{"id":4512,"date":"2012-10-14T17:41:02","date_gmt":"2012-10-15T00:41:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/?p=4512"},"modified":"2012-10-17T14:59:59","modified_gmt":"2012-10-17T21:59:59","slug":"kajira-chuck-interviews-appropriation-freedom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2012\/10\/14\/kajira-chuck-interviews-appropriation-freedom\/","title":{"rendered":"Kajira & Chuck Interviews"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cultural Appropriation & Artistic Freedom<\/h2>\n

Videos Interviews by Lynette Harris<\/a>
\nposted October 14, 2012
\nScroll down for newest video<\/span><\/h3>\n

Kajira<\/a><\/span> and her husband, Chuck,<\/span> are well-known individuals in our community. Kajira started the first festival for tribal style belly dance called "Tribal Fest". She also wrote a book called "Tribal Bible". We have a review of this book by Shelley "Yasmela" Muzzy here<\/a>. One of the common issues that the community has had with Kajira’s philosophy and with tribal dance in general is with the issue of cultural appropriation. In this series of videos we discuss different issues and how Kajira feels about them. This is the passage from her book that I asked her to read on camera, and then we discussed different points.<\/p>\n

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"Remember that this is a dance of OURS. Our very own American Style Bellydance! Even though this style is not the first American style of bellydance, this is perhaps the first one that is unapologetic about that fact. We celebrate this fact. We love this aspect of our dance! This makes it a form that we can relate to in every way as American people. We don’t have to adopt or support another culture’s moral or religious standards if they are not comfortable for us personally. We don’t have to buy into any political agenda. We don’t have to feel bad because we’re not of Mediterranean descent, olive skinned, or don’t speak another language. We don’t need to feel as if we should hide our tattoos or body art for fear of offending someone else. We can choose our reasons for dancing and our venues and occasions. In short, we get to make up the rules as we go."<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The first video here is an introduction to what Kajira and Chuck are doing now and their recent move back from Maui. The next videos will begin the discussion. Please add your thoughts and questions below in the comments section. It maybe helpful to reference which video or even the time stampof the video you are discussing in your comment.<\/p>\n\n\n