The Body as Archive: Choreographic Memory and Contemporary Dance

Exploring Somatic Practices in Post-Colonial Performance Art

Abstract

This article examines the concept of "the body as archive"—the idea that human movement carries historical, cultural, and personal memory. Focusing on contemporary dance practices in the Global South, the research explores how choreographers use somatic techniques to decolonize the stage and reclaim marginalized histories. By analyzing the intersection of traditional ritual movement and modern choreography, the study argues that the dancing body serves as a living document of social resistance. This contribution to IJCAP highlights the importance of embodied knowledge in the broader field of performance theory and creative practice.