Student name:

Leila E
Project #: (please use the project # that youve been using for this project throughout this
process)
1
Working version of project title (try to be creative while somewhat descriptive in your
project title)
Ballet, Science, and You: An Unexpected Trio
****Rationale: In 1-2 sentences, describe why you made the decision to pursue this project
and shelve the other one.
I feel that ballet is greatly neglected in this society and there is a disconnect between
ballet and science when they easily go hand in hand. People can benefit from ballet
indirectly and directly and emotional encounters and scientific research could convince
them of that. But why did you reject the other one?

Research Proposal--FINAL draft

1. State the essential question
How does, can, and will dance, directly or indirectly, have an impact on the life of an
individual?
2.

State the primary research question

How can I show the audience that ballet does, can and will have an impact on their life in a
way that they are encouraged to become immersed or involved in the world of dance?

3.
State the secondary research questions you have (make sure these are fairly
comprehensive and extensive).
What is happiness?
Ballet and Science:
Is there a way to see increased signs of confidence, happiness, pleasure through brain
activity?
what kinds of equipment would I need to test brain activity as someone dances?
who would be my test group? People who already dance? People who never have taken

a ballet class?
is there a current lab that is conducting research on the psychology and neurosciences
of happiness?

The Ballet:/The Ballerina(o)

What is so special about it?
What does it offer to an individual?
Why do people pursue it?
Why should anyone care about it?
Who can ballet do?
Is ballet restricted to an individual group? Economically? Socially?
Why do you dance?
What is the most common misconception/preconceived notions about ballet that you
hear?
Why do you dance?
What would you change about the connection between ballet and audience? ballet and
any individual?
The Individual:
What do you think about ballet?
Why do think this way?
Do you know what ballet is? What is it?
Do you know the different types of ballet forms?
Do you think ballet could ever pertain to you? Why? Why not?
Have you ever seen a ballet?
Have you ever participated in dance? Have you ever participated in ballet?
If yes, what do you find different between the two?
If not, why have you not participated in X, or Y?
(If audience were to watch a ballet) what did you feel from it?
Did you feel any freedom? confusion? restriction?
What would you do to deal with these emotions?
Are you afraid of showing emotions? Why?

Someone Related to the Individual:

What is their challenge/struggle (disability, very hyper, etc.)?
What other activities had they tried to help with their challenges? Did they stick to
them? Why? Why not?
What drew you, as someone related to the individual, to ballet?
How has ballet changed your son, daughter, brother, sister, etc?
How has it changed you, the person related to the individual?
Professional Ballet Company/Dancer
What does RETHINK BALLET mean? (Boston Ballet)

What stigmas do you feel are present against the ballet world? (male/female)
What views would you like to see change?
How do you suppose people should be informed about ballet?

I will try to find a psychologist who specializes in some aspect of learning empowerment
through physical stance
does the body feel better, stronger, or more confident when it is an specific posing or
making specific lines?
does ballet, the making of lines and moving in a way that shows lines/poses, make a
person, regardless of technique make them feel empowered?
is it scientifically proven? if not, is there a way that it can be proven?

4.
Description of what the final product will look like. (Be sure that you are very
thorough here. Take us through the entire process from now until the final product. If it
would be helpful to you, number the steps and proceed through them through and
including your final product. In short: you MUST describe the process here. This is
vital to the approval process on your research proposal.)

Wk Week of
#

What I am planning to accomplish during that week

Come up with contacts at Boston Ballet and at any research

labs (MGH). Background - learn more about the psychology
of happiness before contacting MGH
Develop a Lab report/hypothesize - create a step plan of my
tentative research plan
begin to gather essays, books on psychology of
happiness, movement, power posing; how to conduct
scientific research; ballet and science (to see what
other kinds of research has been done)

11/3/14
(Ms.Mckenna)
Leila, is this a real
possibility? Do you have a
contact there?
(LE)
I don't have a contact, but I
researched their labs. I am
planning to contact them
and see if any of them will
be willing to work with me
on this.
http://www.massgeneral.or
g/psychiatry/research/neur
oimaging_labs.aspx#syste
ms
I also found similar labs at
BU (located in materials EEG).
I know this is a far-reaching
idea, so if no lab is willing
to work with me on this, my
back up plan is to conduct
a survey (asking people to

take a ballet class and by

asking questions about
their mood before and after
the class, see if there are
signs of increased
happiness/positivity)
I will contact different labs
either tomorrow or early
next week to see if they will
be willing to listen to my
ideas and if they can help
me accomplish these
goals. If not I have
developed back up plans.

