Dance in ninth century Java. A methodology for the analysis and reconstitution of the dance

Main author: Lopez y Royo, Alessandra
Format: Journal Article           
Online access: Click here to view record


id eprints-83
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
description This short essay presents a case study – that of the dance reliefs of the Prambanan complex in Central Java, aiming to steer the discussion around an important aspect of any archaeological investigation of dance. Rather than focusing solely on contextual issues, such as the nature and function of dance at a particular point in time and in a specific socio-cultural context, the Prambanan case study questions how to engage with the archaeological dance record from a dancer’s point of view, in other words in terms of movement reconstitution and its re-embodiment. It is almost tautological to say that dance is practice based and performance oriented. However it is often the case that it is precisely this aspect of dance which is neglected in archaeological accounts and no methodologies are being developed to deal with such issues. My work on the Prambanan dance reliefs attempts to bridge this gap.
format Journal Article
author Lopez y Royo, Alessandra
author_facet Lopez y Royo, Alessandra
authorStr Lopez y Royo, Alessandra
author_letter Lopez y Royo, Alessandra
title Dance in ninth century Java. A methodology for the analysis and reconstitution of the dance
publisher University of Chicago Press
publishDate 2003
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/83/