Dance Magazine: U.S. college dance curriculums have long been criticized for being too Eurocentric, emphasizing Western techniques like ballet and modern while making culturally diverse dance classes optional (if they're offered at all). In these academic systems that elevate whiteness, dancers of color don't always feel welcome. Some face daily microaggressions from peers and faculty, casting discrimination and, sometimes, outright hate. So what can you do if you find yourself staring down racism in dance class?
1 comment:
Although this article is specifically about dance at universities, most of these ideas can apply to all aspects of college life. Most of these ideas I’ve heard before and they are just challenging to implement. The idea that it's “not your job to educate” is an interesting one because it’s totally draining to argue with or try to educate someone who's not having it, but on the other hand, do you just let them go? Somebody has to correct them at some point. I really like the fourth suggestion: make advocacy a habit, not a hashtag. We do a great job of being outraged in short bursts, but the best way to make real change is to have a concise dispersal of energy into a problem until it’s solved and not get distracted. Breaking the bystander effect is another challenge and I’ve realized that the time I’m most likely to step up is when I’m surrounded by like minded people, but people are more likely to keep their bigotted opinions to themselves.
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