Dance and the Nation: Performance, Ritual, and Politics in Sri Lanka - Brossura

Reed, Susan A.

Brossura

ISBN 10: 029923164X ISBN 13: 9780299231644

Casa editrice: Univ of Wisconsin Pr, 2010

Riassunto

Around the globe, dances that originate in village, temple, and court rituals have been adapted and transformed to carry secular meanings and serve new national purposes. In stage performances, dance competitions, and festivals worldwide, dance has become an emblem of ethnicity and an index of national identity. But what are the backstage stories of those dances chosen to bear such meanings, and what have been the consequences for their communities of origin? In Dance and the Nation, Susan A. Reed brings to light the complexities of aesthetic politics in a multi-faceted exploration and analysis of Kandyan dance in Sri Lanka.
    As the national dance of Sri Lanka, Kandyan dance is identified with the majority Sinhala ethnic group and heavily supported by the state. Derived from the kohomba kankariyaan elaborate village ritual performed by men of the hereditary drummer castethe dance was adopted by the state as a symbol of traditional Sinhala culture in the post-independence period. When state officials introduced the dance into the school curriculum, it was opened to individuals of all castes, and high-caste women have emerged as prominent teachers and performers. Reeds evocative account traces the history and consequences of this transition from ritual to stage, situating the dance in relation to postcolonial nationalism and ethnic politics and emphasizing the voices and perspectives of the hereditary dancers and of women performers.
    Although Kandyan dance is related to other south Asian dance forms, it is unique, distinguished by an elegant, energetic style, and lively displays of acrobatics and agility. The companion DVD includes unparalleled footage of this vibrant dance in ritual, stage, and training contexts, and features the most esteemed performers of the Kandyan region.

Special Citation book award, Society for Dance History Scholars

Winner, Outstanding Publication Award, Congress on Research in Dance

Su questo libro

Informazioni sull?autore

Susan A. Reed is a cultural anthropologist and director of the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender at Bucknell University.

Dettagli dell'edizione

• Editore: Univ of Wisconsin Pr
• Data di pubblicazione: 2010
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 029923164X
• ISBN 13: 9780299231644
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero edizione: 1
• Numero di pagine: 280
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile
• Persona responsabile: non disponibile