Darkowaa A-K, DANC 0163 - Black Dance and Dancers and the White Public- response 2

In the article by Brenda Dixon, she aims at portraying the difficulties Black dancers/choreographers in America face (in their success) due to White public criticisms and the overall inability to define 'black dance'.

Black choreographers and dancers in America face lots of discrimination and criticisms as the white public view them as 'outsiders' of the white context of dance. Whatever dance they perform is seen as 'black dance' as whoever is dancing, is black. Instead of bearing the same labels as other great white dance institutions and dancers, black dance institutions and dancers are separated from such worthy categories. Even if a black dancer dances strictly European-based ballet, they are viewed as dancing this in a 'black dance style.' These labels and apparent differences in dance create a form of separation and unequal opportunities that continually undermine the 'underdogs', in this case, black dancers.

These differences in black dance and white dance and their dancers is very evident in the criticisms the white public make on black dance. Their criticisms tend to be rooted from their misconceptions of black culture, music and hence dance languages of African Americans. Also, stereotypes of black dancers and black dance blind the white public in actually exploring the history and even new tales of the Black experience. The differences of black and white dance bring about the need for a definition of 'black dance.' But whether there is a definition or not, the utter differences do not give the white public the power to articulate subtly that white aesthetic is more ideal.

As soon as Americans as a whole realize that dance is a fusion of all cultures and should be appreciated as such, unity between white critics and dancers and black dance and dancers will continue to be divergent and 'different.'

Darkowaa Adu-Kofi
Dance 0163
"Black Dance and Dancers and the White Public"
Instructor: Christal Brown