|
| | Has
line dancing lost its identity and if so, has the music been the main
contributor to that loss or does the problem lie elsewhere? Perhaps you
totally disagree and don't believe there is a problem at all. Scroll down
to read Lynne's latest viewpoint and then give us your opinion on what she has
to say on the subject.
You can
email Lynne directly by clicking on the address below. Alternatively
you can send your answers to me the webmaster sue@bluelinecps.co.uk
and I will pass them on to Lynne on your
behalf.
lschapiro@hotmail.com
Your opinion may be posted on this page unless you
request us not to do so.
If you would like to view the last 10 Viewpoints and all
the replies, click on the Archive buttons at the top left hand side of this
screen.
IS LINE
DANCING STEPPING
INTO OBLIVION?
The one main
thing it lacks nowadays is an identity.
When you think of all other forms of dance, each and every one has a strong
identity and is instantly recognisable. Ballet, Salsa, Ballroom, Jive,
etc. - they can all stand up alone. Line
did have an extremely strong identity - a Western/Country one.
Stetsons, cowboy boots, etc. combined with all forms of country music ranging
from Bluegrass to Country-Rock. As with all styles, sometimes the look and
music could be naff, but at other times could be fantastic. It certainly
made people notice.
But what has happened
to Line dance now?
Although very few wear Western gear these days, it is undoubtedly the music that
has had the most impact on the loss of identity. Whilst this is NOT a
viewpoint about Country music versus the rest,
it IS the music that
is the main contributor
to establishing the roots as well as the soul of any dance style. The
music in Line has diversified so much
- in essence one can dance to
anything these days. Whether that in itself is a good or bad thing is not
the issue, but the result is that
the heart and soul
has gone out of this great social dance form.
Line is now the 'mongrel dog' of the dance world - a mixture of all with no set
breeding - and that has undermined its credibility.
Line dance no longer has an individual identity. It
is a bunch of choreographed steps danced increasingly to throwaway tunes
- metronome pop is the main culprit. Here today, gone tomorrow, - that is
the current sign of the times. Very sad for what was for many a unique and
special dance form.
Lynne
All
replies are posted in the order in which they were received i.e. the most recent
at the top
(13th Sept)
Well done Lynne you have really summed up
what I think many are now thinking. Line dancing ain't what it used to be,
that's for certain and it is most definitely suffering from an identity crisis.
Lilly Strong
Cornwall
Thank you Lilly for agreeing with me and letting me know.
Warmest wishes,
Lynne
(13th Sept)
Lynne, surely you and all your fellow instructors have to carry some of the
responsibility for this - after all, you are the people that select the dances
to teach us and therefore dictate the trends.
Ken Grady,
Nashville, Tennessee
Hi Ken,
You are absolutely 100% correct. It IS the responsibility of those
who choose the dances to teach that dictate the trends. However, trends
are not dictated by any one individual; rather it is a collective force that
dictates a trend. A perfect example is that I often still wear a cowboy
hat, but because the overwhelming majority do not, it is that majority that has
dictated the trend.
However, I do take responsibility for contributing to the loss of identity
regarding the music, but I realised the overwhelming majority of dancers did
want to dance to a mixture of music-types and still do.
However, what started as a small amount of 'other types' of music, thus still
retaining the line dance identity has now become a total reversal and the trend
is that country music is now well in the minority, thus emphasising the loss of
identity.
Hope you understand my point. Thanks for your excellent email.
Regards,
Lynne
|
