An open letter to Strictly Hip-Hop
Me and my niece (whose name and age I cannot disclose to protect her, in case she’s disqualified because she has a mamane who has a big mouth), attended the 8 August Strictly Hip Hop Competition at Centurion Mall. Our intention was to just observe and have fun. But when we got there, we had this urge, out of no where, to enter her into the competition. She won first place in her category. We’re now preparing her for the main event in September, where she’ll be competing with the best of the best.
I think the initiative is a good one. This turned out to be a wonderful family outing, as parents were also there to support their talented children. Black and white came together on stage. The Arts indeed, just like Sport, has immense power to bring together people from all walks of life, irrespective of their political history, together.
However, I was irritated and seriously rubbed up the wrong way, by the way the judges gave harsh criticism to the kids who performed in groups. I was really saddened by the rude and insensitive remarks they made to those kids, who just simply wanted to dance, irrespective of whether they won or not. I remember when I used to dance as a kid, as good as I was, for me, winning was just a cherry on top, all I wanted was to just dance on the stage. So I imagine most kids feel that way.
I’m no expert in judging, but I think, if someone is going to give criticism to a child, for goodness’s sake, let it be constructive criticism. You know what? Scrap that. “Constructive”! What a big word for most children to comprehend. I’m saying: You want to build those kids, instead of killing their fragile souls. I mean, they would just know, obviously, by not winning that they were not good enough.
Tell them where they must improve or what you’d like for them to do next time, instead of shooting them down with meanness and arrogance. Leave the rudeness and meanness to the Pop Idols crew. They are getting paid to sound cocky like that, plus that’s a Reality TV show. It’s one of those experiences that either break or make you. But please don’t adopt that style and use it on our children. Wait and lo, you too, can be a “no nonsense” judge on a Reality Show on TV one day, but for now, move over big guy, let the children strut their God-given talents.
I’m not a mother yet, I don’t own a pet even. But being a young woman, it didn’t take me long to put myself in the position of some of those kids that were subjected to trauma and humilation on the stage, in front of that crowd. One could see that some of them, especially the Black folk, came from humble homes or unprivileged backgrounds. Their parents were not even there, probably because they didn’t support or understand this whole “hip hop thing”. One could see by their technique, or lack thereof, that they are not being professionally trained, they were probably coming up with those entertaining and creative moves themselves. Some were wearing black and white attires, a typical township school uniform.
I’m not a shrink either, but I know that verbally assaulting them like that in front of a crowd did more damage than good to them.
I remember one of the judges, known by the name of Lawrence, said to one group: “that was terrible”, and then he said to another: “I just hope you didn’t pay to enter this competition” (because if you did, you just wasted your money). He said to one group with one female dancer that: “It would actually be at your advantage if you had a female member who could actually dance”. He complained about one group’s attire, their pants not matching with their tops. I’m like, dude, this is Hip Hop, nothing’s supposed to match. But then again, this is no place to be utilising your Diploma in fashion designing, that’s if you do posses it.
He said to one group: “try something else because you just can’t dance”. I really thought he was getting way out of line when he said to a group made up of three white girls that: “about you I like the fact that the one with the black hair is in the middle of the two with blonde hair”, and I’m thinking, Oh, no! What does the colour of one’s hair have to do with dancing?
It was not funny. The audience was not amused. There was this huge “booing” and discomfort from down there. Some people stood up and left at that very moment. Even the very Strictly Hip Hop personnel looked embarrassed. You were losing us for a while there dude, seriously.
It takes a very long time and so much more to instil confidence and self-worth in a child, and it takes a moment such as “a word from the judges” to destroy it completely. Believe me, if there was an offence for “verbal assault”, I’d be first in line to press the charges on behalf of those children. I’d like to take this further with Strictly Hip Hop’s management (I hope they do have a “management”) and its sponsors too.
Three suggestions and three questions. Let me start with the questions because they are plain and simple: Who or what is Strictly Hip Hop affiliated with? Are you accredited or qualified to issue awards in the form of trophies to dancers? Are you guys legally allowed to take money from people in the form of entry fees?
Suggestions: In future, please cut out “a word from the judges” part. Or, if it really means so much to your egos and wellbeing to pass criticism at dancers, do it in a constructive way, this should not take you more than one session in a Mentoring and Coaching class. Where you learn how to dish up constructive criticism in sandwich style, which basically mean, first layer: give a compliment or mention what they did that was good. The filling: point out the mistake. Last layer: emphasise on the good again (hopefully another genuine compliment, different from the first one). And lastly, please take up professional dancing lessons yourselves because you’ll know that a colour of one’s hair has nothing to do with one’s dancing performance and ability.
I was having fun, then the judges really ruined it for me and for most people. I was really disappointed. Because I wanted to join this organisation and be involved with them behind the scenes. I know, for a number of facts, that there’s so much that I would have had to offer. And now, it seems, even teach. But I realise we have different visions. I want to develop children, I want to teach them to pursue their talents with passion and without fear, but if Strictly Hip Hop’s vision is to just get money from them through entry fees and spit negativity at them, then, no, thank you! That’s not my idea of building a better society. Let the children dance.
Yours Truly