Critical postcolonial dance recovery and pedagogy: an international literature review

Abstract

This paper examines how the historical punishment of the dancing body in (post)colonial contexts has been a measure for controlling the mind and undertaking effective cultural imperialism. I bring to focus the striking global dance movement to revitalise oppressed dance forms, in an effort to do what Tuhiwai Smith calls ‘the recovery of ourselves’. Borrowing from Freire’s notion of ‘the pedagogy of the oppressed’, I begin with a discussion about dance pedagogy as a tool for decolonisation. The work of Katherine Dunham is highlighted to exemplify critical postcolonial dance recovery and pedagogy. In addition, relevant literature is reviewed to explore the colonisation of indigenous dance practices and how dance is being innovated and regenerated to reclaim the intellectual, spiritual and cultural knowledge that make up a people.

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