Community Initiatives in Dance Art and Education: Foreign Approaches and Ukrainian Realities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31652/3041-1017-2026(7)-13Keywords:
community engagement, dance art, international experience, art-volunteer dance projects, dance fundraising, cultural diplomacy, partnership, choreography educationAbstract
The article examines foreign and Ukrainian approaches to implementing community engagement in dance art and dance education, which acquire particular significance amid social transformations and wartime challenges. The scientific perspectives of international researchers on the concept of "community engagement" are summarized, and its role in the development of dance art, arts education, and the community at large is defined. The study substantiates partnership models between dance studios and local communities based on the principles of social and cultural equity, inclusion, democracy, fundraising, volunteerism, and cultural diplomacy. The analysis highlights the specifics of supporting marginalized groups, fostering social interaction, and expanding access to choreographic art and education. The article identifies key areas of influence of community engagement on the advancement of dance art and educational practices. A bilateral “outreach-inreach" strategy of interaction between dance studios and communities, characteristic of international experience, is described. The directions and functions of community initiatives implemented by dance studios in the Ukrainian context are outlined, including psychosocial support for various population groups, cultural diplomacy, mobilization of resources for humanitarian needs, and strengthening of social cohesion. The main forms of art-volunteer initiatives in Ukraine are also delineated, such as charity concerts, sports events, therapeutic programs, flash mobs, international dance collaborations, and educational-artistic projects. The article emphasizes the importance of digital platforms, cross-sector collaboration, and flexible models of organizing dance practices in the context of post-war reconstruction. It concludes that dance art serves as a significant factor of cultural resilience and social support, and that the Ukrainian experience can be integrated into international models of community engagement as an example of effective interaction between the arts and civil society in times of crisis.References
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