Blockchain Papers

Lewis Porter

This essay explores the emerging phenomenon of dance as a collectible within the crypto landscape, exploring how blockchain technology is reshaping the way dance is valued and experienced. Through the lens of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), the essay examines how dance is being transformed into a collectible object, complicating conventional paradigms of commodification. Focusing on the work of the Chilean dance duo CryptoMoves and the practices of collectors like Anna Condo, the essay highlights how the blockchain not only enables the commodification of dance but also introduces new affective dimensions and knowledge production avenues. By tracing the historical context of dance as both commodity and gift, the essay argues that the NFT marketplace catalyzes a new paradigm where the role of the collector becomes central in defining the cultural and economic value of dance in the 21st century. This shift, as the essay suggests, has profound implications for the future of dance, its cultural identity, and its place within the broader digital economy.

Juan Manuel Aldape Muñoz

The emergence of blockchain dance tokens is reshaping the dynamics of race in short-form dance videos within digital economies. While blockchain technologies primarily have been associated with cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, they are changing the arts sector, particularly dance and choreography. This transformation has significant implications for understanding the valorization of Black labor and aesthetics. By examining two distinct choreographic initiatives, we can grasp the profound impact of blockchain cultural production and distribution ecosystems. One example is the work of JaQuel Knight, renowned for choreographing iconic music videos, including Beyoncé’s. Knight's efforts to copyright his dances and empower Black choreographers reflect a shift towards artist ownership of dance steps. Another case study involves the Renegade dance, initially popularized on TikTok. Despite its viral success, choreographer Jalaiah Harmon struggled for recognition. Now, with the advent of dance Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), artists can monetize their work and bridge the gap between labor and circulation. These innovative legal and financial pathways mark the emergence of crypto-choreographies, enabling Black artists to reimagine and carry out a post-extractive dance world. This transcends conventional debates of dance appreciation versus appropriation, signaling a transformative shift in aesthetic economies and the limits of choreographic copyright law.