11/10/14

Boston Ballet - I would ask if they would be willing to

accommodate me in my research. I would also contact a lady
from the ballet to see if I can interview the dancers/use or
take film of the dancers dancing. Tell them about my plan to
contact MGH to see if they would assist me in this research
(MGH) A Lab - ask them if they would assist me in my
research.
Begin to develop research questions (The dancer, the
individual, and indirect and direct participants in ballet)
Contact BB PR/Executive Director/Community
Outreach
Contact different
Contact Ernesto Galan, photographer/videographer
for BB
Continue reading of novels [do you mean non-fiction
books? I assume you are not reading any fiction novels.] ,
essays

11/17/14

Finalize the necessary information that will be key to

conduct lab properly, have all lab procedures set for action
- Formulate plan for using an empty study to do survey of
ballet class if lab procedures go array
-Continue reading of novels, essays

11/24/14 (Thanksgiving
week)

Develop interview questions for BB dancers

Develop draft of lab procedures
Develop survey questions (what kind of things do I want to
show the audience that will shock them)

5
12/1/14

- Begin interviews of BLS students/teachers about ballet

(find what preconceived notions exist)

-Begin interviews of BB dancers, BBS students, Adult

students, Adaptive Dance Students, Parents (Benefits of
Ballet)
- Plan with Labs, how to read information, how to conduct
research familiarize myself with lab procedures
-collect and gather interview data
6

12/8/14

- If I realize that the information I have collected from BLS

is not substantial, I will revise questions and plan to ask
random people on the street (with permission of BBS to talk
about ballet)
-Continue interview different people from the ballet
- Continue to familiarize self with Lab, begin talking about
potential research plan/conducting the experiment
(CONTINUE READINGS)

12/15/14

-begin planning out outline of documentations (where I will

be speaking in the talk/showing interviews/data) and how
documentary will relate this info (this would actually be
placed before 12/1/14)

12/22/14
Dec break

-Finalize plans to conduct experiment and gather volunteers

who would be willing to participate in research (pro.
dancers, ballet students, possibly adaptive dance students,
and random people)
-Final Interviews with BBS students, BB Dancers, Teachers,
and Parents

12/29/14
Dec break

-Final Interviews with BBS students, BB Dancers, Teachers,

and Parents
-If research plans are finalized by this date, begin to conduct
research using lab equipment or creating ballet classes for
either BLS students to participate in or the public

10

1/5/15

-If research plans are finalized by this date, begin to conduct

research using lab equipment or creating ballet classes for
either BLS students to participate in or the public depending
if lab contacts are willing to work with me.

11

1/12/15

term 2 ends on 1/16/15

-Review data and begin planning of presentation of data
(infographics)
-work with lab to review/analyze data
-Organize Info (Interview v. Scientific data): What
strengthens my argument (signs of increased happiness/signs

of increased neurological brain activity) and which I can

leave out that would not help my argument and is not
essential to the data
12

1/19/15

13

1/26/15

14

2/2/15

15

2/9/15

Edit interview footage

edit ballet footage (where are displays of activity, yet
emotional happiness/freedom while the people are
dancing)
Continue to work in lab and see what the data is
showing, finalizing data and analysis (begin
abstract/poster if needed)
Continue to edit interview/ballet footage
Continue to work in lab and see what the data is
showing, finalizing data and analysis (begin
abstract/poster if needed)

Continue to work in lab and see what the data is

showing, finalizing data and analysis (begin
abstract/poster if needed)
-Begin developing tentative talk outline
-Ramp, hook, points of engagement, buckets, ending story,
-develop potential roadblocks in presentation

