Abstract
This thesis will describe, analyze and compare the functions of social dance and military drill among American soldiers during the Revolutionary War. These movement forms, though performed in different contexts, both contributed to the creation of communitas in the army, which was vital to its success. Specifically, collective movement, whether on the training field or ballroom floor, served as a vehicle by which Americans negotiated the transitional phase into a new nation. The Revolutionary War can be read as a rite of passage; social dance and military drill were literally embodied ritual enactments of solidarity and community. Social dance and military drill will be compared in relationship to their European roots, with particular emphasis on their role in social class structure, movement style and vocabulary.
|
