Street dance redefined: a bridge across the knowledge gap

Area of Science:

• Dance Studies
• Cultural Anthropology
• Sociology of Art

Background:

• Street dance research lacks unified terminology, leading to inconsistent academic interpretations and a significant knowledge gap.
• Existing literature presents wide variability in definitions and style classifications.
• Understanding street dance requires a standardized conceptual framework.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a clear, consensus-based definition of street dance.
• To classify common street dance styles.
• To identify factors contributing to terminological inconsistency in street dance research.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines.
• Critical appraisal of 26 peer-reviewed articles using Indicative Behavioral Standards.
• Data extraction focused on terminology, style classification, and sources of divergence.

Main Results:

• A reconstructed, concise definition of street dance was established.
• A classification framework for common street dance styles was proposed.
• Internal (creativity, knowledge transmission) and external (cultural, media, music, public opinion) factors causing inconsistency were identified.

Conclusions:

• The standardized definition and classification system provide a coherent framework for researchers, educators, and practitioners.
• This advancement improves scholarly communication within the global street dance community.
• The framework supports more rigorous future investigations into street dance.