Reflections on Authenticity, History, and Cultural Essence in Dance...

Kiadorin · 10-12-2006, 03:59 PM

...from a B-Boy perspective.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-3YTdllE5Y

I just thought this was cool. In a way, I found it a relief to be able to step away from the bellydance debates for a minute and see that we're not alone in struggling with these issues.

yasmilah · 10-12-2006, 05:01 PM

Wow, Kiadorin!!!

I loved watching that- thank you for posting it!

Shanazel · 10-12-2006, 05:56 PM

I don't have sound and don't know what B-Boy is. Could someone please enlighten me?

Yasmine Bint Al Nubia · 10-12-2006, 06:51 PM

Thank You so much Kiadorin! It really shows that dance is universal and the emotional expression is a very real part of any dance form. Music also is just as important in helping the dancer express vital elements of dance.Just as "any idiot that can spin on his head" is not a breakdancer, nor is any idiot wearing a bedlah is a bellydancer.

Shanazel. B-boy or b-girl is a term that describes a breakdancer. Breakdancing went mainstream about 20 yrs ago, but the dance form was born in the urban landscape of America, primarily New York. Breakdancing is typified by athletic turns, spins, pops and locks often done on the floor but also standing up. Music of choice is heavy electronic R&B with strong percussive elements. One could say that hip-hop(rap) genre is an offshoot of breakdancing and the hip-hop style dancing reflects the music and its roots in breakdancing.
For obvious reasons there are not many 40 yr old b-boyz and b-girlz still dancing

Gabi · 10-12-2006, 08:10 PM

Good Clip!

This is something every dancer, or any kind of artist has encountered and understands. The difference is opinion of what comprises this "essence", what makes it "real". And opinions differ

In visual art you have abstractionists yipping about whether representational i.e., realistic art has "it" or is just technique and the representational artists yip about whether non-rep has "it" or if it's just bad technique. Few ever concede that it's possible to have both even if it's a different vision.

The arguement is a never ending one that is only worth pursuing if you enjoy the arguement itself - other than that, to me, it's do what you like, call it what you like. You either find an audience or not, then you can either change it or not.

Aisha Azar · 10-12-2006, 08:38 PM

Dear Kiadorin,
What a great clip!!!!!!!!!! LOVED the artist who said that when an artist is doing the real thing, you can see it in their bones!!! That is exactly how I feel when I watch belly dancers.
I have also read an interview with Savion Glover in which he bemoans what is now happening to tap. ( I loved the old clips of the old timers in that video! My all time favorite tapper is Sugar Leonard and my second fave is Savion.)
Belly dance is indeed not the only area where these questions are being asked, but it was so great to see the same dance issues applied to break dancing.
Thanks for sharing!
Regards,
A'isha

10-12-2006, 03:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
Kiadorin Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Posts: 96	Reflections on Authenticity, History, and Cultural Essence in Dance... ...from a B-Boy perspective. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-3YTdllE5Y I just thought this was cool. In a way, I found it a relief to be able to step away from the bellydance debates for a minute and see that we're not alone in struggling with these issues.

10-12-2006, 05:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
yasmilah Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 30	Wow, Kiadorin!!! I loved watching that- thank you for posting it! Last edited by yasmilah; 06-16-2008 at 09:40 PM.

10-12-2006, 08:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
Aisha Azar V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest USA Posts: 4,462	B-Boys Dear Kiadorin, What a great clip!!!!!!!!!! LOVED the artist who said that when an artist is doing the real thing, you can see it in their bones!!! That is exactly how I feel when I watch belly dancers. I have also read an interview with Savion Glover in which he bemoans what is now happening to tap. ( I loved the old clips of the old timers in that video! My all time favorite tapper is Sugar Leonard and my second fave is Savion.) Belly dance is indeed not the only area where these questions are being asked, but it was so great to see the same dance issues applied to break dancing. Thanks for sharing! Regards, A'isha

10-12-2006, 05:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,563	I don't have sound and don't know what B-Boy is. Could someone please enlighten me?

10-12-2006, 06:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
Yasmine Bint Al Nubia V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 1,132	Thank You so much Kiadorin! It really shows that dance is universal and the emotional expression is a very real part of any dance form. Music also is just as important in helping the dancer express vital elements of dance.Just as "any idiot that can spin on his head" is not a breakdancer, nor is any idiot wearing a bedlah is a bellydancer. Shanazel. B-boy or b-girl is a term that describes a breakdancer. Breakdancing went mainstream about 20 yrs ago, but the dance form was born in the urban landscape of America, primarily New York. Breakdancing is typified by athletic turns, spins, pops and locks often done on the floor but also standing up. Music of choice is heavy electronic R&B with strong percussive elements. One could say that hip-hop(rap) genre is an offshoot of breakdancing and the hip-hop style dancing reflects the music and its roots in breakdancing. For obvious reasons there are not many 40 yr old b-boyz and b-girlz still dancing

10-12-2006, 08:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
Gabi Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 317	Good Clip! This is something every dancer, or any kind of artist has encountered and understands. The difference is opinion of what comprises this "essence", what makes it "real". And opinions differ In visual art you have abstractionists yipping about whether representational i.e., realistic art has "it" or is just technique and the representational artists yip about whether non-rep has "it" or if it's just bad technique. Few ever concede that it's possible to have both even if it's a different vision. The arguement is a never ending one that is only worth pursuing if you enjoy the arguement itself - other than that, to me, it's do what you like, call it what you like. You either find an audience or not, then you can either change it or not.