EMBODYING LATINNESS IN AUSTRALIA THROUGH DANCE

Abstract

Dance, as an embodied activity, is shaped by culture, and simultaneously shapes culture. Significantly, over the last few years there has been a worldwide boom in Latin dance, which is often considered an ‘exotic’ and ‘sexy’ activity. This paper explores experiences of teaching Latin dance as a service activity (extensión, in Spanish) by an academic in Australia, shaped by the theoretical ideas of public and body pedagogies. The reflections are presented under two broad themes: the potential of Latin dance as a service activity, and the processes of integrating and othering Latinness in Australia.

Keywords

• embodiment, latin dance
• australia
• public and body pedagogies. service