week 4 response to Michelle

Dawn M said...
Hi Michelle!I think part of the problem regarding the male dancer is that as a culture we typically don't associate dancing as a male oriented activity. We are taught to think that little girls go to dance class while little boys play baseball. Having danced for over 10 years, I never once had a male in my classes. However, I have seen many professional ballets and would pit a male ballet dancer's strength and stamina up against any professional athlete. There's also the show about the dance groups - I don't recall the name of the show - but I have never hear anyone question if any of the break dancing, hip hop, acrobatic talented dancers on that show are gay. I doubt that anyone has questioned whether any of the male professionals on Dancing with the Stars are gay. I agree, there are still many double standards with regards to what is considered a girl activity and a boy activity - and while the girls may cross over into the boy realm (sports teams, camping, hiking, riding motorcycles) rarely do we accept boys crossing over into girls territory without questioning their masculinity. Culturally we see dancers (especially ballet dancers) as if they are supposed to be feminine and lilting, but I bet Mikhail Baryshnikov could kick anyone's butt! And I doubt, when he conceived his daughter with actress Jessica Lange that anyone questioned his sexuality!
June 11, 2010 2:21 PM