Commencing on the Right Foot towards (On)Line of Dance –an Empirical Study in India

ABSTRACT

As dance education has moved online, it is imperative to assess the learners’ acceptance of e-learning. This research analyses the factors that may determine the utilization of digitalized dance education. The study is based on a sample of 215 online dance learners from 08 urban cities of India, using the UTAUT model framework. The authors have also introduced a new variable, online technology self-efficacy, in the model. The results of the statistical analysis revealed that the exogenous variables (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions and technology self-efficacy) have a significant influence on e-learning adoption. The study did not detect any difference in the intent to learn remotely that may stem from socio-demographic characteristics (gender, age and dance experience). The ensuing discussion and suggestions will help dance educators appreciate digital education adoption behaviour and foster successful migration to e-learning platforms that may support the future of performing arts businesses.

KEYWORDS:

• Online dance education
• empirical study India
• e-learning
• dance pedagogy
• UTAUT framework
• performing arts online learning
• University of Central Lancashire
• University of Mumbai

Acknowledgments

The authors are highly obliged and thankful to the respondents who participated in this study. The respondents were from one of the following Performing Arts Institutions in India:

1. Conrad Coelho’s Dance Company (Mumbai)

2. Sayan Choreography (Mumbai)

3. Vishrut Doshi (Mumbai)

4. 2toTango (Mumbai)

5. Nrityasamskar Academy (Mumbai)

6. Nritya Pravesh (Mumbai)

7. Refractor Dance Crew (Mumbai)

8. Rocky Poonawala’s Dance School (Pune)

9. Shilpa Nrityalay (Pune)

10. Nupuranand Academy (Pune)

11. Tarun Dance Institute (Jodhpur)

12. Shiamak Davar (Delhi)

13. Dance Works (Delhi)

14. Jonaki’s Dance Academy (Kolkata)

15. Kala Aradhana Institute of Fine Arts (Visakhapatnam)

16. Furor Entertainment (Bengaluru)

17. Latin Dance India (Bengaluru)

18. Kalai Kaveri College of Fine Arts (Tiruchirappalli)

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Conrad Coelho

Conrad Coelho is a Lecturer in Business and Marketing at the University of Central Lancashire, UK. He is due to complete his PhD studies in Digital Marketing and his research straddles between adoption of digital technologies, social media marketing and performing arts education. Conrad has been an exponent of Latin and Ballroom Dancing in India and holds a professional teaching qualification in Latin American and Ballroom Dancing from the ISTD, UK. He is also the World’s first teacher to gain the Salsa Licentiate Certification from the ISTD. His complete profile can be viewed on www.conradcoelho.in . Conrad has previously published his work in the ISTD Magazine DANCE and the NDEO journal Dance Education in Practice.

Shobha Menon

Dr. Shobha Menon is a postgraduate in Industrial Psychology from the University of Mumbai. She also has to her credit an MPhil degree in Psychology from the University of Mumbai and a Doctoral degree in Management Studies from S.N.D.T University, Mumbai. Currently the Principal of Cosmopolitan’s Valia College, a college affiliated to the University of Mumbai she has more than 25 years teaching experience. She is guide for doctoral studies in Management Studies at the University of Mumbai. Her research interests and published work are in the areas of Business Ethics, Organizational Behaviour, Marketing as well as Higher Education.