Time used for potential roadblocks, what am I

missing what does not make sense, is the data
showing the signs that I wanted it to show (increased
happiness)
Continued editing of footage
Continue to work in lab and see what the data is
showing, finalizing data and analysis (begin
abstract/poster if needed)

16

2/16/15
Feb break

If necessary, gather more interviews

More defined structure of CapstoneTalk
Abstract/Poster if necessary should be finished by
this time, data from lab needs to be totally collected
by this time

17

2/23/15

-Finalized plan for CapstoneTalk

- Edit footage from documentation of lab
-Finalized infographics for BLS survey/interview

18

3/2/15

-Review Infographics, documentary snippets, finalized

plan/prospective outlay of CapstoneTalk

19

3/9/15

-Begin Practicing Presentation

-Edit CapstoneTalk as see fit

20

3/16/15

-Continue Practicing Presenting

-Edit CapstoneTalk as see fit

21

3/23/15

-Continue Practicing talk, Expanding potential questions

-CapstoneTalk should be strengthened by this final deadline

23

3/30/15

DEADLINE FOR FINAL PROJECT

term 3 ends on 4/2/15

This is going to be a boatload of work but your effort here to think this through is so
admirable. Bravo!
5.
State how this research will advance the frontiers of knowledge and/or matter
and be significant in a meaningful way.
1. Encourage people to change any preconceived notions about ballet
2. Possible proof with science that ballet can make someone happier/emotionally free
3. Show that ballet overall can have a positive impact on anyones life in multiple
different ways
4. For anyone who is skeptical about the relation between ballet and science, for those
who may not believe ballet can be beneficial to society or even pertinent to ones life
these results will hopefully changed their preconceived notions.
6.

State anticipated potential pitfalls or problems of this research effort

1. No lab will be willing to work with me on this project (in this case I have a few back
up plans: create a survey group where students/strangers who have never taken ballet
before can sign up for ballet classes - I would see if there are any changes in mood by
asking questions before and after the class. Or to show that ballet can help students, I
may want to see if I can get a few students who may not be perfoming to their full
potential in school and see if doing ballet can help improve their academic skills)
2. BB dancers will refuse to be interviewed
3. people who are already involved in ballet may not want to be interviewed or there may
be complications (i.e. children with down syndrome, their parents, privacy laws,
videography permission)
4. BB dancers/ non-balletic volunteers may not wish to participate in lab research
5. Because of my lack of intense research skills I may not predict some very detrimental
missteps

7.
State your a tentative plan to locate and review the literature related to your
project. This includes printed/published sources and online sources. [The research
strategy, part #1]

Psychology
1. Find books that explain the basics of psychology so that I can have a foundation in
psychology and the specific terms within the field Ill use WorldCat to find book
availability and retrieve them in college libraries, such as BU or Harvard
2. I will find articles in different databases; I have different friends attending different
universities who have given me access to their databases so I will find enhanced peerreviewed articles there
3. I may delve into books about ballet if there are any on preconceived notions or the
effects it has on those who watch/practice ballets using google search to find books
that relate to the topics
Ive begun to search for data with the search terms power posing and happiness, and from
there Ive found articles and novels that relate to this topic of the way humans stand giving
them confidence/power. From here, I will try to see if any articles develop a connection
between dancing and power posing in the confidence/happiness it brings.
8.
State a tentative plan for research and data collection. (Data collection can take
multiple forms--surveys, test groups, interviews, observations, etc etc. This will differ
from project to project. [The research strategy, part #2]
1. Research lab: I want to hook on a neuron-reading machine to my study group, which
would include professional dancers, kids/adults who do ballet for fun, and people who
have never done ballet in their lives. You need to ascertain quickly whether you have
access to this; if not, let us know and we can help with that.
1. With these control groups, I hope to see increased levels of neurological
activity and a triggering release of hormones that cause the people to have more
confidence/happiness
2. I would need a current grad student or head researcher to help in the analysis of
information.
2. I would also want to interview a variety of people:
1. people who are not very interested in ballet (give them questions ahead of time)
such as why dont they like it? have they ever even gotten involved in ballet?
2. people who do ballet for fun (children with down syndrome/their parents): find
out if ballet has been beneficial to their lives and how?
3. my final group would be people who do ballet for fun: why they got started in
it? how it has changed their lives?
3. [This is a side note, as another way to possibly test increased signs of happiness: create
free ballet class(es) and advertise it around Boston and to BLS students/teachers. After
each class, I would ask people how they felt before/after class, if they noticed a change
in their mood. I would want to do this in a way where they dont know that I am asking
for the purpose of research, somewhat like a hidden camera]
9.
State a tentative plan for research and data analysis and interpretation. [The
research strategy, part #3]
1. If I do the research lab, increased signs of neurological activity I assume would mean

