Dancing in the threshold: outfitting stand-Up comedy in a tutu to pass as concert dance and other contradictions of Mestizaje (y otra cosita)

This thesis explores the intersections of dance, stand-up comedy, and mestizaje in performance, challenging traditional boundaries in both concert dance and comedic expression. It investigates how contradictions within performance reflect the mestiza experience, where identity, history, and artistic forms converge and transform. Central to this exploration is La Bamba, a song that transcends its Mexican origins. Its various versions and reinventions embody the essence of mestizaje, showcasing the continuous renegotiation of identities and histories.

This hybridization critiques the boundaries between these artistic forms, using performance as a space to challenge cultural norms. Mestizaje is presented not as a fixed identity, but as a process of ongoing transformation, where contradictions coexist and multiply. By braiding together dance, comedy, and cultural references, this thesis rejects simplified notions of identity and embraces the complexity of mestizaje. It highlights how cultural, artistic, and personal borders can be crossed with joy, humor, and creativity, offering new possibilities for reimagining both tradition and innovation.

Performance Vide DOI: https://doi.org/10.25820/9771-ve33.