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Dancers from Nothing To Lose
I’ve written a few past posts about fat dancers and was inspired to write again on the subject by a show in Australia featuring a cast of obese dancers. What caught my interest, aside from the obvious fact of how unusual this is, was the director’s comment that such a show shouldn’t be, but is, controversial.
In my area there is a popular feminist dance company called the Dance Brigade. It’s talented director, Krissy Keefer, while not fat, does have an atypical body type. She’s short, stocky, and muscular. Just because her body is not that of a typical ballerina, her dancing is controversial. Just what is this all about? Why is it controversial for more than one body type to perform dance?
Human beings move naturally to music. We do so with grace, or we don’t, and it has nothing to do with our shape, size, or even our physical abilities. Yet the majority of people in our society are astonished to see great dancing in a fat body and embarrassed to find themselves as mesmerised by the movements of the fat dancer as by the more familiar lithe dancer body.
Even worse, derisive laughter is a common reaction, no matter how good the dancer. Derision is a tool that keeps people in their place through shame. So it’s all the more impressive to see the existence of a show like Nothing To Lose, where the dancers are unabashedly comfortable in their bodies. Take a look at this video and notice if you have a reaction, positive or negative. It’s interesting to look at the root of that reaction and question it’s history, influence, and how much of it is culturally imposed and how much is pure artistic appreciation. Have fun!
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by LaurieAnn Lepoff
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