Moving with Support: The Lives and Work of Independent Choreographers in Philadelphia

Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Producer
Director
Performer
Choreographer
Costume Designer
Music
Videographer
Lighting Designer
Set Designer
Crew Member
Funder
Rehearsal Director
Concert Coordinator
Moderator
Panelist
Alternative Title
Department
Swarthmore College. Dept. of Sociology & Anthropology
Type
Thesis (B.A.)
Original Format
Running Time
File Format
Place of Publication
Date Span
Copyright Date
Award
Language
en
Note
Table of Contents
Terms of Use
Full copyright to this work is retained by the student author. It may only be used for non-commercial, research, and educational purposes. All other uses are restricted.
Rights Holder
Access Restrictions
No Restrictions.
Terms of Use
Tripod URL
Identifier
Abstract
Independent choreographers pursue an unpaid vocation. Independent choreographers do not earn income from their choreography, but creating choreography is their calling and vocational identity. To support their costs of living and the expenses of creating their choreographic work, independent choreographers hold various flexible, low-paid jobs. They cope with the financial and psychological tensions of their precarious work through social support networks and a passion for their art. Though they are not paid for their choreography, choreographers maintain identities as “dance artists” through interactions with other artists. Making “work” and maintaining an artist’s identity becomes a social practice, not just a vocational practice. My research asks: How do today’s independent, contemporary choreographers find the means to accomplish their artistic work and what consequences does it have? What is the structure of the occupation and how does it relate to choreographers’ work, lives, and identities? How do choreographers perceive the purpose of their choreographic work? I conducted ethnographic fieldwork in the Philadelphia dance community for three months and interviewed 18 independent, contemporary choreographers to answer these questions.
Description
Subjects
Citation