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The Power of Dance and Its Social and Political Uses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 March 2019

Anca Giurchescu
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Extract

Elaborating upon the social aspects of dance (or dancing), makes reference to its most general and comprehensive features, because dance is in essence a particular form of social interaction. Even if dance can be artificially separated from its social context and considered solely in its physical features as an independent artistic means of expression, the social component is implicit to the dancing person as an individual and as a member of a socio-cultural community. From this perspective dance structure may be considered as a culturally determined “program” where social, historical and environmental factors interlock with the physical, psychological and mental features of the individual (Giurchescu 1984: 35). Considered as a psychosomatic entity, the dancer is the “soul and body” of dance. He or she is the dance.

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Articles
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Yearbook for Traditional Music , Volume 33 , 2001 , pp. 109 - 122
Copyright
Copyright © 2001 by the International Council for Traditional Music

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References

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