David Kaminsky

David Kaminsky is a Professor of Music and Dance at the University of California, Merced, affiliated with the School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Arts and the Department of Global Arts Studies. He specializes in ethnomusicology, focusing on social partner dancing, folk music, and cultural ownership. His research explores intersections of identity, race, class, gender, sexuality, and nationalism.

Education:

• Bachelor of Music, Macalester College (1997)
• Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology, Harvard University (2005)
• Folk Dance Pedagogy Studies, Eric Sahlström Institute, Sweden

Research Interests:

• Swedish folk music and dance traditions
• Gender and power dynamics in partner dancing
• Cultural nationalism and identity politics
• Modern blues dancing

Publications Trends: His work spans theoretical frameworks for social dance, analyses of gender and colonialism in dance history, and case studies of cultural identity in Sweden. Recent work emphasizes spatial and bodily dimensions of dance, with a focus on partner dynamics.

Awards:

• National Folk Musician of Sweden (unique honor for an American)

Teaching & Leadership:

• Developed Global Arts Studies curriculum at UC Merced
• Director of the UC Merced Hop Cats performance group
• Teaches courses in music theory, Nordic music, and social dance

Current Projects: Researching modern blues dancing and advancing media literacy through his blog Pop-o-Litics.