The Dancer's Gift - Meredith Kennedy

Highly innovative and unique in its approach, The Dancer’s Gift: Sociology in Life introduces readers to over 200 sociological concepts, cleverly embedded within the love story of Marcel, a dance major from the Caribbean, and Samantha, a sociology student, both attending a liberal arts college their first year. 

Within each chapter, readers are introduced to a new phase of Samantha and Marcel’s relationship with a specific area of sociology serving as the backdrop for their story. Specific topics explored include the sociological perspective, culture, sex and gender, research methods, organizations, population and social change, religion, family, race and ethnicity, deviance, and stratification, social class, and economy. 

Marcel and Samantha’s love story crosses social, cultural, and geographical boundaries, providing readers the opportunity to explore a plethora of sociological concepts and relatable challenges for young adults. The new edition features standard sociological concepts, definitions, and themes. 

Skillfully written and engaging, The Dancer’s Gift combines the powerful medium of storytelling with fictional examples of real-world scenarios that bring sociological concepts to life. The text is ideal for introductory courses in sociology.

Tracie Gardner, Esq., is a teaching assistant professor at East Carolina University. She holds a J.D. from Southwestern Law School and a master’s degree in sociology from East Carolina University.

David Knox, Ph.D., is a professor of sociology at East Carolina University. He is the author/co-author of 5 textbooks and 125 articles.

Meredith Kennedy, DVM, is a veterinarian with a master’s degree in vocal performance and the author of The Red Jacket and Broken Glass Cake.

Marty Zusman, Ph.D., is professor emeritus in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Indiana University Northwest.