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#onstage: An American company crossing the pond for the first time, festivals centering Asian dancemakers, premieres responding to colonization, transgender identity, audience relationships, and more—the performance landscape over the next two months is overflowing with possibility. Here’s what’s at the top of our lists: https://lnkd.in/ewBsjWV5 #dance #danceperformance

Piano Com­petition Raises Questions About Gender Balance 👫 🎹 Chief executive of the Leeds International Piano Com­petition, has spoken to the Observer about some enlightening reasons why female pianists are not competing on equal footing with men in the industry. > 🙍♀️Female pianists represent less than a quarter (23%) of career pianists, although gender distribution in conservatoires is an equal split. >🏆Recent top international piano competitions saw only 18% female winners. >💽UK data reveals just 20% of piano recitals or concertos and 19% of recordings feature women. >🤔Out of 20 piano soloists at the last BBC Proms, only two were female. How to make a change?🙌🗣️ The Leeds International Piano Com­petition is addressing the issue by making changes to how they make programming decisions. 📈 >🎛️The Leeds International Piano Competition has introduced "blind" pre-selection rounds and bias training for jurors. >🎖️A new award at the Leeds competition celebrates outstanding performances of music by female composers. >🙋🏻♀️The BBC Proms' latest seasons have begun to spotlight female talent with a commitment to increasing diversity.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to see Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake. It’s a work I never thought I’d see live—something I poured over during my PhD, where I explored gender representation and power dynamics in dance. Experiencing it in person was extraordinary, not just for its visceral physicality, but for what it represents as a cultural artefact in my own work. Watching it live, I was struck by how the production embodies so many of the tensions I uncovered in my research: the power of redefining masculinity on stage, and the limits placed on queer expression in mainstream dance. I was back in my PhD!!! During my PhD, I spoke to male dancers about the pressures of performing masculinity on stage. Many described the tension between celebrating vulnerability in their work while navigating societal perceptions of strength and stoicism, as well as the way this manifested in each specific dance company differently. Bourne’s swans epitomise this tension: they’re primal and powerful, yet deeply emotional, challenging expectations of how masculinity can look on stage. And yet, Bourne’s public denial of the production’s queer subtext has always struck me. The homoeroticism is unmistakable—the swans’ movements, the Prince’s longing—but this denial reflects the compromises artists often make to ensure broader acceptance. It’s something the men I interviewed echoed: the fine line between embracing authenticity and ensuring they get the gig. What stayed with me most wasn’t just the production itself, but its ability to archive a moment. This version of Swan Lake both timeless and a snapshot of the mid-’90s, a time when queer themes were breaking into the mainstream but still had to be carefully managed. A reminder of how large-scale works don’t just entertain, they preserve the cultural contexts and compromises of their time. For all its brilliance (and it is brilliant as a story time ballet), the work is still shaped by the constraints of its era—a fascinating case study for how the arts push boundaries and, at times, reinforce them. Seeing Swan Lake was more than revisiting a research subject. It was a powerful reminder of how art can confront us with new possibilities.

Sexual Harassment in the Creative Industries: Tolerance, Culture and the Need for Change Part 1 Who is a dancer person? A dancer is someone who dances for fun, as a hobby, or for a job. The dancers at a rock concert often look like they're enjoying the music most of all. You can be a dancer at your cousin's wedding https://lnkd.in/dysiTT3v. https://lnkd.in/dyTYBbN7. Dancers can get many different injuries by doing things like spraining ankles or miss landing a jump. The most common injury is said to be overused muscles, and it is reported that 80% of dancers experience injuries per year. Another common disadvantage is stage fright. https://lnkd.in/dZebBp-d. Urban female exotic dancers are thought to experience unique risk for violence and barriers to care, though limited research has focused on this aspect of urban sex industries. We characterize recent client-perpetrated and intimate partner violence (IPV) and their correlates, and describe women’s intentions for violence-related help-seeking, among venue-based exotic dancers in a high-risk urban environment. We conducted a cross-sectional study with new female exotic dancers (n = 117) in Baltimore, MD. Over one third (36%) reported intimate partner violence (IPV), and 16% reported client physical or sexual violence, in the six months prior to the survey. Both forms of violence were correlated with arrest, sex trade, substance use, and childhood abuse. Violence-related help-seeking intentions were highest for club management. Intentions to seek help from police and violence-related support hotlines were lowest among those with recent experiences of violence. Recent violence, particularly from intimate partners, was pervasive in this sample of female exotic dancers, and enabled by substance use, criminal history, and sex trade. Preferences for help within venues, rather than the justice sector and publicly funded support services, indicate the need for systems reform to meet the needs of this high-risk group of women. The USA is home to approximately 4000 exotic dance clubs with an annual revenue of over 15 billion dollars [1, 2]. EDCs are unique occupational settings that generally feature stage dancing with no physical contact and can be home to illegal activity including drug activity and purchase of sexual services [3]. Research focused on the health and safety of exotic dancers or entertainment workers in urban settings illustrates hazards spanning substance use and sexual risk behavior [3–7]. https://lnkd.in/dW2qHafB

InSpira Performing Arts Featured Among New Impact Offerings – July 1, 2024 by Devin Thorpe I’m not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or invest after clicking a link here, we may earn a commission. Engage to support our work. You can advertise in Superpowers for Good. Click to learn more. Join the SuperCrowd! Each week, Superpowers for Good shares a list of new impact-related offerings added to FINRA-Registered crowdfunding portals and by broker-dealers. We’ll share four separate lists: Impact offerings Offerings with minority founders. Deals with women founders. Those with LGBTQ founders. Sometimes, it takes […] #boomers #babyboomers

