A Study on Creative Consciousness in Dance: Focusing on Perceptions of Creation in Ballet and Contemporary Dance

In this study, statements relating to “creating” were classified and organized according to the KJ method, and creative consciousness by dance genre in the creation of dance productions was analyzed from two perspectives. The results of a χ² test for the dance genre and roles of creators and dancers in ballet and contemporary dance revealed that, by dance genre, “III. Creative activities” was the most frequent response from those in contemporary dance, while “II. Expression content” was the most frequent response from those in ballet, indicating a significant difference. By role, creators were most likely to make statements aligned with “III. Creative activities,” while dancers were most likely to make statements aligned with “II. Expression content,” with a significant difference. The significant differences observed for all items indicate that the recognition of creativity in dance works differs depending on the dance genre and role. In terms of the dance genre, differences in the consciousness of creativity were evident in terms of unique aesthetic values, methods of expression, and creative methods. In terms of roles, creators perceived creativity as creating a performance that aimed to add new value to the work through the effects of stage design and lighting and through interactions with fellow performers. Dancers perceived creativity as interpreting the work, receiving inspiration from related artists, and modifying the work to pursue new ideas, revealing differences based on roles.