History is usually perceived as an un-changing entity from which facts and truth can be obtained, often reflecting what the hegemonic powers of a culture want the population to know and learn. Yet, this generalized history does not always resonate with individual stories. Although this is part of a bigger project, “Men and Pointe,” which will ultimately include male dancers’ experiences on pointe, my attempt in this presentation is to use Queer Theory and the concept of fluidity to demonstrate that a history (of pointe) provides part of the picture even if it claims to encompass the whole; that it can be changed by the sole inclusion of a different narrative; and most importantly, that it appears static because it is repeatedly performed through writing. The argument here is not that history should be abandoned, because it can be a great place to begin exploring, but rather that we should travel beyond this point of departure. I propose that one way to achieve this is by focusing on the value of multivocality as way to be inclusive of the stories that dwell beneath the reflective monolith called History; these stories are fluid and eddying, not always lining up or following the same current.
About the presenterSebastian Oreamuno
I am an artist and academic. I use the creative process to construct conceptual spaces where I can go reflect and recharge. My research interests are centred on male dancers who go on pointe: examining the benefits of acquiring this knowledge through oral histories and embodied practice, and illuminating the imagined boundaries that are “transgressed.” I hold a BA with Distinction in Psychology from Simon Fraser University, and a MA in Dance from York University.