Exploring territory and co-presence in contemporary choreography in the works of some Cameroonian dance artists

Abstract

The relationship between territory and dance has recently emerged as a topic of interest, driven by the advent of novel possibilities and challenges associated with territorial habitation. This has prompted choreographers to address the issue of co-presence in their work. While some choreographers continue to create works for the theatre, it is now common practice for others to work outside the traditional theatre. In their creative works, whether on a theatre stage or in other settings, Bouba Landrille Tchouda, André Takou Saa and Merlin Nyakam employ a range of gestural and movement techniques to explore the concept of territory. The purpose of this study is to examine the ways in which these artists inhabit a territory and the relationships they establish between dancers and the territory(ies). This qualitative interpretive investigation is informed by a narrative and scoping review of dance and spatial/territorial theories, as well as the perspectives of choreographers on their engagement with dance and territory. The findings demonstrate how choreographers portray the embodiment of dancers and territories through physical, sensory, and historical memories, thereby creating spaces for aesthetic, and political discussions, from the realm of life to imagined and administered territories. The choreographers utilise the dancers to create deformations in the choreographic form and to take up the territories, whether in public spaces or in theatres, with a view to sharing their physical memories and experiences. This work presents a novel configuration of bodies, places, and crises, while simultaneously advancing both aesthetic and political considerations. It provides a new perspective on dance studies in Cameroon and has the potential to inspire innovative practices and experiences, challenging established values and perceptions of dance as an art form.