The Choreography of traditional dance in Serbia in artistic crisis: towards an anthropological interpretation
The Choreography of traditional dance in Serbia in artistic crisis: towards an anthropological interpretation

Author(s): Miloš Rašić
Subject(s): Anthropology, Theatre, Dance, Performing Arts
Published by: Етнографски институт САНУ
Keywords: The choreography of traditional dance; art; original; stylized; #MeltingPot
Summary/Abstract: Serbia has a long ethnochoreological tradition, while the art of the choreography of traditional dance is a relatively recent phenomenon, created after the Second World War. Although it is an artistic practice, the choreography of traditional dance is often based on the opposition original:stylized and perceived as a practice that “preserves identity”, “tradition”, and “heritage”. I argue that the tendency towards division within the genre is not in favor of art. On the contrary, framing attempts and insisting on a clear commitment to the approach when creating choreography led to limiting the art of the choreography of traditional dance. This paper aims to present the processes by which the discourse on “original” choreographies was built and then to point out the limiting attempts of sub-genre classification of choreographies. Finally, this article will present the show “#MeltingPot” performed by the students at the Ballet High School from Novi Sad. Namely, in this performance, traditional dances inspired professors and students to create new choreographic forms and bring the choreography of traditional dance out of years of hibernation.

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