I actually don't mind referring to what they wear in the ethnic routines as "costumes." Everything they wear on the show is a costume and what they wear in a Bollywood number is as much a fantasia based on an actual sari/dhoti/lengha/what-have-you as a Latin ballroom dress is a riff on an actual cocktail dress.
I'll grant that they muddy the waters by always pointing out Kupono's "outfits," but in this case I take more issue with the term "outfit." It's a costume. I don't care how crazily he dresses in real life, he's put it on specifically for his performance. It's a costume, not an outfit.
I also took more issue with the proclamation that Nakul made Bollywood fresh and hip when it's a huge cultural force that is incredibly alive, vital, and contemporary, just not necessarily in the States. From my understanding of it, Bollywood (if one can even call it a style) is a popular take on/development of Indian classical dance. It could be seen as an equivalent to hip hop within the Indian culture. So to imply that it has been updated and made newly "cool" just felt ignorant and careless to me.
I minded seeing Karla go, because I thought she was a good dancer, but I didn't care for Asuka. There was something that felt fake-y about her performance style to me. Very disingenuous. I thought that she and Vitolio were well-paired in that regard.
My parents got me hooked on the show! I am obsessed!
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Fri, Jul. 17th, 2009 08:05 pm (UTC)I'll grant that they muddy the waters by always pointing out Kupono's "outfits," but in this case I take more issue with the term "outfit." It's a costume. I don't care how crazily he dresses in real life, he's put it on specifically for his performance. It's a costume, not an outfit.
I also took more issue with the proclamation that Nakul made Bollywood fresh and hip when it's a huge cultural force that is incredibly alive, vital, and contemporary, just not necessarily in the States. From my understanding of it, Bollywood (if one can even call it a style) is a popular take on/development of Indian classical dance. It could be seen as an equivalent to hip hop within the Indian culture. So to imply that it has been updated and made newly "cool" just felt ignorant and careless to me.
I minded seeing Karla go, because I thought she was a good dancer, but I didn't care for Asuka. There was something that felt fake-y about her performance style to me. Very disingenuous. I thought that she and Vitolio were well-paired in that regard.
My parents got me hooked on the show! I am obsessed!
chi-zu