Australian Aborigines Object to portrayal of their dances by DomShabs

[Mathman]

Yes, I think Russian nationals was the first performance. And now Europeans.

 

[mycelticblessing]

It must be awful for DomShabs to have to face all this bad press less than a month before the Olympics.

Yes Bennett, most of us only saw the program in practice videos for Russian Nationals. Maybe it was not such a good idea for them to miss out the Grand Prix. If the problems had come out earlier there would have been more time for them to solve it.

Since this has occurred, does anyone suppose that ISU may completely drop 'Folk Dances' for their OD themes? All this attention and attack on any team's program must be a nightmare.

 

[Mathman]

Since this has occurred, does anyone suppose that ISU may completely drop 'Folk Dances' for their OD themes? All this attention and attack on any team's program must be a nightmare.

When the ISU first came out with the folk dance choice for the OD at the Olympics, I thought that the idea would be that each country would display its own folk dances. That would be cool, and would be in the spirit of the Olympics as being a meeting of nations for fun and games.

However, I don't think this controversy will hurt skating at all. If there is enough public outcry, maybe some viewers will tune in for ice dance just to see what all the commotion is about.

 

[antmanb]

When the ISU first came out with the folk dance choice for the OD at the Olympics, I thought that the idea would be that each country would display its own folk dances. That would be cool, and would be in the spirit of the Olympics as being a meeting of nations for fun and games.

However, I don't think this controversy will hurt skating at all. If there is enough public outcry, maybe some viewers will tune in for ice dance just to see what all the commotion is about.

I thought the same thing MM that each country would show off their won folk dance. Sadly though, because folk was the OD so recently a lot of couples peaked early like the Kerrs. I can only imagine how their scottish OD would have gone down at the Olympics compared to the hammy country western programme they have this year.

Ant

 

[backspin]

Okay, maybe this is a dumb idea.......but a lot of the folk ODs out there are pretty inauthentic. Everyone says this was is totally not true to real Aboriginal dances. So what if they kept the dance, changed the costumes, and called it something else? Give it another cultural tag, that somewhat approximates what they're doing (still wouldn't be authentic, but what they've got now isn't either), & then people would be happier? Or, is the music truly authentic only to the Aboriginal culture?

 

[i love to skate]

However, I don't think this controversy will hurt skating at all. If there is enough public outcry, maybe some viewers will tune in for ice dance just to see what all the commotion is about.

I wouldn't be too sure about that. The Vancouver organizing committee has made it one of their primary goals to include the First Nations culture and there will be a huge focus on it at the Games. Their cultural symbols and inspiration comes in many forms such as the Inukshuk, the medals, the torch relay, the Opening Ceremonies, etc.

Australia and Canada are fairly similar countries and are both part of the Commonwealth. Also, the Aboriginal people went through many of the same horrors in both countries - residential schools, abuse, cultural genocide, children being taken away from parents, etc. So this could hit very close to home for First Nations people here in Canada.

D/S just look like they are making fun of the culture with those ridiculous costumes, painted faces, expression, and choreography. This could very well blow up in their faces and create a huge controversy. It would be in their best interests to change the dance.

 

[Phoenix347]

I wouldn't be too sure about that. The Vancouver organizing committee has made it one of their primary goals to include the First Nations culture and there will be a huge focus on it at the Games. Their cultural symbols and inspiration comes in many forms such as the Inukshuk, the medals, the torch relay, the Opening Ceremonies, etc.

Australia and Canada are fairly similar countries and are both part of the Commonwealth. Also, the Aboriginal people went through many of the same horrors in both countries - residential schools, abuse, cultural genocide, children being taken away from parents, etc. So this could hit very close to home for First Nations people here in Canada.

D/S just look like they are making fun of the culture with those ridiculous costumes, painted faces, expression, and choreography. This could very well blow up in their faces and create a huge controversy. It would be in their best interests to change the dance.

Thank you for your helpful insight. I think you made some excellent points.

 

[Wicked]

The Aboriginal people have been clear that this is offensive to them and why it's offensive. And they are seriously offended. It's probably too late for D/S to come up with a new program now but I would love to see them consult with some Aboriginal people to at least tone down the elements that are the most offensive. Too bad that consultation did not occur prior to the creation of the dance.

 

[OHgal]

D/S just look like they are making fun of the culture with those ridiculous costumes, painted faces, expression, and choreography.

Yes, you hit the nail on the head exactly. I thought they looked ridiculous. If I were Aboriginal, I'd be mad too.

 

[ImaginaryPogue]

I don't think it would be in their interests to change the dance at all. The Olympics are what, four weeks away? Changing programs this late in the season where you have limited practice time due to injury when you're already getting hammered on levels (presumably why their TES were so low at the Euros OD). All they can do is suck it up. Tone down the costumes a little, get rid of the blackface. Ace the compulsories because that's what'll earn them their medal.

That said, I do agree with i love to skate that there is a tone in their OD that bugs me.

 

[janetfan]

Yes, you hit the nail on the head exactly. I thought they looked ridiculous. If I would Aboriginal, I'd be mad too.

I am NOT Aboriginal and the program bugs me.
They should lose the darkface and change the costume and hope for the best.

 

[mishieru07]

But my arguement was just because someone gets offended by something, doesn't mean we (or DomShab) should automatically accept that.

