I am a Dancer PERIOD...
My form, my gender does not define my dance- My dance is from inside and the outside is just a support system...The content that I bring is what matters and it is defined by my experiences- happiness, struggles, pain, challenges, successes, failures- This is what my ART is about. They all are HUMAN- I strongly believe in this but even so, it is a common misconception that "female dancers have it all easy"- I want to address this!!! I can't/will not but I hope to speak for every dancer- For me, it was not, is not and I know, it will not be easy!
... "traditional profession"
The only time I was not questioned about dance was when I was learning it- Thankfully (absolutely grateful), it was a time when it was considered to be as important as regular school!!!! But it was also a time when it was OK to learn but not OK to take it as a profession .... Since then, I had to actively fight - from the idea of taking dance as a profession; answer gizillion questions about why I did not pursue a "traditional profession"; face obstacles at different levels- some from my own family, the society, my dance field- work extremely hard to be where I am today; chalk my own path; not lose my identity...
You don't have to worry about earning"...Seriously?
As a very young dancer, it was not easy to get opportunities because, my style did not align with any of the popular/more accepted styles...Still, I am told that I would be even more accepted, if I could change my style...A few high-profile nods at the expense of my voice, my identity, my Art? My work will hopefully and should speak for me :) Then you have the benevolent patriarchy and the, "Oh, you should have the support of your parents/husband- so it is OK to have dance as a career- You don't have to worry about earning"...Seriously???
Get a grip!!
This is the 21st century- Get a grip!!! All the female dancers that I know are extremely independent and make sure that they can fend for themselves (and others if need be) and YES, we all (male and female dancers) have and need the emotional support of our families/friends and I am truly indebted and grateful to all those who believed and still believe in me- My loved ones!!! Agreed, this field is extremely difficult- Not just for one but for ALL but I LOVE dance,
So, time to quit underestimating others' struggles
This is my PASSION, my PROFESSION, it saved me/saves me - so I will live for it; if need be, fight for it and die for it... So, time to quit underestimating others' struggles and start looking at dancing bodies as vehicles of ART and not based on gender and other external highly irrelevant aspects!
PriyaLasya, (C), Do Not Copy, Copyrights Acknowledged
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