constantly ask 'why?' and 'so what?' to analyse the dance's significance.
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Structure and Argue: Organise your findings into a coherent argument with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Use the assessment criteria as your blueprint and ensure all sources are meticulously cited.
Explore the concept
Use the live diagram and synced steps — play it or tap a step card to walk through.
Full topic notes
Formal explanation with the rigour you need for the exam.
1. Selecting Your 'Unfamiliar' Dance Genre
The first and most critical step is choosing your topic. The IB guide is explicit: the dance must be 'unfamiliar'. This means it cannot be a genre you have studied in your DP Dance class, nor one in which you have significant prior training or experience. The purpose is to demonstrate research skills, not reflect on existing knowledge.
Brainstorm Broadly: Start with continents or cultural areas that interest you: West African dance, Southeast Asian court dances, South American folk dances, etc.
Verify 'Unfamiliarity': Discuss your shortlist with your teacher to confirm the topics meet the 'unfamiliar' criterion.
Assess Research Viability: Conduct a preliminary search for your top choices. Are there academic articles (e.g., on JSTOR, Google Scholar), reputable documentaries, and books available in a language you can read? A fascinating but obscure topic with no accessible sources is a poor choice.
Avoid Overly Broad Topics: 'Indian Dance' is too broad. 'The role of mudras in the narrative structure of Bharatanatyam' is more focused. 'Hip-hop' is too broad. 'The evolution of locking in response to the funk music of the 1970s' is better.
2. Crafting a High-Impact Research Question (RQ)
A well-formulated RQ is the compass for your investigation. It provides focus, dictates the scope of your research, and moves your paper from descriptive to analytical. A weak RQ leads to a story; a strong RQ leads to an argument. Examiners in the top band for Criterion A reward RQs that are 'clear, focused and perceptive'.
3. Mastering the Assessment Criteria for Top Marks
To achieve a Level 7, you must write with the markscheme at your side. Your investigation is not just a paper about dance; it is a direct response to four specific criteria.
Criterion A: Focus and Research (8 marks): A sharp, analytical RQ. A scope that is manageable within 1,500 words. A range of relevant, high-quality sources that are clearly integrated.
Criterion B: Knowledge and Understanding (8 marks): Demonstrate deep understanding of the dance's context. Use specific terminology related to the genre and general dance analysis (e.g., dynamics, spatial pathways, phrasing) accurately and consistently.
Criterion C: Critical Analysis (12 marks): This is the key differentiator. Do not just present facts. You must interpret them. Question your sources. Compare different perspectives. Your own analytical voice must be evident as you synthesise information to build your argument.
Criterion D: Presentation and Structure (4 marks): A logical structure is essential. Include a clear introduction (stating your RQ and argument), well-organised body paragraphs with topic sentences, and a conclusion that synthesises your findings. Adhere strictly to the 1,500-word limit and use a consistent academic citation style (e.g., MLA, Chicago).
For Criterion C, avoid the 'source-by-source' trap where you summarise one book, then one article, then one documentary. Instead, structure your paragraphs by theme or point. In a paragraph about 'resistance', for example, you should synthesise what three or four different sources say about that theme, creating a conversation between them with your own analysis as the mediator.
4. Research Strategies and Ethical Sourcing
Your argument is only as strong as the evidence you use to support it. A successful investigation relies on a well-chosen blend of primary and secondary sources. Always keep a detailed record of your sources from the very beginning to avoid issues with academic integrity.
Secondary Sources First: Start with academic databases (JSTOR, Google Scholar), books, and reputable dance history websites. These provide context and critical frameworks.
Move to Primary Sources: Once you have a foundational understanding, seek out primary sources. This could be watching and analysing full-length performance recordings, reading interviews with choreographers, or studying historical photographs. Be critical: who created this source, and for what purpose?
Ethical Considerations: If you have the opportunity to interview a practitioner, you must approach it ethically. Prepare questions in advance, be respectful of their time and cultural knowledge, and obtain consent to use their information.
Annotated Bibliography: As you research, create an annotated bibliography. For each source, write a few sentences summarising its main argument and how you plan to use it in your paper. This is the single best technique for promoting synthesis over description.
The word count is strict. Do not waste words on long, biographical introductions or purely descriptive passages. Every sentence should serve your argument. A good strategy is to write your first draft, then go through it and ask of every sentence: 'Does this help to answer my research question?' If not, cut it.
Worked examples
See the formulas applied — reveal one step at a time, like the exam.
Analyse the following research question for its potential to yield a high-scoring investigation: 'What are the key features of the Argentine Tango?'
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This research question is descriptive and lacks focus, making it unlikely to score well in Criteria A and C. It invites a list of features (the embrace, specific steps, the music) rather than an argument. A top-band investigation requires analysis and interpretation.
Below is a paragraph from a mid-range investigation on the Japanese dance form, Butoh. Rewrite it to demonstrate top-band 'Critical Analysis' (Criterion C).
Original Paragraph: 'Butoh was created after World War II in Japan by Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo Ohno. It is sometimes called the 'dance of darkness'. The movements are often very slow, and performers wear white makeup. This was a reaction against Western dance and the atomic bombs.'
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The original paragraph is purely descriptive (Criterion B at a basic level) and lacks analytical depth. It lists facts without connecting them or exploring their significance.
How it all connects
The big idea sits in the middle — tap a linked idea to explore the link.
Tap a linked idea to see how it connects back to the main topic — that connection is what examiners reward.
Glossary
Try to recall each definition before you reveal it.
Quick check
Answer in your head first — then tap to check. No pressure.
Revision flashcards
Flip the card. Test yourself before the exam.
Unfamiliar Dance Genre/Tradition
A core requirement. A dance form, style, or tradition that has not been part of the student's DP Dance course studies or prior formal training. The choice must be approved by the teacher.
Key takeaways
Review these before you close the topic — retrieval beats re-reading.
- ✓
Brainstorm Broadly: Start with continents or cultural areas that interest you: West African dance, Southeast Asian court dances, South American folk dances, etc.
- ✓
Verify 'Unfamiliarity': Discuss your shortlist with your teacher to confirm the topics meet the 'unfamiliar' criterion.
- ✓
Assess Research Viability: Conduct a preliminary search for your top choices. Are there academic articles (e.g., on JSTOR, Google Scholar), reputable documentaries, and books available in a language you can read? A fascinating but obscure topic with no accessible sources is a poor choice.
- ✓
Avoid Overly Broad Topics: 'Indian Dance' is too broad. 'The role of mudras in the narrative structure of Bharatanatyam' is more focused. 'Hip-hop' is too broad. 'The evolution of locking in response to the funk music of the 1970s' is better.
Practice — then mark it
The whole point: a real Cambridge question, marked mark-by-mark.
Test Your Knowledge of the Dance Investigation
Test Your Knowledge of the Dance Investigation
Extra simulations & links
PhET, GeoGebra and other curated tools — open in a new tab.
Frequently asked
Checkpoint
One marked question is worth ten re-reads — close the loop before you move on.
Reading it isn’t knowing it — prove it.
Before you move on: do Test Your Knowledge of the Dance Investigation on paper, snap a photo, and get examiner-style feedback on exactly where you win and lose marks.