Jie Bao: Chinese Primary School Dance Teachers’ Meanings of Teaching Creative Dance in Classrooms in China

<p dir="ltr">Over the past three decades, China’s educational reforms have increasingly emphasised the holistic development of students, with creativity positioned as a central goal. Within this context, dance education, particularly the emergence of creative dance teaching in primary schools, has gained attention as a means of fostering both physical development and creative expression. Although interest in creative dance has grown, primary school dance teachers’ understandings and practices remain varied and complex. This study explores the meanings that Chinese primary school dance teachers attach to teaching creative dance, and how these meanings are shaped by cultural, historical, and pedagogical influences. Based on in-depth interviews with teachers and rigorous analysis of their narratives, the study offers insights into their perspectives and contributes to enhancing creative dance teaching in China.</p>