Famadihana 2.0 I Embodied explorations: Investigating the essence of the famadihana ritual

This research project focuses on investigating the essential elements of the Malagasy funeral ritual, Famadihana, through the lenses of dance and choreography. By exploring the intersection of dance, choreography, and the ritual’s cultural significance, the main research questions seek to understand how dance practice and choreography can serve as a methodology to study and interpret the multiple facets of Famadihana, which remains resilient and adaptive to cultural shifts and societal changes over time. The goal of the research is to comprehend the ritual’s enduring essence and its transformative Afrofuturistic potential within the field of contemporary dance.

How can a dance practice serve as an interpretive medium and form a methodology to unravel the enduring essence and transformative nature of the Famadihana ritual? How can choreography shed light on the perpetuity of the ritual across cultural shifts and societal changes, establishing the common essence (or not) between ritual and choreography? How might (could) choreography serve as a medium to create Afrofuturistic performances/experiences, fostering the continuity and relevance of cultural practices within altered socio-cultural contexts?

As the research has just started, the implementation phase is currently in its early stages. At this point, the research project started with artistic practice exploration, and the implementation of an autoethnographic fieldwork and preparatory practice-based exploration. The anticipated significance of this project lies in its potential to explore and redefine cultural practices through dance, with a focus on the Malagasy funeral ritual, Famadihana. In the coming stages, I expect the research to contribute new perspectives on contemporary dance and Afrofuturism, with implications for both academic discourse and cultural practices. The impact will be more fully realized as the project develops and engages with diverse communities, contributing to the ongoing dialogue between tradition and transformation in dance and performance.

2025-2029

https://www.gwenrakotovaocompany.org