If the Aboriginies, the very people whom DomShabs is trying to present on the world stage, are offended, isn't this ironic and frankly an insult to the Aboriginal culture? Like Doris said, we can't really control what offends others but refusing to accept that others are offended strikes me as being high-handed to the point that no one else's opinions matter except yours. It is one thing to respect the views of others and another to agree with them (In this case, DomShabs are of course perfectly allowed to disagree if they wish to)

I hope ISU doesn't use the Folk dance theme for a long time or just scrap it entirely. We had it for the 07/08 season as well. It's such a can of worms (admittedly, it's fun to watch the different folk dances). The last thing Figure Skating needs right before the Winter Olympics is bad press coverage.

Backspin, I think most of us would agree that hardly any dances are 100% authentic (partially because some moves don't translate well to the ice). But the least one should do is do your dance justice. The Kerrs had a fab Scottish OD in 07/08. Davis/ White have a great Indian OD which has been very well-received in India. Anissina and Peizerat had a Flamenco back in 01/02. The Aussie ice dancers also did an Australian Aborginal OD. I don't see anyone complaining that they were disrespectful or offensive, least of all the natives themselves.

I'm no expert in Aboriginal culture, but if the Aussie Aboriginies are getting upset, perhaps some change ought to be in order. I belive DomShabs never intended to offend anyone but now that the Aboriginies are giving them feedback, perhaps it is best to work with them and come up with a dance that does justice to the Aborginal culture.

 

[Wicked]

What I would like to see at this late date would be for D/S to talk to some of the Aboriginal people and really listen to the feedback about what is so offensive about the program. I think Aboriginal people (and many others) would feel much better about the program if the make-up and costumes were changed. That would not be a difficult change to make for D/S. It's really not too much to ask. I don't think D/S were trying to be offensive here. But now that this has happened, I would hate to see them just ignore it.

 

[i love to skate]

I found this quote I am just shaking my head:

"Our coach offered us this music and we decided to try it. We researched it on the internet and got a lot of information," explained 27-year-old Shabalin.

"It's wasn't our purpose that it be especially Australian just a dance from many thousands of years ago."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j-ODG4bngHbauGhFzPKRD9SXf33A

You can't just research a dance on the internet! They really should have consulted with someone and then taken the time to learn the dance. You always hear about skaters working with Flamenco choreographers, Tango choreographers, etc to make sure the movement in the program is authentic and right. It just blows my mind that D/S would not have done this with a dance that was virutually unknown to them - especially one which has a deep spiritual significance.

It would definetly be in their best interests to scrap it - the issue has already made it's way to the Canadian papers and is going to continue to receive more and more negative attention. They have offended a group of people....that should be reason enough to change it.

 

[DesertRoad]

In the just performed OD at Euros, D/S kept the costume and even the brownface. Now I personally love offending people, and I love to see other people do it, too, but I'm not going to kid myself and pretend this isn't going to hurt figure skating. This outright racist send-up is going to be broadcast to the widest audience possible for figure skating, and it's going to win or at least medal. It's going to show millions of people around the world the implicit white privilege and worse, the tackiness they already suspect of figure skating. It will discourage people from becoming fans or participants of the sport. Oh well, it is what it is.

 

[oxade21]

Well, obviously judges have no problem with that. So ****.

 

[flesymtuobayzarc]

Here is Oksana and Maxim's comment. Bear in mind that I am not a Russian native speaker so there may be some mistakes in my translation.

http://www.allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=36010

All reporters are waiting for you to comment on the situation with the Australian Aborigines.

Oksana Dominina: To be honest, it was after our performance when we found out about the complaints of the Australian Aborigines. One could say that we skated with clean conscience (laughs). Now, we are going to think what to do next. Generally, if you think about it, it’s an absurd: in this case all the nations whose music and style is used by the pairs in their original dances should voice their complaints. But the whole point of the original dance is an interpretation of national motives.
Maxim Shabalin: We will have a look at this information and try to understand it. Honestly, it all looks like a joke. I will have to be in charge of settling the conflict, after all I portray a leader of the tribe (laughs). And generally, to be serious, I don’t see any problem. Our dance is a collective depiction of the Aborigines and it’s not intended to insult any nations – Aboriginal or even let’s say African.

But you used the features of the Australian Aborigines, you researched their dances, didn’t you?

Maxim Shabalin: Of course, we looked at the videos, read in the Internet about it, our coach Natalia Linichuk told us a lot about it. Maybe this tribe felt insulted that our research was not deep enough. Let me repeat, we will try to understand, but I don’t see any threat to our programme.

 

[cloudkicker09]

I am Australian and I am offended!!!! I have been warning everyone in the sport about this for years, you cannot take people's music which defines their culture and heritage and make a mockery of it and expect to get away with it.

It's nice to see that Dom/Shab are just laughing off their blatant act of Racisim as a joke. I wonder if they will still be laughing when they hear that the Australians are appealing to the olympic committee to get them banned on grounds of Racism, and are considering filling suit.


Here is an idea BAN THEM FOR CHEATING AND RACISIM!!!!

 

[Hsuhs]

Here is an idea BAN THEM FOR CHEATING AND RACISIM!!!!

That won't help Sasha and Roma to medal, I'm afraid. They are no podium material.

V/M, D/W, B/A could of course profit from the situation. I'm especially interested in Tessa and Scott's reaction (if there is any) reg fellow skaters' bad behavior. I'm all ears!

 

[cloudkicker09]

That won't help Sasha and Roma to medal, I'm afraid. They are no podium material.

I am talking about Dom/Shab, the Russian federation is practically politiking their way to the gold already, all that is left to do is have it engraved. This point is this team SHOULD be banned from competing in the games on ground of Racism. There is precident, and I hope that the Australian go forward with their plans to SUE them both.