Music and dance beyond boundaries? Emphasizing Muslim–Jewish North African commonalities, avoiding politics
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Abstract
This article argues that the Parisian spheres of Middle Eastern dance and Mediterranean music shape distinct Muslim-Jewish encounters for individuals involved in these practices, fostering a coexistence among artists from Muslim and Jewish backgrounds which involves carefully navigating tensions over geopolitical issues. Three key findings emerge from this study. First, respondents of Muslim and Jewish backgrounds shared a common Maghrebi heritage that was reappropriated by engaging in the practices of Middle Eastern dance and Mediterranean music. Second, these artistic encounters were not immune to instances of stigmatization and tensions, particularly relating to geopolitical issues, which reactivated symbolic boundaries between artists of Muslim and Jewish backgrounds. Third, participants employed strategies to avoid conflict, explicitly separating art from politics, and fostered mutual respect for differing perspectives. Nevertheless, some respondents politicized Muslim-Jewish commonalities, notably by reaffirming their shared Maghrebi heritage.
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28(1)
Related
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Jews and Muslims in the 19th district of Paris: Together or apart? (Part of same special issue)
Contestations and cooperation in Muslim–Jewish neighbourhood encounters: A London case study (Part of same special issue)
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Link to article including link to pdf, Music and dance beyond boundaries? Emphasizing Muslim–Jewish North African commonalities, avoiding politics
Bibliographic Information
Music and dance beyond boundaries? Emphasizing Muslim–Jewish North African commonalities, avoiding politics. 2025: 28(1). https://archive.jpr.org.uk/10.1177/13675494241311099
