Performing Island Identities: Music, Dance, Folk Theatre, Storytelling, and Performance Traditions
Performing Island Identities
About this Conference
Island communities are often rich in traditions, preserving elements of expressive culture and mingling foreign traditions, leading to new indigenous forms. Performance traditions are important to forming and maintaining a sense of unique identity. Whether calypso in Trinidad, dance in North Cyprus, storytelling in Ireland, Noh and Bunraku theatre in Japan, matináda poetry in Crete, Up-Helly-Aa guizing in Shetland, or fiddle music in Newfoundland, many performance traditions possess symbolic value for islands.
Through academic talks and cultural events, this island studies conference will explore how island traditions develop as well as form and maintain identity. The folklorist and fiddler Alan Jabbour will act as a keynote speaker. A major figure in American public folklore, Jabbour has been founding director of the Library of Congress’ American Folklife Center and president of the American Folklore Society.
Important Dates
- Paper June 1, 2012
- Early Bird June 1, 2012
- Registration November 1, 2012
- Conference dates 19-21 November 2012