Mique鈥檒 is the recipient of the Society of Dance History Scholars (SDHS) Selma Jeanne Cohen Award for excellence in dance scholarship. Mique鈥檒 was granted the award for her paper, 鈥淒ancing Our Politics: Contemporary Issues in Northwest Coast First Nations Dance.鈥�
The award, named for Selma Jeanne Cohen鈥檚 great contribution to dance history, is intended to foster excellence in dance studies and encourage graduate student involvement in SDHS. Awards are given based on the originality of the research, the rigor of the argument, and the clarity of the writing.
According to the judging committee, Mique鈥檒鈥檚 work 鈥渆xplores the important role of dance in land claims and expressions of group sovereignty for Aboriginal nations in Vancouver, British Columbia. Based on three years of study and her own life experiences as a First Nations performer, Dangeli argues that 鈥榩rotocol,鈥� the rules that are used to structure oratory, songs, and dances used in the performances, should not be seen as a set of restrictions, but rather as strategic deployments that aim for 鈥榙ancing sovereignty鈥� in multiple audience contexts. With this paper, Dangeli centers the body in a process of remembering and simultaneously reclaiming space and relationships, bringing a new and fresh perspective to the intersection of studies of dance, bodies, and politics.鈥�
Mique鈥檒 is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Art History and Visual Art Department at the University of British Columbia. Her specialization is Northwest Coast First Nations Art History. Mique鈥檒 and her husband, Mike, co-direct the Vancouver-based , an internationally renowned mask-dancing group. Git Hayetsk performs the songs and dances of their ancestors, as well as new ones they have created to reflect their challenges and victories as 21st-century First Nations peoples.
Mique鈥檒 was appointed an IPinCH Fellow in April 2013.