Subcultural dance in arts institutions

: the potential of mutualistic relationship

Abstract

Through a curricular internship done at Centro de Arte Moderna (CAM) of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and semi-open expert interviews, this dissertation explores the intersection of subcultural dance in permanent art institutions that host performing arts. With a focus on Lisbon, I argue that the relationship of dance subcultures and arts institution can be mutualistic, meaning that they can benefit each other. Within the realm of dance subcultures, I focus on street- and club dances from the American continent with African roots such as house, krump, vogue, or hip-hop. To understand what it means for each side to benefit, I first look at both, dance subculture and the institutional format of art centres, and then discuss the implications of an intersection. Especially for the case of art centres, given their experimental nature (Maurício 2016), the inclusion of subcultural dance represents an immense transformational force in trying out new formats of performing arts, working on cultural mediation in various dimensions, and creating a closer connection to local subcultural communities. This (bio)diversity of forms, aesthetics, and disciplines (Désanges 2017), that in return creates diversity in the audience and in the thematic fields of the institution, turning it richer and socially more relevant, is probably the biggest benefit that the inclusion of subcultural dance brings to art institutions. For dance subcultures, the benefits of this relationship are the visibility of their art, which leads to economic opportunities, representation of identity, and above all, validation of their culture, story, and dance. Although this intersection is already being practiced, I argue that cultural mediation is key to unlocking the full potential of the mutualistic relationship between dance subcultures and art institutions.

Date of Award	24 Feb 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Luísa Santos (Supervisor)