Life Force and the Flow of Energy: Rhythm in Dance and Dance Performance

The objective of this research is to examine the paradigm shift in perceptions of the role of music in dance within the development of twentieth-century dance from a historical perspective. The study focuses on the relationship between movement and music and on the role of rhythm in dance, taking into account not only the rhythm of movement and the conditions of its emergence, but also the understanding of rhythm within the structure of choreographic performance. The empirical component of the research analyzes the dance performance “Dances of the Lost,” a contemporary work created by the Olga Žitluhina Dance Company, through phenomenological and semiotic lenses. This exemplary performance combines dance, music, photography, and video art, revealing the multifaceted nature of rhythmic structures.