Performeureuses – Hortense Belhôte

This lecture revisits the history of ‘performance’ in contemporary dance by situating it within a global history of bodies in motion. Is a history of performance even possible? Very quickly, libraries are no longer enough. We will have to go out and explore. The art historian Aby Warburg and his concept of ‘survivance’ serve as our guide in this blind exploration on the edge of the cliff.

For from Joséphine’s ‘revue nègre’ to the Balinese gamelan, the perspective on performance in France evolved throughout the 20th century through contact with foreign cultures, within a colonial and post-colonial framework that took care to conceal its sources.

The same is true of the history of women’s and queer cabaret, whose political dimension has been watered down over the years by pop culture. Between rediscoveries and new connections, how are these lost links being re-established today through performance?

And how can ‘mad studies’ (the study of people who identify as ‘mad’) come to the rescue of a world in the throes of an acute schizophrenic crisis?

Practical information:
Duration: 1 hour.
Suitable for ages 15 and over.
Book online.