Sustainable dance making: Dancers and choreographers in collaboration

Abstract

In this paper I explore the notion of sustainability, drawing from environmental policy and activism, and apply this notion to the process of dance making. I begin by defining sustainability, and move to exploring both the professional and community contexts of dance making and the practices of collaboration. In many ways, the motivation for this paper comes from a deeply felt concern I have regarding the practices of dance making in the professional dance ‘industry’, particularly as I have observed in New Zealand; practices which I regard as not only unsustainable but sometimes even harmful to dancers and choreographers. I begin by sharing a brief story about my experiences as a dancer as background to my argument.