Dancing Blog

Growing up as a child, my parents put me in a plethora of dance classes; ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, and probably more. It was just an expected class for a little girl to sign up for. There was never a boy in my class that I can remember but if there were it would have been the weirdest news in the world. If you find a male in your dance class you assume he is gay automatically. Dance is a something found in the natural world, which women tend, join while men go with the forces of civilization and cultural advancement. Even though dancing is so simple, men still partake it but are typically seen in the background while women perform their work. In today’s society for the most part female dancers take in all of the spotlight. It is very rare to see or hear of profession male dancers. I was unaware of how much gender and sexuality influenced a dance profession in society as a whole. Society created these gender barriers and stereotypes in the work field that are difficult to be broken.

When I took dance all I cared about was getting the right position at the right part of the song, while making the movements look fluid and functional. Little did I know that I was participating in a very feminine art especially ballet. It is more than movement especially the historical dances that were before my time. Each dance tells a story and has a meaning behind each position and movement, the song selection, as well as costume choice. It is all one big presentation. After watching several of the Urban Bush Women’s videos, I realized how much depth went into these dances. Not only was their meaning behind the movement but also factoring in the costume colors, the lyrical dance moves, lyrics of the music, the beat and volume of the song, etc. Each song shared a different story some angry which the dark clothing and loud music could tell. Others dances were peaceful because of the soft music and calm lyrical motions. Batty Moves was a dance that was different than most because of the choice of a provocative costume and more sexual dance moves. The dance was made more exciting because each dancer added their personal spin on the basic design in a very elaborate taste. With African Americans growing up in the country of the United States of America, dance was a way to connect with their heritage, culture, and roots. It expresses more than a dance; dancing explains the ancestry and the history these women had mold the person they are. Dance is a much more expressive outlet that I realized. This dance group was also helpful to African Americans in order to find their niche in this new world. Dancing to these African women allows them to be unique and express themselves with a group of women who share the bond of having similar historical roots.