I’ve chosen to take part in Culturama (specifically, the Iran dance) this year, first and foremost, due to the fact that I would like to learn more about different cultures! I feel like we do not cover as many cultures as we should in class. So many cultures are underrepresented and I would like to show my appreciation and respect for their arts. And the fact that I love to dance (it’s so empowering for me) means I feel like Culturama would be a perfect experience for me, as I can learn about other cultures as well as develop confidence in myself, and refine my dance technique.
Doing cultural dance is also a new challenge for me, as I previously have only ever participated in contemporary, hip-hop, street jazz or other urban forms of dance. However, participating in these previous dance activities has allowed me to develop better technique, coordination and groove to allow me to execute harder dances. Learning choreography, I feel, is therefore one of my strengths. However, the challenge here is to capture the essence and style of a culture and to appreciate and learn about their arts, which I have never done before. Even as a third-culture kid, there are some cultures I have never been exposed to, and so I think that Culturama will adequately challenge me and allow me to grow.
Culturama is also a big commitment, rehearsals stretching on late in the day after school, and so I think I will need to persevere in order to keep my motivation and energy going throughout the day. I also know that I participate in many activities at once, and so I will have to manage my time effectively. I also feel like not performing in front of a live audience may impact energy levels on stage, however, I may feel a lot less anxious about performing if there isn’t anyone watching live.
Despite all this, I am filled with anticipation and excitement to dance in this amazing production!
Please refer to THIS drive link to watch videos of Culturama practices!