The comparative study examined dance students’ views of their dance education
and training in tertiary education (further and higher) and their perceptions about
the opportunities offered in the their courses available in England (higher education)
and in Greece (further education). The aim was to explore similarities and
differences between English and Greek dance education systems in order to
improve understanding. An interpretive, predominantly qualitative study was
undertaken shaped by a modified theoretical model. Presage, process and product
variables embraced the design and analysis of the study. Multiple case studies
were used to gain insight across dance institutions. These totalled six – three
in Greece and three in England – enabling comparative analysis across national
borders. Methods involved interviews with dance students (18), lecture observation
(average 20) in each, open-ended questionnaires (to 97 students). The
results indicated that students from the Greek case study institutions were concerned
about the low status and lack of breadth in dance study opportunities,
whereas students from the English institutions expressed their satisfaction with
the level and breadth of opportunities available. In Greece, a predominantly
didactic approach to teacher/learner interaction is applied in contrast to English
institutions that apply a more holistic approach.