Tanzrecherche NRW: Classical Tradition / Modern Society by Mirjam Otten

Is ballet inherently} relevant?ć What constitutes the
unique appeal of classical dance and howw can wwe take
advantage of it to wwiden our social impact?ć
GOVERNMENT
The process of social traction is set in the public sphere. In the
context of ballet, historically, this is the National sphere, as ballet
institutions would often have been created by Royal decree or
similar national public bodies (Bonnin-Arias, et al. 2021). As a
public body, the art of ballet finds itself in the realm of
government: It gains authority in being a national symbol of
heritage. This symbolism is acquired through endorsement by the
public sphere, which gives ballet institution power to dictate what
is relevant to and reflective of the interests of society. In Bordieu’s
(1992) eyes, ballet as a form of cultural capital constitutes a
powerful tool in offering an institutional framework for creating
an objectified vision and representation of a social group, a
society. Practically, this means that the theatre stage takes a
representative function of ‘showing the life of (a) people’ in the
international realm (DeValois, 1957: 964). In this representation, it
acts as a guideline of the represented reality, what is shown to ‘be’
becomes as what ‘should be’. In more concrete terms, Brinson
(1989) explains that the dance community exerts influence on
society by showcasing and therewith endorsing, selling a certain
style of movement, fashion, music, etc. In this powerful nature, it
bears inherent relevance as a determinant of social and cultural
realities (Brinson, 1989). This view offers reassurement to the
industry, testifying to its inherent ability to connect with society in
its own political nature. It migh also nudge leaders in the industry
to reflect on the social power their visions and works exude.
Classical Tradition // Modern Society 18