Dancing with ethnic identities: an aboriginal dance club in a Taiwanese middle school

Research in Taiwan has shown that aboriginal students often have low self-esteem and a negative view of their life due to their heritage. This research studied 14 Taiwan aboriginal students to understand how the experience of an aboriginal dance club influenced the development of their ethnic identity. The result showed that the experiences of socializing with other aboriginal group members and learning about traditional tribal culture created a more positive ethnic identity. Moreover, through international performances, they gained self-confidence and diverse perspectives. The study suggests that a safe environment where students can learn about their ethnic cultural practice would help aboriginal students develop a more positive ethnic identity. KEYWORDS: ethnic identity, aboriginal dance club, aboriginal students, folk cultural practice, middle school in Taiwan