Formalización del estudio de la danza en Paraguay

Abstract

The aim of this work is to describe the process by which dance acquired its place in the formal educational structure of Paraguay(1964-1977).Paraguay isone of the few countries where the study of danceis carried outthrough a single National Program. The programis implemented in academies, which are enabled to grant the title of Superior Teacher of Dance, officially endorsed by the Ministry of Education and Science. This article also explains the process of Paraguayan Dance’s systematization, whose main purpose was the preservation of the national identity through its dances as Polca Paraguaya, Chopí, Palomita,and London Karapé, among others.The formalized structure additionally facilitates the transmission of Paraguayan traditional dances nationally and internationally. In order to achieve these objectives, the qualitative research consisted of documentanalysis and personal interviews as the main methods of data collection. For document analysis, there is an exhaustive body of laws, official resolutions, and programs related to dance education in Paraguay. The interview portion included two of the most renowned teachers in the field of dance as part of the formalization process in Paraguay. As a result, a detailed description of dance formalization in Paraguay was obtained.Thus, the formalization of dance in Paraguay is described in detail, concluding that unification of the program at national level facilitates its implementation in academies allowing students from different parts of the country to access the formation of SuperiorTeachers.