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Sidance 2007, Human Rights and Hans Rosling
14th
October 2007 Let's assume that basic human rights are in place. That there is no distinction between race, colour, sex1, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Let's assume that the environment is preserved and that its resources are used in a sustainable way so that our grandchildren can enjoy it as much as we do. Let's assume that economic growth is a real option for all people, that everyone gets the chance to get onto the first wrung of the economic ladder and not be forever stuck in the poverty trap. Let's assume that education - at least at the elementary level - is free and available for all. And finally, let's assume that everyone has access to the fundaments of life including food, clothing, housing and medical care. If all these things are in place? Then what do we get? What is our reward? Our reward is culture. Lots of culture. That is what brings joy to life. That's the value of living2. You get more dances to watch; more beautiful songs to listen to; more great works of literature to read: both fiction and non-fiction; more fashion, more architecture and more paintings to marvel at. More. More. More. That's the reward. Sidance 2007 The dance performances were very modern and somewhat different to those I've seen in Africa, especially the dances in Africa by this little girl and this little girl. The first dance was performed by a young Malian dancer and was - well - someone odd. It was a largely improvised piece to music that lacked a beat but including lots of screeching noises. Sometimes there was dance, but no music. Sometimes music and no dance. Sometimes neither. The emotion of pain came across very strongly in the piece. At one point she was gagging with her hand down her throat. For a moment I feared things would get truly avant-garde and she would vomit on stage. The second dance was performed by five Congolese men. It recounted the story of the Congo's recent troubled past. The dance focused on democracy, drinking, protest marches, shooting and religion. The Bible and the Koran were at the front of the stage and - I guess - were represented of one of the divides that tears the Congo apart. About half way through the performance they tied the two volumes together - perhaps suggesting the harmony of the two religions is the way forward3. The final dance was performed by a couple of dancers from Senegal and focused on the street kids in Dakar. Now, I'm not much of an artist. I've never painted a picture, written a novel or danced with anything approaching rhythm. But the female dancer from Senegal? My goodness. She was spectacular. Even I could tell how good a dancer she was. She seemed to have complete control of every part of her body. Her balance, grace and beauty were just fantastic. So, that was my cultural night out on the town. If I get much more culture into me I might turn into cheese. 1 Women who strive for equality with men lack ambition. 2 Nods towards Hans Rosling. Check out a fantastic talk by Hans Rosling here. 3 Which I disagree with. The Coexist movement is fatally flawed and doomed to failure. More on this at another time.
(c)
2005, 2006 and 2007 Malcolm Trevena. |
