"Dance as an art form carries unique visions and skills, but at the same time it struggles with issues related to social and aesthetic norms. Aesthetic norms are not only linked to body types, sizes and dimensions, but also gender, age, race, and background. Today, the contemporary dance environment in particular is seen as a safe space in which individuality and unique identity can be freely expressed. Freedom itself and its value, which can quickly and easily disappear among political and ideological chaos, is also becoming an important theme," says editor Petra Dotlačilová.
Following an open call for submissions during the autumn of 2024, the editorial board's discussion resulted in a selection of texts that approach the theme of identities in dance from very different perspectives and within different contexts. This year's popular section of Dance Context Journal features five diverse and inspiring texts by writers from different parts of the world, reflecting on contemporary issues related to identity, body, movement, and technology. Look out for the article by Andrijana Trpković, a PhD student, costume designer and set designer originally from Belgrade, Serbia, who presents the work of Iranian artist Sorour Darabi, who, through dance, thematizes gender fluidity and the complexity of identity against the background of her own personal experiences. The article by American-Czech artist and researcher Marketa Fagan focuses on the phenomenon of dance improvisation as a way to transcend the ego and dissolve the boundaries between the body and the environment. Improvisation is seen here as a deeply interconnected state of consciousness and movement. Lucie Štádlerová and Věra Sagulová focus on the positive impact of dance and movement education on the development of identity and self-expression in children with a hearing impairment. The submission by manager and publicist Michaela Kessler explores the issue of ethics in the digital age, including the use of artificial intelligence, raising questions about copyright in dance art. Hana Strejčková focuses on the work of mime Nola Rae and the question of gender in the field of mime.
The scientific section of the Journal consists of two peer-reviewed studies that extend the theme of identity into academic discourse. In her study, ethnochoreologist and dance scholar Laura Kolačkovská explores the possibilities of autoethnographic research in the field of dance. She combines her own experiences as a dancer and researcher to show how dance can be a tool for identity formation in urban environments. Based on a survey, Polish artist, dancer, and researcher Martyna Zbucka analyses the influence of different dance styles on the perception of one's own body and self-image. The study shows how dance mirrors cultural ideals and individual self-reflection.
Finally, the traditional summary of the season completes the issue with a recap of the most significant events of the past year on the Czech dance scene. Roman Vašek focuses on ballet, Lucie Kocourková on contemporary dance, and Hana Strejčková reflects on the latest in new circus and non-verbal theatre.
The newest issue of Dance Context Journal will be available this autumn in both print and digital formats. All texts will of course be published in Czech or Slovak, as well as in English. You can pre-order Dance Context Journal now for the discounted price of 199 CZK to be among the first to get your hands on the new publication.
Pre-order - Dance Context E-shop
https://www.dancecontextwebzine.com/objednavka
