My journey towards a pain-free experience in dance : embodied research on flow theory in dance

Abstract

The main theme of the dissertation is the relationship between the sensation of pain and the experience of flow in contemporary dance practice, particularly in improvisation. Flow is described as ‘the state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter' (Csíkszentmihályi 1990: 4). The aim of this dissertation is to find answers to the question: can the sensation of pain actually disappear while dancing in a state of Flow? I take a first-person research approach, in which I am the participant and conduct the embodied research from my own dancing perspective. The research is practice-based in which I created and completed tasks and then analysed them using phenomenology-based documentation tools. The research shows that the sensation of pain in the flow state is influenced by many factors. However, if the appropriate aspects are matched, it is possible that the dancer will not feel pain during flow. Nevertheless, the study is not intended to encourage dancers to be less concerned about listening to the sensation of pain. Injury prevention and treatment are essential. The findings will provide insight for dancers who have been injured and have gone through this experience, as well as an opportunity for dancers who are returning from rehabilitation to investigate the components and find their own pain-free flow experience.