The social soul of architecture: a place for dance born from the urban ethos of western Johannesburg
Date
2010-07-23T07:20:30Z
Authors
Van Jaarsveldt, Debra
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Abstract
The people of western Johannesburg, specifically in the areas previously
known as the ‘western areas’, love and live to dance. In these areas dance
has a pertinent and revealing historical, spatial and social dimension. This
thesis will critically discuss this dimension of dance, revealing that the urban
scars of Apartheid still limit this social and physical activity. Explorations
on the spaces used for dance in the area will reveal a contrast between
architectural inadequacies and the important role dance plays the lives of these
people. The proposed intervention emerges directly from this manifestation of
research - where dance is a recreational activity inseparable from music that
can bring people from all corners of the area together onto one floor. Where
the local passion for dance, is no longer undermined and where a sense of
community can be seen and encouraged through a place for dance.