Reflecting on Recent Projects: Thumbnail Design & Singing Recently, I had the opportunity to work on two personal passions: thumbnail design and singing. 🎨🎤 Thumbnail Design: I put a lot of thought into balancing visuals and text to create eye-catching, engaging designs. However, there's always room for improvement, and I'm open to feedback from fellow creatives! Singing Skills: I’ve been exploring my vocal range and building confidence in my singing. { https://lnkd.in/dDguEn6i }While I’ve received positive feedback, I believe there’s always room for growth. Any tips or suggestions from seasoned performers would be greatly appreciated! Looking forward to your thoughts and insights. #creativity #design #singing #feedback #growthmindset

the best analogy : seeds, lets say wheat they all look the same : seems like they were all made in factory yet when planted : they grow different logical reasons : just the difference of few feet - water dissipation etx but they will be different plants...even leaves.. try this in lab.. still : they wont be identical.. even identical twins : are psychologically different nature : gives us equal... but we are supposed to be different no 2 leaves are the same... hence the most ancient psy hacks on human ego - entitlement = equality - money = love = it allows you to buy 'equality' - looks, parities, words, associations. brit education - gives u 3 choices of education 3 choices of work and 3 places in society. none of it is 'equal' but 'deliberate' planned.

Soniya Gaikwad, 25, a popular dancer from Kolhapur and her peers have been accused of "obscene gestures" and FIRs slapped against them during a performance on September 13. Following this, they have lost their future performance contracts and all means of livelihood, especially during the ongoing festive season.  These charges against women dancers in Kolhapur are not merely legal issues but a reflection of ongoing societal struggles over body autonomy and artistic expression. Despite a Bombay High Court ruling in October 2023 clarifying that provocative dance is not legally obscene, Soniya has been named the primary accused in an FIR filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, citing wrongful restraint and obscene acts in public. The legal definition of ‘obscenity’ remains vague, rooted in colonial-era laws, and disproportionately affects performers from marginalized communities, particularly Dalits. The term "ashlil" has been weaponized against artists, impeding their economic and cultural success. Historian Shailaja Paik, in her book The Vulgarity of Caste, explores how this term stifles the ability of Tamasha performers to gain respectability, illustrating the intersection of caste, gender, and artistic expression. With the recent ban on 21 dancers from performing, these issues have become even more pressing. Many, like Divya, report significant financial losses and reputational damage, highlighting the systemic inequalities in the industry. The crackdown on dancers is not a new phenomenon. Last year, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra criticized "vulgar" performances, perpetuating the stigma surrounding traditional dances like Lavani. Lavani, an integral part of Maharashtra’s cultural heritage, has evolved to include influences from Bollywood, yet remains heavily policed when performed by women from lower-income communities. Writer Bhushan Korgaonkar points out the hypocrisy in this policing, noting that dance moves acceptable in films become targets of scrutiny in community settings. This dynamic highlights a broader societal issue—while women's performances are celebrated in elite spaces, they face censure when expressed by marginalized groups. As highlighted by Nitya Vasudevan in her analysis of public women and their bodies, this case exemplifies a broader struggle over mobility, economic independence, and agency for women in public life. It challenges us to reconsider how we define obscenity and who gets to perform in public spaces. For an in-depth look at the challenges faced by Kolhapur's dancers amid these legal threats, read the full report by Shreya Raman. https://lnkd.in/eZTHpHQK

🌟 Gender Equality Matters 🌟 Looking to make a change in the corporate events world? Despite appearing female-dominated, the reality is there's work to be done to achieve true gender parity. 💼💪 Here are some key takeaways from our study: - Addressing gender disparities is essential for progress. - Advocating for equal opportunities benefits everyone involved. - Recognizing and valuing women's contributions is crucial. Curious to dive deeper into this important topic? Click the link to find out more: https://lnkd.in/gmSccqac #GenderEquality #CorporateEvents #EqualOpportunities #EmpowerWomen #ProgressNow

At Ground Media, we harness the power of data-driven storytelling to foster understanding and drive meaningful change. Our proprietary #StoryHeat platform combines comprehensive research with strategic narrative development, enabling us to craft campaigns that resonate deeply with diverse audiences. This approach was instrumental in the success of #HereWeAre, our national storytelling campaign in partnership with GLAAD. By amplifying the voices of transgender individuals, we addressed the significant gap in personal connections—considering that 71% of Americans report never having met a transgender person. A poignant example is Nadya's story: a young transgender woman, artist, and performer. Her journey, marked by resilience and the transformative power of love, underscores the importance of authenticity and visibility. As she eloquently states, "At the end of it all, I'm just a girl who wants to make sure everyone shines as bright as they can." Through StoryHeat, we delve into the nuances of such narratives, ensuring they inform and inspire action. Our research-centered approach allows us to identify and overcome barriers to connection, amplifying unheard voices and fostering empathy. We invite you to experience the impact of strategic storytelling firsthand. Book a demo with us to discover how StoryHeat can elevate your campaigns and drive societal change. Let's create a more connected and understanding world—one story at a time. Watch our Here We Are campaign video below to see the impact first-han. DM us to book a demo! https://lnkd.in/d_cX6dWw