The dances of charme: Spaces for elaboration of youth identities

Abstract

El Charme is a popular urban cultural manifestation developed specifically from Rio de Janeiro. The dances are carried out in diverse neighbourhoods and are performed, mostly by adults. It works itself with the hypothesis that these spaces of dissemination and sociability are also performed by youth. Besides being performed in many other events, youth are observed, wether in groups or alone. The conversations performed by some of them, act as an objective to understand by which way they choose the dance as a space to construct their identities, from the relations established with their peers. It is understood that the dances are also inter-generational spaces and are important because we can perceive the way in which relationships between youths and adults are formed. Finally, it is the contributions of the presence of youth, and their cultural expressions which are identified and they contribute to the continuity of El Charme, beyond possible transformations which this presence can produce, and with that, again signifies a cultural movement.