Anastasia Melati Listyorini
Saturday 19th July
10:40 - 11:10 GMT +1
Dancing with Decolonization: Indonesian Migrant Workers Reclaiming Space in Taiwan
Biography / Biografía
Anastasia Melati Listyorini is a Ph.D. candidate in Dance Studies at Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA), Taiwan. Her research lies at the intersection of Dance Studies and Cultural Studies, focusing on Indonesian migrant workers' performances in Taiwan. She explores how dance intersects with migration, cultural identity, and community-building, examining how it fosters agency, solidarity, and resilience among marginalized groups. Her work integrates artistic research, ethnography, and social design perspectives. Passionate about Southeast Asian studies, she actively contributes to academic and artistic dialogues on performance, migration, and transnational identity.
Abstract / Resumen
For many Indonesian women in Taiwan, dance is more than cultural expression—it is a reclaiming of presence in a world that often renders them invisible. As migrant workers, their lives are controlled and identities reduced, yet through public performances in parks and festivals, they create spaces of belonging. This paper explores how such acts become grassroots decolonization, using Lefebvre’s spatial theory and Taylor’s concept of the “repertoire.” These performances resist marginalization, reshape urban space, and assert their right to be seen. More than entertainment, dance becomes their voice, challenging labor-driven narratives and affirming their full humanity.