2. The State of Research

The second introductory chapter takes a look at the current state of research on round dances, focusing on the knowledge available, rather than the methodology of study. It discusses several principal works and sources, including manuals written by dancing masters, fictional accounts, studies on the relationship between music and dance, and works concerned with medical and moral issues relating to round dances. The chapter also gives a summary on the current understanding of the historical and social significance of the dances.