Flexible Bodies: British South Asian Dancers in an Age of Neoliberalism

Flexible Bodies is a book that explores the lives and labor of British South Asian dancers, tracing shifts in the genre from 1990s Cool Britannia multiculturalism to the 2008 global financial crisis and the anti-immigration rhetoric leading up to the Brexit referendum. It argues for centering dance labor in studies of neoliberalism and provides a new critical dance studies lens through which to view the precarious economic, racial, national, and legal positions of South Asians in Britain.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 13 November 2020
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Flexible Bodies is a groundbreaking work that pays tribute to the lives and labor of British South Asian dancers, celebrating their significant contributions to the vibrant and diverse field of British dance. Authored by Anusha Kedhar, a dancer with over seven years of experience in Britain, the book offers a comprehensive and multifaceted perspective on British South Asian dance as a unique genre. Through a meticulous analysis of dance works, dance films, rehearsals, and touring, alongside immigration policy, arts funding initiatives, and global economic conditions, Flexible Bodies traces the evolving landscape of British South Asian dance from the era of Cool Britannia multiculturalism in the 1990s to the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis and, more recently, the surge of anti-immigration rhetoric leading up to the Brexit referendum in 2016.

Kedhar draws upon over a decade of extensive interviews and conversations with dancers in Britain and in-depth choreographic analysis of major dance works to unveil the innovative strategies employed by British South Asian dancers to navigate the complex and often precarious neoliberal, multicultural dance markets. By employing a critical dance studies lens, Flexible Bodies provides a fresh perspective on the economic, racial, national, and legal positions of South Asians in Britain, advocating for the centrality of dance labor in studies of neoliberalism.

In conclusion, Flexible Bodies is a groundbreaking and essential contribution to dance studies, offering a profound understanding of the lives and labor of British South Asian dancers and their profound impact on the British dance scene. Through its meticulous analysis and insightful perspectives, the book sheds light on the complex dynamics and challenges faced by these dancers, while also advocating for a more inclusive and equitable approach to dance labor in the broader context of neoliberalism.

Weight: 386g
Dimension: 156 x 233 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780190840143