By zatańczyły słowa. Funkcja retoryczna w procesie tworzenia dzieła choreograficznego na przykładzie spektaklu tanecznego "Lithos" w choreografii Jacka Owczarka

Abstract

The dissertation "To Make the Words Dance. The Rhetorical Function in the Creation of Choreographic Works on the Example of the Dance Performance Lithos Choreographed by Jacek Owczarek" by Paweł Skalski offers an original integration of rhetorical theory with dance theater practice. It explores how rhetorical tools can be used to analyze both the creative process and the choreographic work itself. The core hypothesis is that a dance performance, as a cultural text, functions as a rhetorical message with persuasive potential. Focusing on the performance Lithos by Jacek Owczarek, the study draws from documentation of the creative process, participant observation, and interviews with creators and dancers. Owczarek's “movement-driven creation” approach—rooted in improvisation and rejection of preconceptions—is examined through rhetorical concepts. The author investigates how tools like amplification, multimodality, and intentional unawareness structure movement development and contribute to the choreography’s expressive power. The dissertation emphasizes the role of emotions, imagination, and rhetorical figures in both the creation and reception of dance. It shows that improvisation, far from being random, is a structured rhetorical tool enabling meaningful communication. Skalski demonstrates that even abstract contemporary dance has a communicative function and can be effectively interpreted through rhetoric. This interdisciplinary work introduces a novel methodology that bridges aesthetics and communication theory. It positions rhetoric not only as an analytical tool for scholars but also as a practical resource for choreographers. The study opens new paths for exploring the interplay between movement, imagination, and cultural expression.