The Routledge Companion to Dance in Asia and the Pacific Platforms for Change

This Companion documents and celebrates artistic journeys within the framework of rich and complex cultural heritages and traditional dance practices of the Asia-Pacific region. It looks at various dance forms from Australia, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Singapore, the South Pacific, and Thailand. Drawing on extensive research and decades of performative experience as artists, choreographers, producers, teachers, and critics, the authors approach issues of dance and cultural diversity through a theoretical perspective, while at the same time exploring change, process, and transformation through dance.

The book discusses themes such as tradition, contemporization, interdisciplinarity, dance education, youth dance, dance networks, curatorial practices, and evolving performative practices of dance companies and independents. It also looks at regional networking, curating dance festivals and spaces that foster collaboration, regional cooperation and cultural exchange which are an essential feature of dance in Asia and the Pacific.

This collection will be of interest to students and researchers of pedagogy, choreography, community dance practice, theatre and performance studies, social and cultural studies, aesthetics, inter-disciplinary arts and more. It will be an invaluable resource for artists and practitioners working in dance schools and communities.