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culture. lifestyle. morals.


that's a stretch.

6/3/2016

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VIVIANA- Zumba was an accident. A few decades ago, Alberto Perez, an aerobic dance instructor, forgot his pop dance music so he used salsa and merengue music instead. Today, millions of devotees and instructors proudly wield the Zumba logo. With moves influenced by salsa, merengue, and more, Zumba is the first chance for many Americans to positively appreciate Hispanic culture.

But is Zumba really ‘hispanic culture?’ After all, it is a commercial fitness program. It was concocted by an individual and is internationally marketed under one brand. To teach it, you can pay $250 for an official one-day Zumba seminar and certification. You can’t do this anywhere else. You can take Zumba lessons for years and remain unable to tango. Zumba is itself an arbitrarily invented word.

Zumba is not a form of dance that evolved from decades of intermingling Afro-Caribbean cultures. It’s Alberto Perez’s individual innovation. It is thus easily concluded that Zumba is not “genuine” Hispanic culture.

Thankfully, it doesn’t claim to be! Zumba teachers don’t claim to teach you cumbia, mambo, or chachacha. They teach you cumbia, mambo, and chachacha inspired moves. Moves tailored to fitness. They’re teaching you something new, and so they’re using a new word for it: Zumba. This while still playing genuine tracks from the Hispanosphere.

I had a few years of formal training in salsa, merengue, tango, chachacha, flamenco, and sevillana. I sought these out, however, as forms of dance. I wasn’t looking for a formal fitness program, which Zumba provides to those who are. Zumba doesn't claim to be the traditional, beautiful dances it emulates. Zumba is something different.

Zumba may not be directly from an age of colonization. However, its lineage is reflective of the Hispanic-American experience. Hispanic-Americans are influenced by more than their inherited culture. They live their daily lives in an anglo-word that has only recently begun embracing outside influences. That is why Zumba is not traditional Hispanic culture. It's the product of the Hispanic experience in the United States.

This is unlike the appropriation of yoga in the United States. As yoga emerged in the Western hemisphere, it also evolved. Whereas Hispanic-American culture spawned an independent fitness movement, yoga itself was touted as a weight-loss solution and its Hindu spirituality was cast aside. Instead of encouraging further inquiry into Hindu spirituality and philosophy, Western yoga delivers a digested, whitewashed version of a beautiful Eastern tradition. Most Western “yoga” practitioners are unaware that they are only appreciating a fraction of a religious practice meant to include meditation, withdrawals, and observances. Instead, they’re contributing to a successful scheme that sells the foreign as “exotic.”

And that is no accident.
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masala music monday pt. 2 // rewind & replay.

5/16/2016

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PRANEEKA & RAGINI-

Praneeka:


I moved from India to the States at a very young age. My parents had left most of their customs and traditions back home in order to adapt to their new lives in America. The only way for my family to maintain our roots was to watch Tamil movies that we would buy from our city's local Indian market. The songs from the movies we watched helped me learn my mother tongue and sleep soundly when I was scared of the dark, and made me stop crying when I missed my parents. Most of the songs in this playlist are very well-known in Tamil cinema, but they play a special role in my family. 

1. Netru No No from VIP

2. Kannodu Kaanbathellam from Jeans

3. Kokkarakko from Ghilli 

4. Oru Vartha from Ayya

5. Naattu Kattai from Gemini

6. Antha Nilava Than from Mudhal Mariyathai

7. All Thotta Boopathi from Youth

8. Un Perai Sonnale from Dumm Dumm Dumm

9. Enna Solla Pogirai from Kandukondain Kandukondain

10. Raa Raa from Chandramukhi

11. Dhimsu Kattai from Thirumalai

12. Anjali Anjali Anjali from Anjali

13. Andangkaka from Anniyan

14. Thamthakka Theenthakka from Thirumalai

15. Ore Oru Oorukulla from Thavamai Thavamirundhu

16. Break The Rules from Boys

yen dharani from praneekam on 8tracks Radio.

Ragini:

​
This playlist is dedicated to my father, the only person I know who loves music more than I do. His adoration of old Bollywood songs has stuck with me for years and, much like the songs on this playlist, I've only grown to appreciate him more and more over time.


1. Mere Ghar Aayi Ek Nanhi Pari from Kabhi Kabhi

2. Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhagi Si from Chalti Ka Naam Gadi

3. Haal Kaisa Hai Janab Ka from Chalti Ka Naam Gadi

4. Babu Samjho Ishare from Chalti Ka Naam Gadi

5. O Saathi Chal from Seeta Aur Geeta

6. Roop Tera Mastana from Aradhana

7. Yeh Chaand Sa Roshan Chehra from Kashmir Ki Kali

8. Humne Tumko Dekha from Khel Khel Mein

9. O Meri Soni Meri Tamanna from Yaadon Ki Baaraat

10. Mere Samne Wali Khidki Mein from Padosan

11. Churaliya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko from Yaadon Ki Baaraat

12. Salam E Ishq from Muqaddar Ka Sikandar

13. Eello Ji Sanam Hum Aa Gaye from Andaaz Apna Apna

14. Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

15. Ramta Jogi from Taal

meri nanhi pari from praneekam on 8tracks Radio.

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