Teaching, research and management: dance at the crossroads of knowledge

Abstract

In my academic trajectory, I have been exploring paths of research on the scenic body, body preparation, and forms of performative writing related to somatic studies in dance. Informed by practical experiences that engage with the ideas of Brazilian artists, especially Dudude Herrmann, Verônica Fabrini, and Eleonora Fabião, my interest has turned towards the notion of the state of presence and the body's availability in the production of meaning in dance. In my artistic research and professional relationships, I have prioritized the power of body language, self-awareness, and love based on the concept of encounters and a network of affections. All the actions I have undertaken throughout my journey at UFRJ, including coordinating research groups, conducting classes, and fulfilling roles in coordination positions, have led me to comprehend a holistic conception of the body in a fluid relationship of affect with people and contexts in space and time. The concerns addressed in this article emerged during the reading of bell hooks' book "All About Love" (2021) and reflections on my practices related to working with the body to perform movement in a state of attention and presence integrated into the environment, the affective encounter with people, and other elements and materialities. Incorporating into this discourse, the experience of an artistic demonstration, my objective is to discuss the encounter and love as the basis for possible methodologies in creating relationships in dance.