Bursting bubbles between sand and sea: Teaching dance on the edge of the Mediterranean

Abstract

In July 2010, on the crest of ‘The Arab Spring,’ 28 independent dance teachers from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Malta, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon, gathered in Bodrum, Turkey, for the Symposium on Dance Education in Arabic Speaking Countries. This article reflects on the symposium experience, examining the sociopolitical environment and cultural history in which the event took place, while also revisiting the philosophical tensions behind the design and implementation of this dance teaching and learning event. The experiences and voices of the participating teachers are shared, and the opportunities and threats that continue to face dance education in the region are considered. From the symposium, strong questioning of dominant models and meanings of teaching and learning dance emerged, along with a demand for tolerance towards different ideas and approaches. The pedagogical philosophies and challenges expressed by many of the participating dance educators appeared to be parallel wider political discourses on how society might be organized, and how speaking up about these visions can enhance pride and engender solidarity within a diverse dance community.