Can dance be perceived as a ritual? How are ritualised actions created in dance practices? What are their qualities, or singularities? What effects do they produce? In what way can referring to a rite enlighten, modify or displace dance practices?

The Centre national de la danse’s international symposium Dance(s) and Ritual(s) will take place 8-11 April 2021 in Pantin, France. It will aim to explore the different ways rituals examine the processes of creation, transmission, staging and the execution of dances, whether they are qualified as being contemporary, urban, street, social, ballroom, ceremonial or otherwise.

Over and above the similarities or differences that can be identified between ritual and danced actions, if the social, historical and cultural conditions that presided over their production are taken into account, questions arise about what concretely the rituals ‘are’ and ‘do’ once they have been identified and created by choreographers, teachers, as well as both professional and amateur dancers. Where, when and who does dance transform? How does it become a ‘power to act’?

Call for contributions

The organisers are inviting participants to contribute in a variety of ways, while adopting formats of different lengths, which may potentially be performative. Financial support will be provided for the participants in the symposium (except for tenured academics). Assistance for travel and accommodation expenses may be provided, on a case by case basis, with priority being given to candidates having no institutional backing.

The deadline has passed for the call for contributions.

Find the full call on cnd.fr.

Picture: Camping 2018, credits: Marc Domage for CND