Disruption on the dancefloor: Understanding creativity as openness and emergence

Abstract

This chapter explores creativity through the lens of social salsa dancing, by weaving together theoretical reflections, empirical research, and personal practice as a dancer and teacher. Four key features of social salsa dancing are drawn out and connected with broader themes in creativity research, including improvisation, embodiment, social relations, and emergence. The normative construction of leader and follower roles and relations within social salsa dancing is brought to life through the use of rich empirical material, followed by a discussion of the implications for how dancers engage with and experience the creative process. The chapter suggests that different conceptions of creativity fundamentally inform attitudes, behaviours, and pedagogical approaches, and concludes with a discussion of applied strategies aimed at enabling a more collaboratively creative practice.