How to avoid cultural customs in competitive routines

Competitive routines can be opportunities to present stories from different cultures and points of view. But without careful consideration, the line between adventure and customization can begin. The way to avoid cultural customization and instead make the routine is to help all background students enhance their horizons.

What is a cultural custom?

In competition, cultural specialization occurs when routines rely on backward or stereotypes of minority culture in an attempt to present this culture or try to borrow on their traditions. According to Canadian choreographer and dance teacher Ming Bow Lam, “it is often the watery version of one's culture, the superficial version, and, in the worst,, transforms it into a carpet, which eliminates the group's humanity.”

As an experienced competitive judge, Broadway actor Richard Riaz Uder often sees that “makeup dancers look more like a particular race. Lam has identified the catelog of a “China Doll” or “Arabic Bollywood” organizations advertised clothing. She explains, “Both cultures and people are tilt, especially women of East and South Asian descent.”

To explain how, how can the movement be allocated, Vikas Arun, competing judge and co -founder of the project converter, a performance company, which has a tape dance with Bharatanatium, decided on a routine Bollywood song. The dancers used the gestures and steps of the hands, which meant to eliminate the classic Indian dance, though they did not have this training. Arun says, “People should feel free to use the music that affects them,” but just like every other dance style, the words of a culturally specific movement are not something that you can 'try' to win in competition without proper training. “

Are working

According to the Under, the easiest way to clean up the customization of teachers and choreographers to ask myself, is, “am I respecting the culture from which it is the beginning of music, dance, choreography, or clothing, or am I not using this culture to tell my own story?” For Arun, choreographers are interested in looking for another cultural dance style, at least one should look for an expert's view (and compensate them for your time). “They can look at the draft of your piece and suggest any change, or share ideas about performing some movements properly in this way.”

If no one in the faculty has the necessary training or experience in this manner, Lam also recommends hiring someone who guides the master class for students, or even in guest choreographs. “This helps you to prioritize authenticity, discuss the history of the cultural dance form with your students, and directly support the culture you are learning from it.”

Creating a connection

Both the Under and Lam encourage the sharing of educational resources to allocate studios. “Make sure your values are connected within your guidelines and content, so dancers and teachers are aware of what is appropriate and not appropriate,” says Lam. She also suggests that, when possible, conventions bring instructors who specialize in different cultural dance style, to provide new opportunities for dancers and teachers to learn equally. Under advises judges to observe the cultural specialization to instruct all comments to the usual choreographer or the studio director – those who have the option to address it. Arun agrees: “If I am seeing something that I think can be considered customized, I would especially say that my next comments are only for the chorographer, and give someone time to stop criticizing someone before continuing.”

Although it can be painful to cope with cultural specialization, it can also lead to dialogue that moves the dance community forward. “I don't want this generation to lose its curiosity and will be surprised at all the incredible style of dance, because how it would be guessed,” says Arun. Lam's others, being influenced by the music and movement of others, is about cultural definition. She says, “Most importantly, it is ready to learn what new information you can have, and remember that small changes can have a major impact.”