increased levels of happiness. I would need both a deeper knowledge of history and for
more accuracy, a skilled researcher. Assuming the groups would show higher levels of
happiness, I would use this data to say that ballet does increase happiness, just look at
the amount of neurological activity
2. If I do the test groups of people taking ballet classes and see how many people say they
show increased, decreased, or no difference in their mood or amount of happiness, I
would use hopefully to advance my claim that ballet makes people happier, lightens
their mood.
3. Interviewing a variety of people who do ballet, I would hope to find responses that
point in the direction of positivity (i.e. they do ballet because it makes them feel good,
it gives them strength, control, etc.). These responses I would interpret as increasing
happiness.

9.
List the tools you will need to complete this effort. Identify (with an asterisk *)
tools that might currently be unavailable to you
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Rented ballet studio * (I know how to get this though)

Lab equipment ***
videographer/camcorder
test groups (dancers, students, random people)
microphones for interview
lighting equipment??
research background (books, essays, lab researcher)
movie editing software

10.
Budget: what materials do you anticipate needing for your project? Please
provide a list with quantities and an approximate cost per item, along a brief description
of why you need this for your project.
Do some research and find out the actual cost of the items you need. Be as specific as you
can. Please add cells/rows if you need them. These are the budgets we will use to
determine the allocation of funds, so take time to be thorough and specific about this.

item
(please
be
specifi
c-brand,
if
releva
nt, and

quan cost per item

tity
of
this
item

retailer where you want

to purchase this (and
the source of your
price)

why you need this item for

your project

item #
Studio
Rental

Unknown would
need to speak to
BBS
Talk to them
sooner rather than
later.

Boston Ballet School

Camco
rder

$500 used

Panasonic (amazon:
To video interviews,
http://www.amazon.com/ dancing, process of
Panasonic-AG-DVX100- researching with
3CCD-ProfessionalCamcorder/dp/B000075
AEV/ref=sr_1_1?s=phot
o&ie=UTF8&qid=14147
49083&sr=11&keywords=professiona
l+camcorder)

Lab

N/A

http://www.bu.edu/cdl/be
e/our-research/currentprojects/
, http://www.massgenera
l.org/psychiatry/research/
neuroimaging_labs.aspx#
systems

To conduct the research of

seeing if there are physical
changes in neurological
activity (mood/increased
happiness) after doing ballet

microp
hones

2-3

$100 each

amazon

Interview different people

Books,
essays,
novels

TBD

$25+

various internet sites

just in case some

information that I may need
is not in a library and would
require purchasing for any
reason

Movie
Editing
Softwa
re

19.99/mo

Adobe Premiere Pro CC

to edit
documentary/interview and
footage

??

