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Fri 16 Feb, 2018 02:41 pm
I am a dancer and choreographer. I am making a new work and, as fate would have it, my cast is primarily black woman (because people self-selected into my process, I didn't have auditions). My work is inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and Me Too movements because I'm disturbed by the number of people who have stood idly by and let abuse continue in our country. Is it appropriate for me, as a white woman, to create a piece that discusses racism with a cast of primarily black dancers? The overall piece is about asking the audience why the audience about who they believe and why. And from their to make them ask: what does this say about me and who I am? The narrative surrounds a woman who has been emotionally abused during her life and the consequences of this abuse on her life and mental health. Around this you see how people in her life perpetuate her abuse because they can't see past their own internal biases to see what she has been through. It's something that I have experienced, so it's very personal. But I also don't want to exploit my dancers. I'm really struggling with whether what I'm doing is right or not.
@nlawsonj23,
Talk to your cast about this.
@nlawsonj23,
ehBeth's answer is the good one. You ought to discuss this with them. For myself (white male) I would certainly
not consider that you cannot tell such a story. Should Wynton Marsalis never interpret classical music from a German or Italian composer? Why would I protest if a woman did a photographic essay of me? Or if she quoted something I've written?
We need bridges between us, not barriers. I think what you are attempting here is very positive.
@nlawsonj23,
If you collaborate with the performers so that is as much theirs as yours you have nothing to be concerned about. It's the difference between telling people what to do and listening to what they have to say.
I think you've got the right idea. Well done.