LEVA PÅ DANCEHALL : EN INTERVJUSTUDIE OM ATTITYDER KRING PROFESSIONALISERING, AUTENTICITET OCH KULTURELL APPROPRIERING INOM DANCEHALL DANS

Through interviews with three individuals involved in the dancehallculture, this thesis explores attitudes in professionalizing dancehall dancing. Professionalization, authenticity and cultural appropriation are key theoretical perspectives. Professionalization is profitable for Jamaican dancers and a way to make a living, however, having economic motives as the creative source when producing new steps may in the long run be harmful to the nature of the dance. Globalization tend to fragment and kill diversity within the cultural expression and commercial interests might result in a change within the structure of the dance, to make it look better on camera and easier for the outsider to appreciate. The dance is a product of it’s cultural backround and more than just steps. The importance of the cultural context is crucial for practitioners outside of Jamaica to understand, to give a fair image of the dance and showing respect back to the origins. Having knowledge and giving credit back to Jamaica and to the dancehallculture is a way to avoid appropriation