- ISSN: 2632-6825
- E-ISSN: 2632-6833
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oa Breaking the normalization of appropriation and exploitation
- Source: Global Hip Hop Studies, Volume 4, Issue Breaking and the Olympics 2, Dec 2023, p. 149 - 153
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- 26 Apr 2022
- 01 Aug 2023
- 15 Jul 2024
Abstract
Capitalism often gives away gold in exchange for something much more lucrative. Breaking was created by people of color whose ancestors originally owned the land from which the gold, now offered to the best dancers at the Olympics, was extracted. In this article, I wish to examine the financial inequity between the creators and the exploiters in the Hip Hop Dance Scene globally. I examine the relationship between dancers, dance schools and intermediary dance organizations globally. I question how most of the money is made and how much trickles down. I also consider how people of colour participate in the global organization efforts of breaking in the Olympics and discuss how the notion of ‘winning’ can also obscure the healing power of dance. Gold is symbolic of scarcity and capitalism will sell this to dancers in the same way that overnight fame is sold to rappers. I reflect on three primary questions: Will this dance join the others already exploited by dance schools who have no historic connection to the culture? Will the World DanceSport Federation and the International Olympic Commission celebrate the creators of the Breaking moves or will it perpetuate racist appropriation of culture without learning about its heritage? and finally, what efforts are being made to create an economically self-sustaining dance community?
