Sexism in Dance?

The Jasmin Vardimon Company.
photo by Ben Harries

As a nation we are well supplied with choreographers. Matthew Bourne, Akram Khan, Wayne McGregor, Liam Scarlett, Christopher Wheeldon… the list goes on. All are highly acclaimed, players on the world stage, their services booked for years ahead. So why are their female colleagues struggling for visibility? Why, when British dance was founded by women like Ninette de Valois and Marie Rambert, and has always employed more women than men, are there no high-profile women choreographers?

Read the full article here: Sexism in Dance

The Guardian has an interesting article regarding the lack of high profile female choreographers, particularly in Great Britain. 

Do you think the same holds true for us here in the US? Are male choreographers more regarded, more funded, more praised for their work compared to female choreographers?

Hmm...well...

10 rules for Students and Teachers

The Window Sex Project

One of the things on my New Years resolution list was to work with new choreographers and more women of color and by the end of January it had happened. The great and wonderful Sydnie L. (Don't forget the L) Mosley created an evening length work called "The Window Sex Project" that is a response through dance to street harassment.
You know the scene.
"Yo miss, MISS!"
"Hey beautiful"
"You need some help with that bag shorty?"
Insert your favorite line here ___________

We've all experienced it, witnessed it or maybe WE said inappropriate words to someone else and thought it was OK. The fact of the matter is, it happens and how I deal with it has been a real eye opener. I'm from Brooklyn, I'm used to men hollering at me everyday. Most if the time I don't even pay attention to it but a few times someone goes too far and I feel compelled to say something. I've been told since I was young to not respond back. "People are crazy" my mother said. "You don't know what they will do". So that's it right? I shouldn't say anything? I should just walk a little faster, keep my head down and make sure to never ever wear a short skirt?
I realize the answer to why it happens and why we respond the way we do is not an easy one and maybe there isn't a concrete answer. I would like to point out that for me it's deeply rooted in how we communicate with each other and I shouldn't feel uncomfortable when you communicate with me. The conversation has started and now I'm a part of it.

What are your thoughts on street harassment? 

Here we are at Penn State. 

Who knew?

I love seeing dance in music videos. P!NK could have a second career as a Modern dancer. Maybe Pilobolus? Just sayin…
It's funny since I viewed the video, I've been hearing so many people (mostly dancers) who did not like the tone this video was creating. Some were uncomfortable with P!nk's use of dance to violently show the relationship between her and the male dancer. They were happy with the use of contemporary dance but felt it could have been stylized or choreographed a different way. The couple would throw punches, slap, push, kick and throw each other around.
I get it.
The point of ART is to make people challenge ideas and question the status quo right? Would we have preferred to have P!nk to do the same standard video with the all to revealing outfit, heels, extreme makeup etc. that we've come to expect from pop stars? Would we have just preferred a close up shot and one single tear at the end? Sounds familiar right?
I applaud her for at least thinking outside the box. She used movement to convey a very troubled and rocky relationship. One that is not always simple but just as volatile as people can be when emotions are involved. At least it got people talking.
What do you think of the video? Do you have a favorite video that incorporates dance in a unique way?

Peep the video below
P!NK-Try