Rompendo a ‘coreografia da burocracia’: a dança como estratégia de resistência e cuidado em contextos de institucionalização da velhice

Abstract

In this Undergraduate Thesis, I investigate dance as a technology of resistance and maintenance of the functional capacity of older adults in Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFs) and Senior Centers, problematizing the inadequacy of current cultural policies for this demographic. Through a critical analysis, grounded in studies on the ‘choreography of bureaucracy’ and the ‘fast-cult’ logic prevalent in current public funding calls, I reveal that the discontinuous funding model is incompatible with the needs for bonding, routine, and extended time, which are essential factors in gerontological care. Based on a qualitative approach, grounded in a bibliographic and documentary review, I articulate sociological concepts of memory and body techniques with the World Health Organization’s guidelines for Active Aging and Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE). As a result, I present a methodological proposal for dance intervention that uses the Singular Therapeutic Project (STP) to adapt artistic practice to the heterogeneities of aging, acting directly on the preservation of locomotor, cognitive, and psychosocial domains. I conclude that, to guarantee the right to culture and combat institutional ageism, it is urgent to transition from isolated actions to sustainable and intersectoral programs, uniting Health, Social Assistance, and Culture, thus fostering the expressive power and dignity inherent to the aging body.