Here it is! We're not doing as many events right now, but there's plenty happening, so we've started making guides for y'all.

And would love to practice west coast swing, bachata, or whatever else on Monday!!

#dance #sapphic #lgbtq #queer #baile #latindancing

Here it is! We're not doing as many events right now, but there's plenty happening, so we've started making guides for y'all. And would love to practice west coast swing, bachata, or whatever else on Monday!! #dance #sapphic #lgbtq #queer #baile #latindancing

EDITOR’S NOTE: APPROPRIATION VS. APPRECIATION

The debate on cultural appropriation versus appreciation is complex and ongoing.  

Appreciation is more than mere recognition that something is from a different culture. Simply stating that you’ve borrowed from a different culture does not indicate an understanding of the thing you borrowed or the meaning it holds.   

The difference between appropriation and appreciation is learning—are you engaging with the other culture? Are you approaching new cultures with an open mind, with an intent to share meaningful customs and traditions?   

If so, it is not only acceptable, but commendable for a person to learn about others. This includes food, fashion and other fields.   

Cultural appropriation must also include a discussion of power dynamics. Especially as our communities become more diverse and colonialism—while still achingly relevant—becomes more abstract, the tangible impacts of various power dynamics evolve into new forms.   

Appropriation requires some benefit to the person appropriating the other culture at the cost of people from that culture.  

As such, it is still important to be cautious of borrowing from another culture, even if you think or have good intentions. For example, wearing a traditional dress from another culture as you attend an event is not inherently offensive. But if someone wears something traditional from another culture to an event not of that culture, their motives might be questionable.   

Genuine exchange is possible—and inevitable—in as diverse a community as ours. Particularly in arts and sports, there is more likelihood of this exchange being equal.   

This region has many martial arts gyms, for example. This month, we covered Fight Night 2 by Phady’s Muay Thai, where local, national and international athletes came to compete.   

Muay Thai and other martial arts forms require dedication and discipline over a long period of time. They require patience and commitment to learning.   

Participating in a martial art is not only a physical journey, but often one that becomes philosophical and spiritual. As such, when all fighters present at the event performed a short greeting and dance—the Wai Kru and Ram Muay—the ethnicity of the fighter isn’t as important.   

In addition, the Fight Night 2 event itself was a space for people to experience Thai food and see a Laotian dance performance. One event became a gateway for more exposure and growth.   

In this region, there are also a few dance studios that offer classes for different cultural dances. I participate in some Latin dance classes, where people spend years learning to dance with each other. As most of these are partner dances, not only do dancers learn how to move their bodies, they also can interact with dancers from different backgrounds, and many go on to learn Spanish or Portuguese.   

Cultural appropriation is still a reality, as are the power dynamics that enable someone of one culture to lay claim to another.   

Still, it is both possible and necessary for everyone to engage with different cultures that make up a part of our region. Especially through more time- and energy-consuming media such as sports and art, there are opportunities for equal exchange. 

#AlexKinsella #artsAndCulture #culturalAppreciation #culturalAppropriation #culturalExchange #FightNight2 #HarleenKaurDhillon #LatinDancing #Learning #PhadySMuayThai #waterlooRegion

Dance fixed my back in less than three months (tho training every day). It is almost boring not having to worry about it any more. #dance #bachata #LatinDancing

So here are some hashtags: #Wellness #Rhetoric #Medicine #Writing #Gothic #Victorians #HealthCommunication #HealthWriting #TechnicalWriting #ProfessionalWriting #Spirituality

Outside of academia, I talk a lot about #triathlon and #running, #horror movies and books, and #LatinDancing, #philadelphia, and the #ClevelandGuardians. Friends have described me as a “cheerful goth.”