Initiating Aesthetic Learning : A Study on Practicing Dance (Again)

Abstract

The main purpose of this chapter is to investigate the topic of ‘(re-)entering dance practice’ as a mode of aesthetic learning. Body phenomenology, complemented by viewpoints from performativity theory, will be applied in analysing this process of finding oneself as a person of action in a situation of existential challenge as integral to initiating (aesthetic) learning. More specifically, learning will be described in relation to dance as characterized by the capacity and the will of a person to enter (again) into an emotional, bodily, and social dialogue with her/his surroundings. The data consists of autobiographical vignettes written by two professional dancers and spontaneous, expressive utterances from two ‘dance novices’. The utter aim of the study is to contribute to shed light on g the potential of body phenomenology and performativity theory in modelling the aesthetic dimensions of early learning in formal and