Moving towards social cohesion through a Dalcroze-inspired approach : a multisite case study

Abstract

South Africa is not only a highly diverse society but a deeply divided one, with half of the population living in poverty. There are various threats to social cohesion in South Africa including inequality, poverty and the absence of interracial interactions. To achieve a peaceful coexistence through promoting social cohesion, it is important to create events in which the participants engage in shared activities and share common goals. Therefore, the purpose of this multisite case study is to explain how a Dalcroze-inspired approach can facilitate the nurturing of social cohesion at three community music engagement sites in a peri-urban area in the North West province of South Africa. The students who are engaged with service-learning at Tshameka Primary school, Setshaba Primary School and Vukona Community Development Centre, are included as participants in this study. I collected visual and interview data with the students who agreed to participate. The data analysis process consists of thematic analysis and the application of multisite case study procedures. From the review of the literature and the empirical data, a theoretical framework was generated to explain how a Dalcroze-inspired approach could facilitate social cohesion. Through participating in accessible Dalcroze-inspired activities within welcoming spaces, individuals experience social inclusion, which in turn facilitates the development of relationships on the basis of trust. Various types of trust were described as playing a role in the formation of relationships, such as capability, character and communication trust. Socially inclusive and trusted relationships are built in a context that celebrates diversity. The social connections that are formed through community music engagement inspire feelings of joy. Joyful social connections promote the sharing of values and goals while facing challenges together. These shared experiences lead to horizontal social cohesion, which occurs at the micro level of society. Building horizontal social cohesion through community music engagement can lead to peace, conflict transformation, reconciliation and transformation. This study shows how we can move toward greater social cohesion in the diverse communities and contexts we are situated in through a Dalcroze-inspired approach.