to ask if you think this would be offensive

[TirednWorried]

I have to put together themed group dances for eachof 15 classes for an end of year show, so i am looking over the last 10 or 14 years to see of there is anything that can be reused.
One is a native American themed dance to Running bear which afor anyone is basically about Romeo andJuliet type scenario between young lovers of different tribes.There would be no headdresses etc but the dance id quite sort of hoppy and arms folded like a native american. I;ll get them to where neutral coloures legging and T shirt and probably plaits in their hair.
Is that offensive / too much do you think?
YABU yes poor form
YANBU OK

There's many styles of dancing, from decades like 20s and 60s and 70s to styles like hip hop and interpretive and breakdancing, even some of the more appropriate tiktok dances.

There's literally no reason to choose this one.

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams

Lots of Joseph is out dated now. I recognise watched the other day and was horrified. The productions now are very different to the ones I had as a kid (no Joan Collins style tassels, teatowel heads and some lyrics changed)

I can't see a school doing it as was these days

It 100% is offensive.

My knowledge of Native American dance is limited, so correct me if I'm wrong.

But, aren't the dance moves entrenched in spiritually meaning?

For example, in the video you posted the girls are doing the war whooping - moving their hand over their mouth and whopping.
This act has quite significant meaning for Native Americans.
To use it as a form of entertainment is really jarring to me.

Do you know all the meanings to each move?

Don't do it, it's very offensive

I didn't particularly mean the costumes (although I realise I wasn't very clear). I meant more that there are various musical styles with obvious geographical overtones — calypso, rock 'n' roll, French etc. He does the same in Starlight Express. I suspect the cigarettes have gone in Those Canaan Days.

Don't go for anything that could be offensive, especially if you have limited knowledge of the topics.

@woodhill

Wasn't there a hit song in the early 60s on this story

Running Bear?

The song the OP literally quoted in her OP?

There's a difference between children learning about and trying other cultures' authentic music and dances, and doing frankly piss-take stereotype moves to a naff pop song. The first is not offensive, the second is.

How about some Disney songs? A couple of extracts from Peter and the Wolf? Chitty Chitty bang bang? Songs from Oliver? Old songs - when I was very little we did a group dance to 'Me and my Shadow' with our teddies. Singing in the rain? Lots of great songs in old musicals.

F-hell, that video! Did they follow it up with a black & white minstrel show?? Where’s Deerness that someone thought that was okay??

@logsonlogsoff

F-hell, that video! Did they follow it up with a black & white minstrel show?? Where’s Deerness that someone thought that was okay??

To be fair it was posted 10 years ago, which I know is not that long ago, but hopefully they wouldn't do it now.

Christ alive don't do it. I'm shocked this is even a question. Indigenous culture, dances and customs are not for other cultures to appropriate for entertainment.

And it's not for people outside of that culture to say the appropriation is not offensive.

Just don't do it.

@Mrstwiddle

I don’t think it’s offensive, but in the current climate you’re bound to upset someone so would probably avoid for that reason alone.

Are you Native American?

Why go there OP when absolutely no need to

Play it safe

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams

It's never appropriate to play pretend at other cultures

This happens in loads of performances though — look at the second act of The Nutcracker. Or Joseph and his Amazing Technicoloured Dreamcoat.

And look at when those productions were written/composed....

@Gottahavehighhopes I saw Joseph in the West end about this time last year. It was exactly the same as 40 years ago. It was fabulous. I would say no to the dance though OP

No no no. Sorry op.

There are loads of Christmas themes you could go for - stars, sugarplum fairies, robins, one of those big ensemble pieces like that Nativity film. Plus you could have things like 70s disco, hip hop, animals, under the sea, circus, winter wonderland, emotions, weather.

Surely there's enough that you don't need to risk offensive stereotypes and cultural appropriation by picking national or cultural identities as themes?

There are so many 'themes' you could choose without hideously appropriating Native American culture and traditions. Didn't watching this video make you feel really uncomfortable? That it wasn't something that has any place in today's world?

Have you properly studied the correct steps from the native dances and understand their meaning and cultural context?? If not, YABU. It’s not a case of white kids shouldn’t be learning traditional Native American dancing, or as in an above example that black kids shouldn’t learn Irish dance- it’s about the person teaching the traditional dance getting the steps, arm, head movements and body alignments culturally correct and be able to explain this to the students so that they understand the context of the movements. There is absolutely nothing wrong with black children learning dance styles such as Irish, Morris or Highland that you may associate as being traditionally from white cultures, and likewise nothing wrong with white children learning any of the many styles of African dance, or hip hop. What is very important is that the teacher has trained correctly and has a clear understanding and depth of knowledge of the style. What is absolutely NOT ok is some clueless person doing a crap impersonation of what they think a cultural dance style looks like, and worse still, doing it badly. Cultural appropriation at it’s worst.

I’m a ballet teacher- so if I don’t turn out my feet and I hold my arms still and hop skip jump around the room, can I pass it off as Irish dancing?? Absolutely not. I did a short study in Irish dance at college but would not attempt to try and teach it to others due to my knowledge being limited.
And don’t get me started on people who advertise street dance classes as hip hop, without ever having studied hip hop or understanding anything about the history of hip hop.

@ABCeasyasdohrayme

Absolutely not.

My heritage is not your entertainment.

Please also look at the meaning of plaits for us before casually throwing it in there as dress up.

@ABCeasyasdohrayme has already given you the answer.

If there is objection from someone of that culture then that should be more than enough to dissuade you from going ahead.

Just a thought

Ask your students and see what their response is?

I suspect they will all be “WTAF??”

There's always somebody offended about something these days so you'd be likely to offend someone, I'm sure.

that youtube is hideous, why did you refer us to it.
how can you think this would be ok.
i see it was recorded 10 years ago; doubt anyone would do it now.
OP surely you can see what a mockery it is.
are you for real. or just trying to be provocative.