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Guadalupe Rosales-Martinez, "Re-shaping Cultural Practices in Cross-cultural Scenarios: 'Latin Dance' Rhythms of 'Liberation and Spectacle'" Social Latin dance has been constructed as a cultural practice in most contexts where it is practiced. This paper draws from a pilot study carried out in Christchurch, New Zealand, where groups of participants discussed their experiences of practicing these dance rhythms. My focus will discuss how dance participants talk about the experience these dances as a "liberating" practice, and others describe their experiences as "oppressive". The prevailing accounts of social Latin dance can be summarised within these two arguments. On one hand, Pakeha/New Zealanders suggest these dances are experienced as a form of "liberation" within the context of Christchurch. This refers to diverse forms of expression that gives the participants a sense of "freedom". Social Latin dance is argued to become a "liberating", "challenging" and "subversive" practice because it is through these dances that Pakeha/New Zealanders experience and express their passions, desires, fantasies, sensuality and eroticism partly through a notion of an imaginary Other. It also constitutes a way to socialise in a non-working environment where Pakeha/New Zealanders can approach men and women in ways that seem acceptable to New Zealanders. On the other hand the second argument addressed by most Latin American women and men living in Christchurch suggests that these dances constitute an "oppressive" form of representation. They argue that the meanings given to dance within Christchurch have essentialised Latin American cultures and its inhabitants; in saying this, they seem to imply that the political content given to these dances has become obliterated. Biography: Guadalupe Rosales-Martinez, former postgraduate of Canterbury University and the Mexican-Russian Institute. Currently doing a full time PhD thesis titled "Latin Imagery; Latin dance: Rhythms of Liberation and Spectacle". Her research interest include issues of representation in cross cultural settings, social movements, the politics of theory and gender and queer studies. If you need to contact me please write to my e-mail at UQ: s4025834@student.uq.edu.au |
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