An Audience’s Subjective Experience of the Freedom of Artistic Expression in Different Dance Forms from the Perspective of the Cultural Psychology of Creativity

Abstract

Previous studies on different dance forms, including classical ballet, modern ballet and flamenco, show that the objective classification of these forms of dance is subjectively relevant, or in other words, the subjective categorization of dance is based on its formal properties. Based on this standpoint, this study aims to examine the audience’s subjective experience of the freedom of artistic expression in three dance forms: classical ballet, modern ballet and flamenco. This study also aims to place an audience’s subjective experience of the freedom of artistic expression in different dance forms, into the context of the cultural psychology of creativity. Sixty-nine participants assessed three choreographies from each dance form. The participants observed the choreographies audio-visually. The assessment of the freedom of artistic expression included seven-point scales of freedom to use space, use different figures and to express different emotions. The results showed that the dance form effects the assessment of an audience’s subjective experiences (using these 3 criteria) in relation to the freedom of artistic expression. Likewise, Choreography has a marked effect on the assessment of subjective experience within the aforementioned criteria for the freedom of artistic expression within each observed dance form. In conclusion, a dance form determines, by its formal characteristics, not only how certain choreography will be created, but also how an audience will experience the choreography. The various implications of the research results on creativity in the field of dance, and the importance of understanding the complex dialogical connections between particular dance forms, choreographers, choreographies and audience in the context of the cultural psychology of creativity were discussed.