What is going on here?! A senior speaks on dance at Oberlin

I am a senior Dance and Politics major and because of the forms of dance that I specialize in, I have received little to no direct support from the Oberlin Theater and Dance Department (TDD) during my time here. I just recently finished my senior recital, Auto-body-ography, which included a sixty person cast with support from various organizations across campus. I was not given the normal support other dance majors have been given this year and in the past, but I didn't let this stop me. I am not here to just complain about this, but I am offering myself as a concrete example of someone (a Dance major) who has been continuously ignored and under supported due to the incredible resistance within the TDD to entertain forms of dance other than mainstream Modern. I would like to ask exactly what constitutes a legitimate dance technique and how students can get some support for forms of dance that are excluded from the curriculum?

In actuality, technique is the ability of an artist to communicate and express his/herself with the use of basic physical movements. The TDD values and supports only a specific mainstream Modern technique. For instance, Katherine Dunham's dancing would be seen as too based in the African Diaspora to be considered legitimate by TDD. You all know what I am talking about. Most of us during Oberlin's various TDD supported dance performances have asked ourselves more than once, how many times can we see and reuse the same movements again and again.

I have found the Modern emphasis in the Theater and Dance Department to be extremely limiting. As a dancer/choreographer, I imagine that it will also be limiting for other dance majors once they leave the 'comfortable' space of Warner. I use the word limiting in terms of versatility and capacity for expression. If a writer had a vocabulary of only twenty words, they would have an extremely difficult time articulating themselves intelligently. However if they read more and expanded their vocabulary to encompass alternate ways of saying things, and figures of speech, their ability to articulate and communicate more effectively would improve. Dance can be such an effective and important tool for communication. If the only vocabulary a dancer has is a particular and specialized Modern aesthetic of movement, than the ability to effectively reach people with their choreography is greatly limited. Many choreographers have no interest in reaching anyone or communicating anything - movement for movement's sake. However their versatility as a dancer is also extremely limited. I realize that few of Oberlin's dance majors move on to become accomplished choreographers or performers, but even as academics, it is crucial to be exposed to techniques other than the 'Oberlin Modern'.

Clearly an issue within this discussion is that of cultural and racial diversity. All dance forms have unique ways of using the body, as these dance forms grow out of different cultures that have unique ways of seeing the body. Vernacular is a word commonly used in the TDD, and I now realize that it has become a code word for: audience involvement, call and response, direct address between the performers, and vulgar/popular movement. These are characteristics of a completely different aesthetic than that of the mainstream Modern - an aesthetic based more in the African, South American, and Caribbean Diaspora. The marginalization of vernacular dance in Oberlin is a blatant display of elitism. The lack of dynamic and creative discussion of this issue is problematic and disappointing. Not only are other forms of dance not given an appropriate voice, but many times the TDD, as well as students, are critical and attempt to discourage those interested in pursuing alternate forms. I was a part of starting VIBE (the jazz and tap group here on campus) and am still confused by the intense resistance that we dealt with from the department - resistance VIBE is still dealing with. I was in Essence my first year, and a member of Dance Diaspora for three years, and have noticed that the majority of the Dance faculty didn't even attend our concerts. I have seen the way Adenike Sharpley is treated within the department. I have gone through endless drama - starting the beginning of the 1998 Fall semester. I had two different recital proposals rejected, and then continued to plan and perform a senior recital without support from the department (which by the way only two Faculty members of the Dance Department attended - yes I counted). I have heard TDD claim "we are diverse - we brought in Kimberly Boyd." Yes she was a woman of color, and I respect her as an artist. But it's a fact that she is still in the same mainstream Modern aesthetic found here. I think the department is really in need of something new and fresh, yet they are reticent in bringing about any type of change. Why is there such an apparent demand for other forms of dance such as Latin, African, Afro-Caribbean, Jazz, and hip-hop, but such a resistance from the TDD? I am not denying that there is no experimentation within the department - there is, within this same avant garde Modern aesthetic. If you want to do something outside of this - it's possible with a lot of hard work, sweat, no's, and slammed doors in your face.

