Motifs and Insights : Textual choreography, dance studies and local conditions in Finland

Abstract

This chapter outlines some themes that could be understood to ground the orientation of textual choreography that the book Writing Choreography - Textualities of and Beyond Dance addresses. It draws upon dance and performance studies in focusing on issues in progressive contemporary choreography from the perspective of Western dance art during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The text touches upon such notions as North American postmodern dance, the textuality of dance, conceptual dance, expanded choreography and artistic research in detailing influences on, tendencies in and characteristics of textual choreography. In so doing, the chapter interlinks related insights and issues to the developments of dance art in Finland. It makes concrete the movement of transcultural influences in dance and how the conventions of dance and choreography evolve in local environments as hybrid forms and through different contemporaneities. Short vignettes by the authors play with words and themes to introduce the contents of each section. The chapter is meant to offer insight into the context from which Writing Choreography was initiated and to provide context for the other sections of the volume.