This is the story of a “velvet revolution” – peaceful and non-violent – that of education. It is also the story of a broken dream whose emergence, disappearance and re-emergence can be evidenced through largely forgotten archive documents.

In the wake of World War I in Europe, some pointed to school – “a factory of subjugation” – as a catalyst of the disaster. Between the two Great Wars, more radical educational experiments were tried to design a different type of school, to build peace.  

Rudolf Steiner, Maria Montessori, Célestin Freinet, Alexander S. Neill, Ovide Decroly, Paul Geheeb and Janusz Korczak are some of the charismatic figures who propelled this counter-movement that sought non-punitive and emancipatory forms of education – the invention of a new type of school. 

Included in the dance not dance programme, this session is followed by a panel discussion on art and education as part of the celebrations of the centenary of Madalena Perdigão’s birth, bringing together several generations of artists and pedagogues, such as Ana Marques Gastão, Maria Emília Brederode Santos, Patrícia Portela and João Fiadeiro.

Image © Les Films du Poisson

dance not dance

This event is included in the (re)performances, films and talks series which constitutes the first part of dance not dance – archaeologies of the new dance in Portugal. More info.