The Christological Perichōrēsis and Dance

Abstract

Abstract In order to take the physical and incorporeal dimension of dance seriously in the context of Christian theology, we propose that it should be the neglected Christological Perichōrēsis (as well as concepts and ideas surrounding it) rather than the Trinitarian Perichōrēsis that is historically and traditionally relevant as a source of a dialogue between Christian theology and dance. First, we propose that the guiding metaphor should be Christ as dancer, historical examples of which already exist unlike with the notion of the Trinity as dance. Then, we look at St Maximus the Confessor’s Christocentric cosmology. With the human being understood as a “microcosm” of body–soul(spirit) unity placed at the center of the entire creation, his Christocentric cosmology could be a potential source for enhancing a dialogue between Christian theology and dance, while helping us overcome the dualistic separation between the body and the spirit and consequently between nature and culture.