Dr Marelize van Heerden is interested in research related to dance education, creative arts education, social cohesion, peace education, learning and teaching culturally diverse classrooms and understanding/developing notions of self in relation to the other.
She uses qualitative research methods.
Expertise:
Teacher education; Philosophy of Education; Dance education; Music education; Creative arts education and Advanced music education.
Research interests:
Dr Marelize van Heerden’s research interests include dance education, creative arts education, creating experiences of dignity for the Other, training teachers for the multicultural classroom, decolonization, ideas of Self in relation to the Other, social cohesion and nation building.
List of publications:
In press:
van Heerden, M. 2025. “Dance-making with the family: Discovering the value of decolonizing teacher education”, in Tone Pernille Østern, Alfdaniels Mabingo and Ami Skånberg (Eds) Dance Education and Pedagogies in Contemporary Contexts / Danspedagogik och dansdidaktik i samtida kontexter. Stockholm University Press.
Academic publications:
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van Heerden, M. 2024. “Creating experiences of dignity for the Other”. Educational Research for Social Change, 13:2. https://scielo.org.za/pdf/ersc/v13n2/08.pdf (Open access)
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van Heerden, M. 2024. “Finding freedom: Dance-making as a lifeline in times of crisis”. Research in Dance Education, https://doi.org/10.1080/14647893.2024.2372439 (Open access)
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van Heerden, M. 2022. “Reflections on a compulsory ‘dance-at-home’ course for pre-service student teachers during lockdown”. In R Govender and A Jacobs (Eds) Critical Reflections on Professional Learning During Covid-19: Context, Practice and Change. Durban, DUT. https://doi.org/10.51415/DUT.48 (Open access)
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van Heerden, M. 2021. “Dance education as agent of social cohesion”. In J. Boyce-Tillman, L. van der Merwe and J. Morelli (Eds) Ritualised belonging: Musicing and Spirituality in the South African context, p249-268. Peter Lang Publications. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/366290415_Chapter_14_Dance_education_as_an_agent_of_social_cohesion
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Marx, M. 2019. “‘A little kind of community’: South African Students Dance for Self, Other and Society”. In K. Bond. (Ed) Dance and the quality of life. Springer Publications. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330468679_A_Little_Kind_of_Community_South_African_Students_Dance_for_Self_Other_and_Society
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Marx, M. & Delport, A. 2017. “‘I Am Because We Are’ Dancing for Social Change!” Educational Research for Social Change, 6(1), 56-71. https://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2221-40702017000100006 (Open access)
Textbooks for Higher Education:
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Marx, M.E., 2018. “Music Education”. In M. Naude & C. Jordaan (Eds.) Teaching life skills to Intermediate Phase learners. Pretoria: Van Schaik.
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Marx, M.E., 2018. “Dance Education”’. In M. Naude & C. Jordaan (Eds.) Teaching life skills to Intermediate Phase learners. Pretoria: Van Schaik.
T 041 504 4579