But one thing that stood out was the “Legion of Extraordinary Dancers” performance. WOW! It was a breath taking performance that juxtaposed classical ballet with breaking and pop locking. It’s crazy to see that performance come to fruition. I remember going to school at Brentwood and I would get in trouble at the dances. I was told by the administration that I couldn’t bring anymore of my “outside” friends to the parties. Most of them were Hip Hop dancers, “housers” with backpacks, baggy clothes who performed crazy flips. The message I got was that Hip Hop was neither welcomed in the gym dances or in the “modern” ballet classes. But that was in 93. Even worse was citing rap lyrics on English term papers when comparing Shakespeare or Arthur Miller. My teachers had no frame of reference for the poetry and so they dismissed it. Actually they completely dissed it.
And then there it was…break dancing at the Oscars. It made me want to cry. Hip Hop is no longer the language of the edge-dwellers and has gone main stream for some time. But to see it in its infinite grace and beauty at the awards; I was floored. I think we take it for granted. But I remember when it was just something that “those kids” did, including me. But what would the world look like without Hip Hop? Would Obama be president? Think about that for a minute.
Shak
100.
No comments:
Post a Comment