ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides insights to projects that emphasise “Collaborations Across Arts Practice and Academia”. It explores how dance is crossing borders, can give voice, agency and empower young people in creative and innovative ways that are responding to the growing destabilised political, geographical and environmental spheres of the 21st century. The book focuses on cooperative and collaborative dance initiatives across borders of different kinds that can foster positive change in young people’s experiences and their understanding of each other and the world. It draws on working with and through diversity in various settings from classrooms to an historic Polish children’s dance festival and the tents of refugee camps in Northern Iraq. Children’s play and expression in multiple modalities align with their understanding of architectural concepts of shape and space for the design of buildings achieved by playing with cardboard boxes.
