Through the lens of choreographic process: Mixing reflexive perspectives on audiences and understanding
ISSN: 2056-4945
Article publication date: 9 March 2020
Issue publication date: 19 March 2020
Abstract
Purpose
This article aims to bring together and demonstrate overlaps in three different areas of reflexive research concerned variously with audiences for contemporary dance. These are: 1) artists reflecting on their own creative process and engaging other researchers in doing so, generating new insights and language as a result; 2) humanities-based dance studies and a small number of dance scholars reflecting on this “process turn” in dance; and 3) the field of empirical audience studies, drawing on a single study specifically interested in access to creative process. The goal is to propose how these areas might coexist and mutually inform each other.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach develops a three-fold framework where the multiple definitions and examples of reflexive research in dance-making processes coexist. It draws systematically on a detailed example of one self-reflective study conducted by a dance company into creative process, on new scholarly writing on the “process turn” in dance research and written analysis of a unique audience research project as well as related literature.
Findings
In conclusion, the article suggests that in whatever combination of different research approaches, empirical evidence is increasingly important. This risks tipping the balance towards a more utilitarian understanding, particularly in the area of audience studies. It is possible to counterbalance this with approaches from artists and scholars interested in understanding arrived at through reflexive study of creative practice.
Originality/value
The original contribution is to bring these three areas together for the first time to expose difference and overlaps and suggest that challenges of understanding (in a non-utilitarian form) could be mitigated through more systematic dialogue between them, such as presented here.
Keywords
Citation
deLahunta, S. and Vincent, J.B. (2020), "Through the lens of choreographic process: Mixing reflexive perspectives on audiences and understanding", Arts and the Market, Vol. 10 No. 1, pp. 53-64. https://doi.org/10.1108/AAM-07-2019-0024
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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