ABSTRACT
Teaching traditional dance in Ghanaian schools has not only served its primary purpose of providing knowledge of Ghanaian culture, but has also indirectly provided an opportunity for the perpetuation of the nation's dance heritage, and subsequently maintenance of national identity. Traditional Ghanaian dance forms that once identified individual ethnic groups became a collective identity of an entire nation. Educational reforms in Ghana paved the way for an outburst of traditional dance performances in schools. The nation's dance heritage offers an opportunity for youth and children in Ghana to develop a sense of belonging and pride as citizens through knowledge of and participation in dance forms that are grounded in Ghanaian traditions. Thus, there is the need to ensure its continuity and authenticity for posterity. Upholding the Ghanaian dance heritage is crucial in this era of increasing global cultural interactions, which have the potential of impacting performing arts in particular and the field of the arts in general.
