Two Essays About Consent in Contemporary Dance.

The article focuses on the complexities of consent culture within contemporary dance, particularly in improvisational touch practices. It presents practical tools and normative suggestions for fostering consent among teachers, students, choreographers, dancers, organizations, and audiences, while also critically examining the limitations of consent as a concept shaped by social, political, and bodily contexts. The text highlights challenges such as power imbalances, shifting boundaries, ideological differences, and the gap between formal consent frameworks and lived experiences, emphasizing consent as an ongoing, negotiated competence rather than a fixed agreement. It also addresses how institutional structures, economic conditions, and audience interactions influence consent practices, advocating for dialogue, care, and adaptability in creating safer and more inclusive dance environments.