Various professionals

This is added incase I would

have to pay for researchers
to help me in my project

Paying TBD
to be in
a
lab/get

To conduct a survey to see

if taking a ballet class (for
the first time) shows
considerable changes in
mood

profess
ional
researc
hers
11.
Bibliography- early draft. This bibliography must include at least 5 books, 5
scholarly journal articles, 5 websites, and least one potential source who you might
interview. Use proper bibliographic citation (MLA or APA format; your choice). You
are welcome to use EasyBib or refer to the formatting template created by Purdue
University: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/ Explain why you anticipate (at this
point) that these sources would be relevant.
Please be sure that your entire bibliography is readable in this box; some of your earlier
versions were cut off.
Beving, Sue. Ballet Allies with Schools. The Washington Times 25 Sept. 1999. Print
Bloemendal, Jan, Eversmann, Peter and Strietman. Drama, performance, and Debate: Theatre
and public opinion in the Early Modern Period. Lieden,Brill, 2012. Print
Carney, D. R., A. J. C. Cuddy, and A. J. Yap. "Power Posing: Brief Nonverbal Displays Affect
Neuroendocrine Levels and Risk Tolerance." Psychological Science 21.10 (2010): 1363-368.
Web. 30 Oct. 2014. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20855902>.
Clarke, Mary and Crisp, Clement. Understanding Ballet. Harmony Books, 1976. Print.
Copeland, Roger, and Marshall, Cohen. What Is Dance? Readings in Theory and Critisim.
Oxford: Oxford UP, 1983. Print.
Cuddy, Amy J.C., Caroline A. Wilmuth, and Dana R. Carney. "The Benefit of Power Posing
Before a High-Stakes Social Evaluation." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 13027, September 2012.
David, Susan A, Ilona Boniwell, and Amanda C. Ayers. The Oxford Handbook of Happiness.
Oxford, U.K: Oxford University Press, 2013. Print.
Dunning, Jennifer. Seeking out Talent in Public Schools. New York Times 27 May 1991:
N13. Print.
Gilbert, Daniel Todd. Stumbling on Happiness. New York: A.A. Knopf, 2006. Print.
Hayden, Melissa. Dancer to Dancer: Advice for Todays Dancer. Anchor Press Doubleday,
1981. Print.
Knopfler, Vicki. "Demand for Dancing." Tribune Business News [Washington] 17 Dec. 2006:
1. Print.
Lourie, Suzanna K. "Economic Uncertainty, Decline of Fine Arts Could Threaten New York

City Ballet's Future with SPAC." The Saratogian : Serving the Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Region
(Saratogian.com). The Saratogian, 10 July 2011. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.
Mendius, Richard, and Rick Hanson. Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of
Happiness, Love, and Wisdom. N.p.: Paw Prints, 2010. Print.
Pastorino, Ellen, and Susann Doyle-Portillo. What Is Psychology?: Essentials. 2nd ed.
Australia: Wadsworth Cengage, 2010. Print.
Perron, Wendy. Through the Eyes of A Dancer, Selected Writings. Wesleyan Univeristy Press,
2013. Print
Solway, Diane. "Dancing With the Audience: Dancing In Dialogue With the Audience."" New
York times 18 Dec. 1983: n. pag. Print.
"Top 4 Health Benefits of Dance." Dance - Dance Steps - Ballet - Jazz - Ballroom Dancing.
N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.
Upper, Nancy. Ballet Dancers in Career Transition: Sixteen Success Stories. McFarland &Co.
2004. Print
Vaillant, George, MD, Mohammad Milad, PhD, Richard Schwartz, MD, and Jacqueline Olds,
MD. Singing in the Shower to Shaking in Your Boots: The Science of Emotion (2012): n. pag.
20 Mar. 2012. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.
<http://hms.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/assets/Sites/Longwood_Seminars/ScienceofEmotion
3.20.12.pdf>
Vranish, Jane. "Pittsburgh Public Schools Embrace Dance Program That Teaches Poise,
Camaraderie." Editorial. Pittsburg Post-Gazette 4 Jan. 2010: n. pag. Post-Gazette.com. Web.
20 Oct. 2014.
Wakin, Daniel J. "Ballerinas, Famed for Silence, Take New Approach: Talking." New York
times 17 Sept. 2010: A1. Print

Future Contacts:
http://www.massgeneral.org/psychiatry/research/neuroimaging_labs.aspx#systems
http://www.ernestogalan.com/

http://www.bostonballet.org/company/dancers/dancers.html
More sources:
http://pss.sagepub.com/content/21/10/1363.abstract
http://jee.sagepub.com/content/36/1.toc
http://pss.sagepub.com/content/21/10/1363.abstract#cited-by
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3j2VrhqTAA