This study explores the extent to which the ‘white’ body is prioritised in UK higher education contemporary dance training and how the concept of ‘whiteness’ may underpin the training of non-white bodies. As a student of colour this area of research, is very close to me. The experiences for students of colour with regard to their physique during contemporary dance training will be explored. Thus, a consequential aim is to give non-white students a voice about their training, and this study aims to explore these significant experiences and to bring them to the forefront of the race conversation.
Within this study, the use of the term ‘Whiteness’ may appear to come from a biased point of view. As an identifying black contemporary dancer in training, the rationale for this study comes from the personal experiences of having a different body composition to others in a room and, in essence, a different way of moving that comes from my personal history as a dancer as well as my black body. The encounters with other artist’s movements whilst in training may have differences in the way the body translates that movement language. The personalised variation of each dance style under the umbrella of contemporary dance training offers a chance for the student dancer to become a diversified performer. This research should be undertaken to show more understanding of the lived experience of students of colour. Whilst acknowledging notions of decoloniality and interculturalism it will explore to what extent these are having