Everybody trance now: the rise of ritual in dance

Dance works which evoke trance and ritual appear to be enjoying a resurgence. Are they a response to our technologically-mediated world?

Image: Attractor. Photo: Gregory Lorenzutti.

In an age where so many of our conversations are conducted via text message and social media, the opportunity for shared connection and shared purpose takes on ever-greater value and significance.

Simultaneously, as Western culture becomes increasingly harried and time poor, the opportunity to slow down – whether through mindfulness or meditation – is gaining in popularity.

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Richard Watts OAM is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a Melbourne Fringe Festival Living Legend, and was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize in 2020. In 2021 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association. Most recently, Richard received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2024. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts