Ethical Agility in Dance: Rethinking Technique in British Contemporary Dance.

British Dance studies in the second decade of the twenty-first century is at an unusual juncture. Whereas it has established itself as a mature discipline, dance (as with other creative subjects) is under threat in school curricula and consequently at the further and higher education levels. This book responds to the industry’s call for more radical interdisciplinary perspectives in dance. It aims at widening our understanding of contemporary dance technique and training in view of an expanded field of dance which encompasses dance and health, dance in community, dance and performance, dance and choreography, dance and education. It questions how can the concept of ‘technique’ and associated systems of training in dance be redefined to enable the collaboration of skills and application of ideas necessary for twenty-first century dancing bodies. It brings together voices from scholars and researchers but also practitioners, educators and independent choreographers. The four different sections of the book offer accessible texts with a wide range of contributions including conversations and examples of practices thematised by scholarly essays. It culminates in radical provocations in the forms of manifestos for the future of dance practice. While the volume is ideal for anyone with an interest in dance, it will be a compelling read for dance and performance students, teachers and artists.