On Folkdance Fusion

In my fusion, it is not my intent to disrespect or degrade a folk culture but to openly discuss the concept of a disenfranchised culture as a potential overlay for another disenfranchised culture or subculture, possibly originating from a different geographical area entirely. This is performed from an admitted and transparent position of my own privilege. As a folk dance student embodying various intersecting groups of privilege, this has been an ongoing process in understanding, acceptance and absorbing as much data as possible amidst fluctuating resources I may have.  As a white American cisgendered female, it has been a process procedure, constantly imperfect on my part, continually challenging and occasionally overwhelming. But somewhere in here there is a necessary truth. After all the devotion to research, it is still important to turn off our minds and remember to dance. I do believe that we all need to challenge as much as we need to conserve traditions.


Reprinted with permission from the original BFLA blog post here: http://bellyfusionla.com/wp/2013/08/on-folkdance-fusion/