Abstract

This thesis presents original ethnographic research on embodiment, creativity, and relationality in a Haitian folklorique dance troupe in Montreal, Canada. The research explores the ways that the dance troupe Racines carries forward their roots practice, with tenacity and love, in the face of racial discrimination and stigmatization. It looks at the how the joy, exhilaration, and challenge of roots folklorique dancing converses with memory, belonging, identification, and liberation. I discuss the social dimensions of dance practice and performance, the harmonious and dissonant relationships entangled with roots dance. Relations - moments of intersection, gathering, and sharing - generate spaces that are celebratory, creative, and cathartic. These spaces sustain the life of the dance troupe, who for 40 years have continued to connect around dance, rhythms, and roots folklorique Haitian culture, in spite and confrontation of their many challenges.