The soil in the lines of my mehndi: Toward a decolonial ritual choreographic methodology

Abstract

This article explores instigating ritual movement practices as a decolonial approach to practice led research within a Western liberal arts context. By connecting ritual with movement through a decolonial lens, a choreographic methodology was explored to enable belonging, cultural identity and empowerment to evolve within postgraduate practice led research. Ritual movement processes may involve trial and error as well as deep experimentation to unveil and unpack decolonial experience. Building from student-centred personal reflections, this article proposes that ritual movement practice may allow for cultural representation, belonging and decoloniality to occur within a neoliberal educational context. To explore this realm a central query evolved, how might ritual movement practices instigate a decolonial student experience within postgraduate practice led research?

Keywords

• ritual
• decoloniality
• creative practice
• postgraduate research
• choreography