Join us for our March Trimontium Talk! Dance & Performance in the Roman World – and the (In)Famous Dancers of Gades with Thania M. Flores.

“The truest expression of a people is in its dances and its music. Bodies never lie”  “If you want to understand a nation, look at its dances and listen to its folk songs – don’t pay any attention to its politicians”. – Agnes de Mille

Dance may not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering the Roman Empire, yet it is a topic that deserves more exploration. Dance was an integral part of the ancient world, and it was prevalent throughout Rome’s vast and expanding territories. Roman dance culture was rich and vibrant, with dance and dancers deeply interwoven into rituals, mythology, festivals, banquets, and spectacles. Far from being merely entertainment, dance reflects important issues such as social and gender roles, slavery and entrepreneurship, the sacred and the mundane, as well as concepts of ‘Romanness’ and ‘otherness.’

Depictions of dance can be widely found in Roman art, and literary descriptions—though often brief—are vividly provided by writers such as Juvenal, Martial, Virgil, and Strabo. What can we learn about Roman dance through these artistic depictions and literary accounts? What was the social status of dancers in the Roman world? How did Romans perceive dance and performance, and what does this reveal about their society? Who were the (in)famous puellae gaditanae, the dancers from Gades, and what characterized their performances? This talk will introduce dance in the Roman Empire by examining evidence from art, literature, and artefacts. It will explore the possible characteristics of some dances and analyze the social roles of dancers and performers as viewed through Roman eyes.

Thania M. Flores is an art historian (MA, PhD ABD University of Toronto), former dance studio owner/ choreographer and current Heritage Environment Resources Officer at the Trimontium Museum – where she regularly performs and runs workshops on Roman-inspired dance.

Book your spot today!

Booking details

This talk will take place online via Zoom only.

Trimontium Members, all talks are included as part of your membership. You will automatically be sent joining details as part of your membership 48 hours prior to the talk.

Non members attending online will receive joining details via email within 48 hours prior to the talk.