Loading Events

RAI Research Seminar: Carine Plancke

October 26 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

RAI RESEARCH SEMINAR

SEMINAR SERIES AT THE ROYAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE

Political Design and Cultural Creativity: Changing Dance Performances in Post-Genocide Rwanda

Dr Carine Plancke, University of Roehampton

Wednesday 26 October at 5.30 pm

Since it took power by putting an end to the 1994 genocide, the Rwandan Patriotic Front has initiated the project of building a new Rwanda. The latter is conceived as a de-ethnicised nation-state which, while being ‘modern’ and striving for socioeconomic development, remains rooted in its ancestral past. Hence, Rwandan cultural heritage is integrated in this undertaking to create a unified and developed Rwanda. This article examines the current revitalisation of ‘traditional’ dances in Kigali as part of the post-genocide endeavour to build a new national identity. It explores the changes in dance repertoire and dynamics that are brought about in current dance performances, in order to materialise the utopia of the new Rwanda. It especially points to differences between the practices and views of dancers trained in the pre-genocide period and dancers from contemporary youth troupes. In this respect, two divergent views of creativity, found among these two categories of dancers, are distinguished: a perspective that privileges improvisation as a key creative process, on the one hand, and a view of creativity as innovation and the realisation of novel, pre-designed forms, on the other.

This event is free, but tickets must be booked. To book tickets please go to http://plancke.eventbrite.co.uk

How to give to the RAI

Your support makes all the difference to the RAI

The RAI needs your support. We are an independent charity dedicated to anthropology. Please can you help us with our essential work by making a donation today. With your support we can continue to deliver our inspiring online events programme and run our flagship events (London Anthropology Day, the RAI Film Festival and our international conferences). We can continue our essential support of anthropological research, to care for our archive, manuscript and photo collections and develop our education programmes to create globally informed citizens. Thank you for your interest in this event, we appreciate you supporting the RAI.

Have you considered becoming an RAI Fellow?

Many people from all over the world are affiliated to the RAI. We welcome anyone with an interest in the subject, whether working in an academic institution or not. Our affiliates include academic specialists, students, those working in fields where anthropology has practical applications, and those whose interest is captured by the subject matter of anthropology.

Join the RAI

Mailing list

Interested in news and updates from the RAI? Subscribe to our mailing list below.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name