A relatively new area of arts based research includes using dance & movement
as a(re)presentation of the findings within a study
In the research conducted on mental psychosis among young adults, Boydell (2011) used dance as a way to present her findings because she wanted to target "a broader audience" (p. 13). The dancers were able to "translate" the findings through embodiment while using their own personal interpretation. The collaboration between science and art allowed this research to "convert abstract research into concrete form" (p.16). In the article Reflections on the Embodied Voices of Six Egyptian Muslim Women: An Artistic Inquiry, authors Lenore Hervey and Nancy Toncy gathered data from interviews with these women. Later Hervey and Toncy created a dance to represent and embody the women's unique voices and common themes (Hervey and Toncy, n/a). | Challenges that may arise: -Knowledge translations vs. aesthetics of a dance performance -The ability for dance to reach the audience on a holistic level -"Artistic analysis and interpretation beyond the initial analysis of the research material" (Boydell, 2011, p. 15) -Bridging the gap between text and dance/movement research (Bagley, C. & Cancienne, M., 2001). |
