Ethnic Cultural Dance, Ethnic Cultural Maintenance, Place, and Belongingness in a Multicultural Society

Abstract

Within leisure studies, research has focused on the role of ethnocultural specific leisure activities and ethnocultural maintenance among minority groups. According to Stodolska (2000), traditional leisure activities can help facilitate the retention of desired cultural elements. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine dance teachers’ perception of the relationship between participation in ethnic cultural dance, ethnic cultural maintenance, sense of place and belongingness in a multicultural society. A phenomenological approach was used to analyze open ended interviews with participants. Purposive sampling was used to select participants based on the following parameters: participants were required to be a current or former teacher or teaching assistant of the Romiosyni Dance Group [RDG], in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and, were required to have had their role for at least one year during the past 10 years. In total 16 interviews were conducted. The findings from this study suggest that ethnic dance taught in the RDG in Halifax, Nova Scotia, positively impacts ethnocultural identity and ethnocultural maintenance for members of the group. Furthermore, it seems that the ethnocultural leisure activity of ethnic dance plays a vital role in creating a sense of place and belongingness in a multicultural society and promoting multiculturalism in the city of Halifax. Finally, participants identified that the RDG played a more significant role in providing opportunities for ethnocultural maintenance when compared to other ethnocultural leisure services in the Greek Community of Halifax.