Alienation and transformation: an international education in contemporary dance

Abstract

This research investigates experiences of an international education in dance. Through the narratives of seven female dance practitioners from the southern Mediterranean region, who have trained in contemporary dance in Western cultural contexts, a multiplicity of encounters are illustrated. Two key findings emerged from the dancers’ experiences. The first being the feelings of alienation felt in the new learning environment, and the second was the variety of transformative dance experiences the women expressed when recalling their dance experiences abroad.