Week 7: What Are We All So Ashamed Of?

Our choreography is complete and we are now refining and attempting to perfect the moves. I love the song that this class has selected - "Charley Aint' Home" by ZZ Ward. As the 8-week session nears its completion and students prepare for the final showcase though, I find myself struggling with the idea of performing our routine in front of an audience. While our dance is meant to be somewhat light-hearted, it is also teasingly provocative. Is it just playful or is it overtly sexual? Is it merely suggestive or is it offensive?

I find that I'm having a hard time being objective regarding where this dance falls on the spectrum between sexual and sensual. During last week's class, we recorded the routine to help those who couldn't be at class that night and as a study aid for practicing during the week. I watch the video tonight with an open mind and I don't find anything that is offensive or "over the top". The litmus test for many people when deciding if something is right or wrong is "would I take this same action if someone were watching me?" My personal litmus test is "how would I feel if my parents saw me doing this?" As I watch the video, I wonder what their reaction would be. While I think it would probably be awkward for them and would certainly make me nervous, the truth is, there isn't anything there that should make me feel ashamed.

But we live in a "shame society". Everywhere we turn, someone is pointing their fingers at someone else to say "you shouldn't do this, you shouldn't do that". At its most extreme are reports that have been in the news recently - stories from Uganda, and much closer to home, Arizona, where people are not only being judged for their personal decisions, but are being called out for them publicly in efforts to shame them. I recognize those are extreme examples but even at a very basic level, it is becoming far too common to judge another's choices as worse than your own merely because they are different. Obviously there are certainly things that we can all agree are "wrong". However, there are a multitude of other areas that might make us feel ashamed, even though they are innocent enough personal decisions. Parents are shaming their children as a means of discipline, social media is used to shame others as a means of bullying, and for fun, even some pets are now subject to public shaming. It's no wonder that at times, we might all feel ashamed even when there is no justification.

I watch the video again and I don't see anything to be ashamed of. More importantly, I revisit my initial reasons for taking the class in the first place. Yes, it was a chance to get some exercise in a unique way with some fun and a sense of adventure. And I kept coming because I learned it was also about self confidence. Chair dance is a form of burlesque that, while it does imply a certain sexuality, is more importantly about sensuality. The "performer", whether public or private, emanates a confidence and appreciation of their own body that is healthy, positive, and fun.