Abstract
The Coronavirus (Covid-19) continues to reshape many lives socially, politically, and economically. Choreographic practice, performance, and those involved in dance are also affected in different ways. This article investigates the research question: How might the event of Covid-19 prompt the transformation of freelance dancers’ identities? Through a qualitative narrative inquiry, three freelance contemporary dancers from Aotearoa/New Zealand were interviewed. From a thematic analysis of the data, the theme of alienation and adaptability were drawn out. This research reveals that the event of Covid-19 has caused freelance dancers to question their identity and precarity within their communities and shifted their position to advance a sense of security. The stories shared by the dancers revealed that industry practices and conditions for freelance contemporary dancers in Aotearoa/New Zealand need redevelopment for greater sustainability, relevance and inclusion, which could pave the way for industry changes to occur post-covid-19.
Highlights
Emma Cosgrave is a Ngāti Pūkenga independent dance artist, choreographer, and scholar based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa/New Zealand
The effect of Covid-19 in Aotearoa/New Zealand is that freelance contemporary dancers are coming to terms with their previous dancing identities and work through reflection and re-evaluating where they see themselves in the future
In a complex world with rapid changes from Covid-19, it has become a challenging time for a dancer with various economic, political, and social factors bringing immense uncertainty
Summary
Emma Cosgrave is a Ngāti Pūkenga independent dance artist, choreographer, and scholar based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa/New Zealand. Freelance dancers in Aotearoa/New Zealand may feel alienated when they cannot find a balance between paid work and dance opportunities (Sanderson, 2017). I selected Beth, Jamie and Kasey as they were actively involved in the New Zealand dance industry during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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