Ballet and Martial Arts Converge for Unique Collaboration
March 23, 2007
Coming in mid-April, something extraordinary in intercultural cooperation, understanding and interaction will happen in San Francisco, perhaps the nation’s foremost melting pot city. This unique event will not be politicians and civic leaders preaching for increased harmony between races, nor will it be one community donating resources to another or even the children of different races playing together.
No, this event will be a joint dance/martial arts performance between the famed Shaolin monks (originally from China) and an American ballet troupe headed by a famed black American ballet master.
In what many might consider an odd mix of artists, Alonzo King, choreographer of the Lines Ballet and named Master of African American choreography by the Kennedy Center, had a vision, which would combine the strength of Shaolin kung fu with the expressive movements of ballet.
“In all cultures, there’s one instrument that we share in common in dance: the body,” commented King, “At its heart, this project is an inter-cultural exploration between artists.”
We applaud King for his efforts in not only providing a beautiful piece of performance art, but more importantly, a tremendous and living model of intercultural collaboration and cooperation. Both martial artists and ballet dancers not only proudly perform their finely honed talents, but they do so in the context that is complimentary not adversarial. Much like the concept of synergy, the product is greater than its individual but diverse parts.
Among the many different communities in America, and particularly with communities of color, King shows us that the road to better race relations is through programs and projects that promote and respect each community’s culture.
Rather than pit one culture against another, the plan should be: How do we find projects that allow us to not only respect each other’s culture, but more importantly, create a better understanding through joint interaction?
Well done, Mr. King.
Comments
Got something to say?