Interpretation of Dance in the Museum Space Cover Image

Интерпретация на танца в музейното пространство
Interpretation of Dance in the Museum Space

Author(s): Daniela Ivanova-Nyberg
Subject(s): Anthropology, Social Sciences, Theatre, Dance, Performing Arts, Museology & Heritage Studies, Customs / Folklore, Library and Information Science, Cultural Anthropology / Ethnology, Culture and social structure
Published by: Институт за етнология и фолклористика с Етнографски музей при БАН
Keywords: dance; movement; performance; art; Seattle; SAM; museum; curator; field notes

Summary/Abstract: Seattle Art Museum (SAM) stimulates an anthropological and ethnochoreological research project for various reasons. In addition to its permanent exhibits of NativeAmerican and African Art (with archival dance video materials), it invites dance events in which the performers are representatives of different cultures and create educational programs that incorporate movement. Observations here include dance performances – from classical Indian dance at Diwali Family Festival to modern dance in dialogue with paintings. Dance events from the past decade and a recent program(Art-and-Movement) are also reviewed. Documentary notes were taken during fieldwork at SAM between October 2019 – January 2020 and include interviews with museum employees. This investigation suggests that the addition of dance and movement at SAM came in response to evolving perceptions about the museum, the human body, and performance space. In this transition from static to dynamic(opening its doors to dance and movement) imaginative programing by curators is crucial for success. Research also includes examples from Bulgaria, collected viaInternet, that also address such transition.

  • Issue Year: 2020
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 405-424
  • Page Count: 20
  • Language: Bulgarian