"Urban" vs. Multicultural: TRYBE corrects Wire terminology
Afua S. Akoto '11
Issue date: 3/10/10 Section: Commentary
As a member of Trybe Multicultural Dance Group for the past three years, I have been generally pleased with the articles written about the annual gala. However, this year's article about the gala, "Trybe Presents: A Block Party," was upsetting, to say the least. While I do appreciate the coverage that Trybe received, I feel that as one of the cover stories, the article deserved more research.
The first line of the article reads "Wheaton's own urban dance group Trybe hosted its annual gala…" and all I could think about was why the author chose the word "urban" to describe Trybe. First and foremost, in the eleven years that Trybe has been on Wheaton's campus, it has never been referred to as an "urban" dance group.
Furthermore, I do not see that happening in the future. My problem with the use of the word urban is that it is defined as "characteristic of or accustomed to cities" (dictionary.com, urban) and that definition has no correlation to Trybe.
Trybe is in fact a multicultural dance group, fitting because multicultural is defined as "of, pertaining to, or representing several different cultures or cultural elements" (dictionary.com, multicultural). Looking at the general make-up of Trybe members past and present and the dances that Trybe has created, there are worldwide influences from West and South Africa, Latin America and Asia as well as North America. In addition, the cast of the gala represented the range of multiculturalism that Trybe promotes.
From the poetic words of iSpeak, to the graceful movements of Dance Company, coupled with the beats of Sole Step Team, this year's gala saw the return of past performers who continuously bring diversity to the show. First time appearances by Wheaton's Latin based dancers, Paraiso Latino and the steel band troupe Lymin' Lyons showcased a variety of cultures within the show and illustrated the multiculturalism of Trybe.
I am aware that this article comments on the diversity of the show and states that it was "incredible," however, the description given about one of the dances does not convey that message. This year's gala featured a traditional Filipino dance, Singkil, restaged and choreographed by sophomore Nathania (Tanya) Aritao. The description of this dance as the "number in which long bamboo sticks were being tapped on the floor and banged against each other all while the dancers were weaving through the moving sticks," was disrespectful, at least to me. The way in which that comment is phrased takes away all the hard work that went into making this dance look effortless and gives it a primitive feel. It appears as if the dancers just picked up Bamboo and decided to see what they could do with it, as opposed to actually being taught how to clap the Bamboo and the significance of the dance.
The first line of the article reads "Wheaton's own urban dance group Trybe hosted its annual gala…" and all I could think about was why the author chose the word "urban" to describe Trybe. First and foremost, in the eleven years that Trybe has been on Wheaton's campus, it has never been referred to as an "urban" dance group.
Furthermore, I do not see that happening in the future. My problem with the use of the word urban is that it is defined as "characteristic of or accustomed to cities" (dictionary.com, urban) and that definition has no correlation to Trybe.
Trybe is in fact a multicultural dance group, fitting because multicultural is defined as "of, pertaining to, or representing several different cultures or cultural elements" (dictionary.com, multicultural). Looking at the general make-up of Trybe members past and present and the dances that Trybe has created, there are worldwide influences from West and South Africa, Latin America and Asia as well as North America. In addition, the cast of the gala represented the range of multiculturalism that Trybe promotes.
From the poetic words of iSpeak, to the graceful movements of Dance Company, coupled with the beats of Sole Step Team, this year's gala saw the return of past performers who continuously bring diversity to the show. First time appearances by Wheaton's Latin based dancers, Paraiso Latino and the steel band troupe Lymin' Lyons showcased a variety of cultures within the show and illustrated the multiculturalism of Trybe.
I am aware that this article comments on the diversity of the show and states that it was "incredible," however, the description given about one of the dances does not convey that message. This year's gala featured a traditional Filipino dance, Singkil, restaged and choreographed by sophomore Nathania (Tanya) Aritao. The description of this dance as the "number in which long bamboo sticks were being tapped on the floor and banged against each other all while the dancers were weaving through the moving sticks," was disrespectful, at least to me. The way in which that comment is phrased takes away all the hard work that went into making this dance look effortless and gives it a primitive feel. It appears as if the dancers just picked up Bamboo and decided to see what they could do with it, as opposed to actually being taught how to clap the Bamboo and the significance of the dance.
Be the first to comment on this story