Presentation Schedule
Indigenous Imagination Dance as a Healing Modality (97170)
Session Chair: Anantdeep Grewal
This presentation will be live-streamed via Zoom (Online Access)
Saturday, 4 October 2025 11:35
Session: Session 1
Room: Live-Stream Room 3
Presentation Type:Live-Stream Presentation
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In Sub Saharan countries, South Africa and Botswana, indigenous dance possesses a unique ability to transcend social divide, physical constraints, mental limitations, emotional emptiness, ancestral and spiritual dogma and ignite a sense of deep connection with self, and understanding of others and the world. Batswana indigenous dance called Mmino was Setswana or Borankana, when danced alone, with others or imagined, offers healing and coping mechanism for many indigenous people young and old. This paper explores Setswana indigenous dance and the healing power thereof. Using an ethnographic and phenomenological approach, audio, WhatsApp interviews, visits, discussions and interviews with indigenous dance masters and dancers, the study illustrates how Borankana provides healing and support through Indigenous Imagination Dancing (IID). The concept of Indigenous Imagination Dancing (IID) is referred to as visualization by some dance teachers and choreographers. It is used by many elderly indigenous Batswana people, including people living with disability, who are unable to dance. IID does not require feet to move, it allows the person to stretch one's thinking, and imagine themselves dancing awake or asleep, ultimately experiencing the same feeling as in actual physical movement. This exudes the same psychological and emotional effects for the dancer moving physically and one imagined. Interpretive phenomenological analysis is employed to reveal the authentic interpreted perspectives and experiences of the participants. There is certainty that indigenous imagination dancing is both a form of visualization technique and dance therapy; it builds confidence, enhances cognitive ability, supports emotional stability, grows creativity and allows inner freedom and self-acceptance.
Authors:
Tebogo Kgobokoe, North West University, South Africa
Motheo T. Koitsiwe, North West University, South Africa
About the Presenter(s)
Ms Tebogo Kgobokoe is currently a doctoral student, entrepreneur, arts education curriculum advisor, adjudicator, South African professional dance champion, coach and mentor
Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tebogo-kgobokoe-99735021/
See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule
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