
This insightful discussion brings together Mercy Nabirye, consultant and creative producer for African Diaspora arts and founding Director of Kauma Arts, and Angela Conquet, an independent dance curator, consultant and PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne to explore intersectionality and inclusion within dance production and curatorial practices.
During the symposium Mercy presented an intervention titled ‘Centring and Intersectionality: Black Perspectives in Dance Research ‘ which included contributions from Funmi Adewole and Duane Cyrus (both of whom, along with Mercy participate in another of the podcast in the series). While Angela presented a provocation, ‘Making Dance Present’, in which she explored the problematic dominance of a particular aesthetic within what has been termed ‘contemporary dance’.
Talking together to Jane Carr, Mercy and Angela reveal more of their experiences of producing the work of diasporic artists in the context of the hegemonic values of contemporary dance.They emphasize the need for continuing dialogue in negotiating the complex issues that arise in working to create a more inclusive dance field stressing how we need to be open to the uncomfortable process by which we ‘keep getting it wrong to get it right’.