by Margarita Ortega y G¢mez
Daily Lobo
Assimilating traditional and indigenous dance forms with European influence was one of many important culture issues presented at a dance conference Wednesday.
A panel of dance educators, some from UNM, representing a variety of ethnic dance backgrounds discussed the issues affecting them on personal and social levels at the National Dance Education Organization conference.
The four-day conference, organized by Department of Theatre and Dance Professor Bill Evans, was on the UNM campus and at the Hilton Hotel at 1901 University Blvd.
Moderator and internationally known choreographer Liz Lerman began the evening by presenting questions based on what the panelists said when they introduced themselves.
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Panel participants included Mary Jane Bird of the Laguna Pueblo; Miguel Caro, instructor of Mexican Folklorico at UNM; Brent Chase, director of Pollen Trail Dancers in Winslow, Ariz.; Rujeko Dumbutshena, instructor of African dance at UNM; Pablo Rodarte, former UNM dance instructor and current director of Dance Espa§a; and Joaquin Encinias, director of the Yjastros dance company and educator at the National Conservatory of Flamenco Arts.
Bird said she blends American Indian dance and culture with ballet and modern dance.
"I find that the issues surrounding the theatrical performing of world and indigenous dance forms for me have to be explained through experience," Bird said.
She went on to outline three examples of racism and prejudice that influence her performance and creative process.
"Because I am Indian, people assume that I am going to do American Indian dance," she said. "I am a trained dancer who has fused my culture into the new medium."
Dumbutshena attended school in South Africa when school systems were first becoming integrated. In her primary school, she was formally trained in ballet. By the time she entered high school, she was not allowed to dance, so she sought out the traditional Zimbabwean dance.
"I was taught by various dance companies that were upholding the tradition while shifting it into contemporary form, addressing current issues and taking the sacred out of its content," she said. "But, (they used) the traditions as a tool in a changed society."
Dumbutshena addressed colonialism's effect on dance.
"When you think about Africa, the traditions and culture, the spiritual practices, you have to consider colonialism and the Christian influence," she said. "Traditions and social practices shifted at that point. This created a revitalization of these traditions because (people) were being told (the traditions) were no good; that the drumming was scary."
Though the conversation was heated, Wednesday's panel brought to light the variety of issues involved in the fusion of indigenous and modernized dance.
