The dance is strong magic. The dance is a spirit. The dance is life.
—Pearl Primus
Witnessing the lovely “Dance for Justice” crew (pictured above performing choreography by Guy Caridi) at the Shoreline “No Kings” rally last Saturday, I was reminded of an article I’d come across by Monica Reilly, Dancing as a Form of Protest (The Science Survey, January 26, 2024).
Reilly posits that dancing empowers community and highlights examples including the cakewalk, known as a precursor to Lindy Hop, or Swing dancing. Originally a form of entertainment for slave owners, in which slaves were compelled to perform (such as when visitors were present) the cakewalk became an outlet for self-expression and social commentary. The dancers, contrarily and with their talented styling, parodied the white folks’ stilted movements by mocking their minuets and grand marches. Author Jacqui Malone, in Steppin’ on the Blues, terms this “derision dancing” and avers, “Indeed, the roots of America’s first international dance craze, the cakewalk, are grounded in black parody.”
Irish dancing, the article continues, morphed into a form of protest when the English attempted to stamp it out in the 17th century, being kept alive thanks to dance masters who traveled the countryside and taught in secret. One theory suggests, says Reilly, that the reason Irish dancers keep their arms by their sides goes back to a performance requested by their cruel oppressor, Queen Elizabeth I. In essence, they refused to “raise their arms before her to show their lack of respect.”
I agree with a dancer quoted in the article, who said “I do think dancing makes me feel empowered, because after three hours of dancing, I feel accomplished.” Reilly also mentions groups dancing through the streets during the 2021 George Floyd protests and concludes “nothing is more powerful, and more threatening to those in power, than a united community.” Indeed, seeing the joyful dancers on Saturday, moving in harmony to “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” was a demonstration of how moving a force dance can be.
Feel the power of dance in your own life by patronizing some classes and events listed online at the Dance Calendar.
See you on the dance floor —Sean Donovan