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Jay Pather Reimagining Site-Specific Cartographies of Belonging

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2018

Ketu H. Katrak
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Abstract

This essay examines Jay Pather's site-specific work Cityscapes (2002) within a theoretical discussion of the conjuncture and disjuncture of space and race in South Africa. Jay Pather, a South African of Indian ancestry, an innovative choreographer and curator of site-specific works, creatively uses space to inspire social change by providing access and challenging exclusions—social, cultural, political—of black and colored South Africans during apartheid (1948–1994) and after. A progressive vision underlies his avant-garde work expressed via a hybrid choreographic palette of South African classical and popular dance styles, Indian classical dance, modern and contemporary dance. His choreography is performed across South Africa and the African continent as well as in Denmark, Mumbai, and New York City.

Keywords

Apartheidcity spaceshybrid choreographyIndianinnovationsite-specificSouth African
Type
Articles
Information
Dance Research Journal , Volume 50 , Issue 2 , August 2018 , pp. 31 - 44
Copyright
Copyright © Dance Studies Association 2018 

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