Capital is the turbo engine: The commodification and transformation of private ballet education in China

Abstract

This thesis opens new considerations of the nexus of dance and the economy, by advancing discussions from the commercialization of dance education to the commodification of dance education. The key question prompting this research is: Why and how has commodification shifted the practice of ballet teaching? From this foundation further questions are also discussed, such as: How do dance educators perceive the injection of venture capital in private ballet education? How do neoliberal economic strategies present concerns for dance educators? How have consumer needs shifted teaching practices? What further concerns regarding the impact of commodification of dance education emerge from dance educators? This research critically reflects on the impact of neoliberalism on dance education, specifically focusing on the personal experiences of six dance educators and venture capitalists in Chengdu, China. These dance educators and venture capitalists describe shifts in the teaching of ballet teaching in response to concerns over business competition, market share, and customer satisfaction. These concerns have given rise to changes in how dance education addresses personal growth and aesthetic needs, have increased qualification and certification and emphasized transferable professional pathways. This ethnographic qualitative research was gathered over a year-long period that I, the researcher, spent travelling in Chengdu, China. Through in-depth personal interviews and a broad literature review, I illuminate how a free market economy can foster feelings of alienation as well as transformation. Dance educator’s experiences highlight how ballet teaching can be affected by a complex political-economic environment and reveal approaches that present commodification and cultural hegemony within pedagogic and economic practices. Through an articulation and critical analysis of the experiences and concerns of the six dance educators and venture capitalists, this research contributes to understandings of the interrelation between dance and economy in China.