Head to Toe: What Do We Think About Heels Dance?

Through both observation as a dance consumer and personal experience as a dance student, heels dance has noticeably risen in prominence within the commercial dance industry in recent years. This style has primarily been showcased through professional dance classes and in commercial and concept video projects. This study seeks to understand the reasons behind this sudden growth in appeal, the potential social implications of this increasing popularity, and the varying perspectives on this style across generations. It synthesizes past research and analyzes a survey conducted with current students in Chapman University's dance department. This presentation will investigate the motivations driving the uptick of this popular dance style while uncovering relevant historical connections through both research and interviews with dance faculty and students. Understanding the historical origins of this style is essential for comprehensively studying its rise in popularity. This investigation questions whether dancers are training in heels dance out of passion or pressure, exploring the rationality behind this heightened interest. With that in mind, this study aims to inform dancers and dance educators about how they consume and produce dance through a historical lens to support their training choices. Additionally, this research seeks to address gaps in the existing literature on heels dance and explore how this style may socially impact both consumers and artists. By addressing these questions and bridging research gaps, this study will empower dancers, choreographers, and dance consumers to make more informed choices in their training, while illuminating the broader social and historical impacts on the dance community.