Dangerous Dancing
I am awestruck by the audacity and beauty of the Iraqi National Folklore Group.
From the NYT:
"…each turn of the hip and dip at the waist in their choreographed pieces has become weighted with a dangerous new reality, even as they wait for the chaos around them to subside so they can perform again. In today’s Iraq, with conservative religious parties and radical militias exerting growing influence over every aspect of life, even dancing is an act of bravery."
How many of us have something that they care so passionately about, are so devoted to that we would literally risk our lives for our art? I can only imagine the beauty that must go into every one of their pieces–after all, quite literally, every dance could be their last.
How ironic that under Hussein they were performing to sold-out houses all over the world…and now they have to hide their identities. Not the greatest job of liberation, eh?
“Religion in its essence does not match with art,” said Fouad Thanoon, the group’s director and lead choreographer. “So when religion and government come together, that will affect art very much.”
Amen, brother. Amen.
1 Comment
Gray,
your image kinda freaked out on your layout. Thought I’d let you know.