Conceptualizing Choreia on the François vase

This article considers the visual representation of choral performance on the François vase. Putting aside the questions of temporal and narrative setting that have dominated discussions of the Theseus frieze, I contend that the vase offers us an illuminating image of choreia, which clearly articulates the relationships and differences between the choreographer (Theseus), the dancers (the fourteen youths) and non-dancing spectators (the sailors). Participation in choral dance is conceived as an activity that simultaneously supports individual expression and enacts group cohesion, a flexible performance dynamic consistent with Catherine Bell’s theoretical understanding of “ritualization.”

Aesthetics · Art · Aside · Literature · Narrative · Quilt · Ritualization · Social science · Sociology · Vase · Visual arts · Classical Antiquity Studies · Historical and Literary Analyses · Historical and Literary Studies