labondance

Labondance is a term used in the performing arts to describe a practice or concept that links dance with social bonding and collaborative creation. The word is typically considered a neologism, most commonly found in French-language contexts, and is sometimes written as labondance or la bondance. Etymologically, it is generally treated as a portmanteau that evokes a sense of “bond” or “link” combined with dance, though there is no single agreed-upon origin.

In practice, labondance refers to performances or methodologies in which movement is inseparable from group dynamics and relational processes. Works described as labondance often emphasize collective authorship, improvisation, and audience participation, aiming to cultivate social cohesion and reflect community ties through embodied practice.

History and usage for the term are characterized by variability. It appears in discussions of participatory dance, choreographic pedagogy, and community arts, particularly within certain scholarly and artistic circles. There is no universal definition, and the term is used differently by scholars, choreographers, and educators to discuss approaches that foreground interdependence, mutual responsibility, and shared creation in dance.

Reception and criticism of labondance note its potential as a framework for inclusive performance and social engagement, while also highlighting concerns about vagueness or the risk of co-opting social themes. The concept tends to be most prominent in specific regional art scenes and academic discourse rather than as a mainstream genre.

See also: participatory dance, social choreography, community art, collaborative performance.