Abstract
This chapter discusses how dance fostered relationships between fathers and sons within a dance research project in Finland. From 2013 to 2016, Isto Turpeinen (Finland) led workshops, rehearsals and performances based on his teaching methodology “raw-board-working.” In this chapter, Ralph Buck (NZ) and Isto consider the efficacy of raw-board-working as a means for valuing everyday “raw” movement and ideas, and in so doing, valuing fathers and sons’ diversity. Focusing on a small number of father and son relationships, we reflect on the emergent theme of love that surfaced through dance workshop and performance processes. A multi-modal research design scaffolds the collection of qualitative data through artistic processes, interviews, and observations. The study found that as fathers and sons danced with each other within a “safe” and open workshop process they re-constructed their relationships both consciously and incidentally. Diverse meanings of masculinity were found to both negatively and positively inform how relationships were expressed. The significance of the study might be found in how fathers and sons come to know each other better, and how the love that underpins a father and son relationship can be re-kindled and affirmed.
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Turpeinen, I., Buck, R. (2019). Fathers, Sons and Encounters in Dance. In: Bond, K. (eds) Dance and the Quality of Life. Social Indicators Research Series, vol 73. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95699-2_13
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