Ukrainian Dance in Decolonisation Processes of Contemporary Ukraine

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to identify the role of Ukrainian dance in the decolonisation processes of modern Ukraine. The research methodology combines culturological, historical and art history methods, in particular, socio-cultural determination, chronological, art history analysis. The scientific novelty. The article is the first in scientific discourse to consider Ukrainian dance as a significant factor in decolonisation processes. Conclusions. Ukrainian dance is one of the effective means of forming national identity, and these processes are a significant component of decolonisation practices. Awareness and overcoming stereotypes associated with imperial narratives of the inferiority of Ukrainian culture, processing cultural traumas through understanding the value of Ukrainian dance is productive provided that the strategy of forming national consciousness and values is adhered to. During the Russian-Ukrainian war, decolonisation processes in dance culture became clearly evident: a ‘repertoire turn’ took place (removal of works related to the aggressor country from performance practice, the predominance of Ukrainian folk stage dances in the repertoire of folk dance groups, the staging of nationally marked ballets with stylised Ukrainian dance), the processes of revival of the folklore and ethnographic dance heritage and national-patriotic themes of productions became actualised. The festival and competition dance movement in Ukrainian folk stage dance became one of the areas of expression of decolonisation tendencies, which manifested itself, in particular, in the destruction of Soviet, mainly regional and genre, principles of holding festivals; a change in priorities in the evaluation criteria from exclusively standards of professional art and principles of massness inherent in totalitarian systems, to creative and personality-oriented ones; popularisation of the work of Ukrainian folk and stage dance figures of the past and present by organising named festivals and competitions; actualisation of Ukrainian national-patriotic themes in productions and functional tasks of events in general.