ABSTRACT

Socio-economic disadvantage can be a significant barrier to accessing high-quality dance training for young, talented dancers. Government policy and strategy relating to widening participation and talent development in the UK are premised on raising aspirations and meritocracy. This article uses Pierre Bourdieu’s conceptual framework of field, capital and habitus to examine social variations, that can act as barriers to talent identification and talent development in dance. An interview study was undertaken with 33 talented, contemporary dancers, between the ages of 13–16 years, from a variety of backgrounds, about their experiences prior to and during their participation in a dance Centre of Advanced Training programme. Findings suggest the dancers’ have experienced barriers to access, but also capital gain, symbolic exchange and transformative potential.

摘要

社会经济劣势可能是年轻有才华的舞者获得高质量舞蹈培训的重大障碍。在英国，与扩大参与和人才发展相关的政府政策和战略以提高抱负和任人唯贤为前提。本文使用 Pierre Bourdieu 的场域、资本和惯习的概念框架来检验社会差异，这些差异可能成为舞蹈人才识别和人才发展的障碍。对 33 名年龄在 13 至 16 岁之间、背景各异的才华横溢的现代舞者进行了采访研究，了解他们在参加舞蹈中心高级培训计划之前和期间的经历。调查结果表明，舞者经历了进入障碍，但也经历了资本收益，