#but you can't carry that same logic into art. it doesnt work like that | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

sanstropfremir · 2 years ago

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This is going to be such a weird and long ask, but what do you think of Michael Jackson as a dancer? I knew he was a great performer, but I was really surprised that he was crowned as one of the best dancers by Fred Astaire, despite the fact that Jackson was not a professionally trained dancer. For context, before stumbling on your blog (which I'm very grateful for between) I always thought that, usually, main dancers in a kpop group were on the same level as professional dancers, so when you explained the real gap, it made me think of how we view performers like Beyonce and Michael Jackson as some of the best dancers, but I don't know whether these comparisons are made with only other singers in mind, or if they really are considered among the best dancer, including professional dancers. Your thoughts?

oh no michael jackson was the real fucking deal. his body control was insane he is legit one of the greatest dancers of all time. it's also important to remember that michael jackson was a street dancer, which was a form that was quite literally growing with him. of course he wasn't professionally trained as a dancer; at what school?? nowadays we have dancers who are professionally trained in hiphop, popping, locking, and other types of street dance, but as a form, these genres are probably only about 50-60ish years old; tony gogo (who worked WITH mj) is still alive and occasionally working. michael jackson was a HUGE part of the reason why schools for street dance even exist at all, bc he was the one who made the form popular. he's the blueprint for the pop star, the reason why we even HAVE kpop in the first place. the thing about the performing arts is that because there are so many aspects of it, you're almost always going to find someone who has better technique in some way; yes there are better dancers than michael jackson now, just as there are better singers, better musicians, etc etc etc. but art isn't about technique, it's about what you DO with that technique, what you make with it, and how influential you become. when someone is recognized as being the 'best', it's always a combination of skill, artistic ability, and influence, and that's something that other artists will always acknowledge.

#especially when you get into the field of pop performance influence is a HUGE part of legacy #i feel like ppl are only familiar with mj's music videos and like.....his dance breaks during live performances are soooo #like go watch the dangerous live at wetten dass 1995 perf that shit is wild (and i think you will find looks very familiar *cough taemin*)#non kpop questions #like mj was for sure an actually talented dancer but there's always going to be a difference between him and like. idk.#someone who only dances a specific genre and does nothing else.#like probably most popping dancers that compete/battle are ''better'' than mj. but that's a flawed metric to judge on #bc theyre not doing the same thing #its like boa. is she a very talented dancer? absolutely. is she the best? no of course not. but professionals will still cite her influence #text #answers #and rain. and taemin. all talented all considered the best in their fields all cited influences #but you will ALWAYS find someone who is better #there's def like a preoccupation with technique that happens in arts fields bc ppl try to make the comparison with other non arts fields #like in a science-based field having perfect technique IS how you are the best #like the best surgeon is the one who does things textbook perfect right? you wouldnt want a surgeon who plays fast and loose with rules #but you can't carry that same logic into art. it doesnt work like that #and its not really something that i blame people for assuming bc not everyone is an artist #but it is an important thing that more ppl should be aware of

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