Author Information
Tebogo Kgobokoe, North West University, South AfricaMotheo Koitsiwe, North West University, South Africa
Abstract
In the Sub-Saharan countries of South Africa and Botswana, indigenous dance is known to transcends social, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual realms. Batswana indigenous dance called Mmino wa Setswana or Borankana, when danced on a regular basis alone, with others or imagined, offers a healing and coping mechanism for many indigenous people including the youth and elderly. This paper explores the Setswana indigenous dance and the healing power of dance in the 21st century. The author presents, through using an ethnographic approach, audio and video interviews and maeto (visits, discussions and interviews), how Borankana provides healing and support through dancing. This may be experienced physically or by watching an audience member and through imagination dancing (ID). The concept of dancing in the mind (IID) may be referred to as visualization by some dance teachers and choreographers. It is used by many elderly indigenous Batswana people including people living with disability, who are unable to dance. IID does not require movement, it allows the person to open their mind to imagine themselves dancing and ultimately experience the same feeling as in actual physical movement. This exudes the same psychological and emotional effects for both the dancer moving physically, and the one imagining. There is certainty that dance builds confidence, enhances cognitive ability, supports emotional stability, grows creativity and allows freedom and acceptance of self.
Paper Information
Conference: BAMC2025Stream: Performing Arts Practices: Theater
This paper is part of the BAMC2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Kgobokoe T., & Koitsiwe M. (2025) Indigenous Dance as a Healing Modality Indigenous Epistemologies ISSN: 2435-9475 – The Barcelona Conference on Arts, Media & Culture 2025: Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 211-224) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2435-9475.2025.20
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2435-9475.2025.20
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