Dancing Towards Personal and Spiritual Growth
Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: This paper explores the place where dance and religious faith meet. It gives examples of learning experiences and processes of personal and spiritual growth that occur there. The paper is based on a study of dance in Christian contexts in contemporary Norway, that is part of the RESEP ( Religion as Aestheticizing Practice ) research project based at the University of Agder, Norway. The empirical material is based on participant observation of dance in churches and other Christian settings and on interviews with approximately 50 dancers in these settings. Dance provides the participating dancers with multidimensional meaning and perceived benefits. Through narratives and quotations, the paper sheds light on three ways in which the dancers in question experience processes that lead to growth through dance: 1) as a holistic and attractive way of learning and communicating, 2) as personal growth; by mastering dance through self-expression in a supportive environment, expressing and processing emotions, and moving towards better mental and physical health and wholeness, 3) as spiritual growth; by providing an interface with God that strengthens one’s listening to both God and oneself, and as a way of living their faith in interaction with others.
Source: Nordic journal of dance
Author: Hildegunn Marie T. Schuff
Language: English
Topic: Arts and Performance Studies
Subfield: Visual Arts and Performing Arts
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W3147390433