Comments

1. Dasgoot says:

   June 21, 2020 at 1:55 pm

   I don’t know if “awkwardness” is the right word to describe dances from Nigeria, South Africa and the Ivory Coast. Here’s an interview with the choreographer if you want to read more about it.

   https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2018/05/childish-gambino-this-is-america-dance-choreographer-sherrie-silver-interview

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   • Tom Richmond says:

     June 21, 2020 at 2:10 pm

     I understand these dance moves are specifically African, but think “awkward” is a fair word. “Contorted” might be more accurate. It’s not meant in a derogatory way, but the movements are certainly jerky and incorporate unusual body positions, transitions and facial expressions, and is descriptive of the movements themselves not their origins.

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2. Dasgoot says:

   June 21, 2020 at 3:03 pm

   Oh, I’m sure you didn’t mean it in a derogatory way. But labelling dances “awkward,” “contorted” or “unusual” (although, I’ll admit that those words sound a little pejorative) just seems a little unfair, considering they’re only “unusual” because they’re not seen around here. It makes it sound like Western-style dancing is the “normal” style. There’s a whole world of dancing out there and just because it’s not what we do, doesn’t make it unusual.

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   • Tom Richmond says:

     June 21, 2020 at 3:06 pm

     Fair enough, although anything that is different than what someone is used to seeing is the definition of “unusual” (meaning not what is usual). We only have our own perspective and experiences to draw from. That’s for the link. Interesting read.

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3. Dasgoot says:

   June 21, 2020 at 7:52 pm

   Oh, fair enough. But, for my money, this kind of dancing is much more objectively “unusual”…

   https://youtu.be/CYmiB1bTFjw

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