CONTEMPORARY DANCE: A METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH TO BODILY DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate contemporary dance as a methodology for bodily development, understanding it as a practice capable of integrating theory, technique, perception, and creativity. A narrative literature review was conducted, based on the selection and analysis of texts addressing contemporary dance, the body, expressivity, and methodologies for bodily development, with an emphasis on philosophical, pedagogical, and somatic perspectives. The SciELO and CAPES Periodicals databases were consulted, in addition to books and academic productions recognized in the fields of dance and bodily education. The results indicate that by privileging sensory experience, improvisation, and movement awareness, contemporary dance proposes a pedagogy that articulates body, mind, and emotion, promoting learning processes that are simultaneously artistic, educational, and therapeutic. The incorporation of somatic approaches and methodologies that emphasize bodily perception demonstrates that the body is, above all, a living territory of experiences, in constant transformation and dialogue with the world. The study concludes that contemporary dance reaffirms the body as a space of knowledge and creative potential, pointing to a pedagogical and aesthetic practice that educates, heals, and empowers.