Dance in Portuguese Educational System

Abstract

With this reflection, it is our intention to outline the path of vocational training and dance education in the Portuguese educational system, both in terms of public education (primary and secondary) and in the private education level (vocational and professional). We will analyse the differences between generic and specialized artistic education, with regard to dance in the educational system, and we will highlight the research led by Faculty of Human Kinetics in the dance field, and in the
formal, non-formal and informal education levels. It is concluded that dance education in Portugal grew exponentially in the last decade, with the exception of higher education. In the vocational education, the Escola de Dança do Conservatório Nacional [School of Dance of the National Conservatory] is the main reference. In the specialized artistic education, the in-service training of teachers remains fragile, and in general education, the initial training of the dance teacher remains insufficient. It is clear the need to change the dance conceptions and educational/training representations in general education, by increasing the supply of dance courses and artistic curricular units, and also by expanding the schools with specialized artistic education into the educational system