My main purpose for writing this letter is to get these issues out in the open. Discourse between the faculty and students about these issues is crucial, and so far there has been very little. I would also like to encourage those in the class of 2000, 2001, and 2002 to challenge yourselves and others by keeping these issues alive and kicking so that there begins to be some change, and 'movement' for the future. This isn't only about dance, but about literature, about music, about theater, about women's studies, etc. Oberlin College is a school that has historically prided itself on being progressive, innovative, and accepting of the different cultural perspectives of our changing times. This has not been the case. This is not a cry to the department to hire a new faculty, or to change to classes that are already taught. This is not an insult to what goes on in the department now. This is instead, an urgent request that there be acceptance and support for forms such as Latin, African, hip hop, jazz, etc. I am not talking about revamping the entire dance curriculum, or incorporating these forms into modern dance classes. There needs to be some self-examination within the TDD about why the work of some students is given legitimacy, and others is not. I am talking about Dance faculty members attending concerts such as Colors of Rhythm, Essence, and Dance Diaspora. It would be incredibly enriching to have guest performers of other aesthetics and backgrounds than just Modern. I am asking for there to be support of Senior Dance majors in the process of putting together a recital; giving them professional feedback as scholars, performers, and leaders. Let's open our minds to try to see the places that alternate forms of dance can take us as dancers, as audience members, as performers, as choreographers, as human beings, and as members of this community.

Ana Maria Alvaraz is a college senior.

Angela Nichols break silence for Oberlin's LGBT community

Since this is the last day I could possibly exercise my "voice," as small as it seems at the moment, this is the 11th hour for me. I am your Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Coordinator. I have been unable to meet eye to eye with some people here, but faculty and other staff have been incredible supports since my arrival in late August. They are fabulous LGBT/Queer and straight people from the College and Community at large. What I fear is that we are being silenced. Is there a backlash against queers? I don't know, but I do know one thing...

I will not be silenced.

My work here has been met by my peers with questionable outlooks, criticisms and blatant "misunderstandings" as they call them. Others have called into question my professionalism and conduct. This is my last opportunity to come "clean," if you will. Some things that have been going on have perhaps given the Multicultural Resource Center a "bad name," or a taste similar to that of "sour grapes." All that remains at this point are seemingly flawless rumors, and those who know more about my situation than I of course do. Yet, how is this so? Is my experience being objectified and justified by sources who have not survived the discrimination and intolerance that I have? I think so. Well...

I will not be silenced.

Yes, it is true that I was told "Angela, I'm glad you finally realized you are White," by a Student Life and Services staff member. I was given no explanation for this statement last fall shortly after my arrival. Why would the color of my skin matter to my job? Later I was confronted with a statement explaining to me that it is easier to be gay because I have a choice to be in the closet or not - whereas people of color have nowhere to hide from discrimination. This shouldn't even be a place we have to think about going to. For me, the closet is not an option. I am "out," I am free, I am liberated.

I will not be silenced.

I will find out on Friday, May 14, 1999 if I am renewed for another year as the LGBT Community Coordinator. I was told I would know by April 15, 1999. Then I was told I would know by April 30, 1999. Now, a month later, with much stress as to whether or not I will be unemployed on June 15 when my appointment is over, I have been told by numerous people on this campus, mainly other administrators..."you should start looking for a job." I think "they" should start looking at my concerns. Is this an appropriate way to communicate, I ask?

I will not be silenced.

My concerns are the comments mentioned above. As much as it pains me to say these things have been said to me, it pains me more to bring them to your attention. I thought Oberlin was a place of tolerance, a place that valued questioning the status quo and thinking outside of the box, activism and support of our creative students, and most of all ... being a safe place for queers. As the only person on this campus with a job desciption that says I must advocate and support LGBT people on this campus, and be familiar with "our" issues, I am telling you now - this is what I have been trying to do. I have hit roadblock after roadblock with the current structure in the MRC. Don't help me, I might not be here next year. Help yourselves and be part of the process! And don't leave all the advocacy and support up to an "intern" with absolutely no power on campus!!!

Do not be silenced any longer. Display the rainbow flag with pride and wear your true colors 24/7. God Bless and I love you! Hope to see you next year.

Angela C. Nichols is the LGBT Community Coordinator at the Multicultural Resource Center.