Choreographing change: from solos to collective artistic journey / Manuela Benini (2023)

This dissertation embarks on a journey through the evolution of my artistic practice, from its origins as a solo Kathak dancer turned activist to its development into collaborative, public engagement projects. At the heart of this exercise lies the continuous search in engaging with audiences/participants on the streets who may have limited access to creative opportunities and/or do not or actively engage with political campaigns/groups/events. Each chapter of this dissertation will delve into different facets of this exploration, examining my own practice and explorations on co-creation and collaboration and reaching hard to reach audiences. By examining how my artistic practice instigates a sense of agency and envisions politics from within mobilization, it seeks to translate abstract political ideals into tangible actions, offering a fresh perspective for myself and placing how the activities I’m facilitating are part of a wider socio-political context that are acting as catalysts for social change. It solidifies the links between activism and my artistic practice, opening up my practice outreach other artistic languages.