![]() The “Juba” was a form of dance many enslaved people performed during the 18th century, involving the slapping of hands, legs, and body to make music. ” In Steppin’ on the Blues: The Visible Rhythms of African American Dance, Jacqui Malone writes that “music and dance gave African Americans a sense of power and control - it had a direct impact on their psychic and emotional states and allowed them to drop their masks and articulate their inner feelings.”Įnslaved Africans created new, unique dances, such as the “cakewalk,” which served as mimicry of ballroom-style dances often performed by white elites and plantation owners at the time, as well as continued styles of dance from their native countries. Journalist Benna Crawford writes that “African dance was woven through religious ceremon and social assemblies and served to preserve the sense of identity and personal history. When enslaved Africans were kidnapped and forcefully moved to the American colonies in the 16th and 17th centuries, they brought with them traditional African styles of dance. The foundation of the jazz technique we practice today comes from traditional African dances. However, throughout the 20th century, white dancers and choreographers claimed jazz dance as their own without acknowledging its salient history. Jazz dance, one of the cornerstone genres of dance in America, has deep roots in African and African American culture. While the #BlackTikTokStrike may seem like a contemporary issue, there is a long history of white people stealing, appropriating, and making viral the art of Black artists without giving credit in America. Credit to the original creators was not given. ![]() However, as Natachi Onwuamaegbu of The Washington Post points out, D’Amelio, a white creator, “gained millions of followers before she acknowledged the dance’s Black creator.” Similarly, white TikTok star Addison Rae Easterling was invited on The Tonight Show to perform eight viral TikTok dances, none of which she choreographed. One of the most popular dances of all time on the app is the “Renagade” dance, performed to K Camp’s “Lottery.” This dance was created by 14-year-old Jalaiah Harmon and made popular by TikTok superstar Charli D’Amelio. For example, the viral “Savage” dance to the popular Megan Thee Stallion song was created by then-teenager Keara Wilson and has received tens of millions of views and even a recreation by Megan Thee Stallion herself. Since TikTok’s conception, Black creators have been paving the way for the popular dance trends that become instantaneously viral online. ![]() Many Black creators decided to refrain from creating new TikTok dances until they received credit where it's due. ![]() In June 2021, the hashtag #BlackTikTokStrike went viral on TikTok. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |