final paper response In my final paper, I wanted to relate the diaspora that happened in the Polynesian islands to Indian diaspora. I did this by describing all the different Polynesian dance styles such as the Hula, Fijian Meke dance, Tahitian dance, Samoan dance, etc. I also described the different histories behind the different dance styles and the persecutions it underwent by missionary diaspora. Henceforth, showing that even though there was no Polynesian diaspora, due to missionary diaspora, some of the Polynesian dance styles were changed over time. I then compared it to the Indian diaspora as well as the British and Mogul diaspora in India. I explained the different dance styles to show that each classical Indian dance style is unique in nature, hence not one classical Indian dance style can represent India as a whole. Additionally, because of the Indian diaspora into the west and the Mogul and British diaspora into India, Indians are appealed more to a western outlook. Therefore, Bollywood is the common representation of India as it includes both some of the classical Indian dance as well as the western style. daily response 50 words each ISTD Arangetram What I really appreciate about this reading is the inclusion of classical Indian dance into the ISTD syllabus. This shows that Britain has a sense of maturity and respect to all of the residents that reside there. However, more than just Britain but even the U.S.A ISTD has an examination or arangetram for those who does Indian classical dance. I feel this has to do with the Indian diaspora within these two countries. 3.2 million of the people living in the United States are Non-Resident Indians. That does not include the Indians that grew up in the United States and want their children to learn classical Indian dance. In Britain, it is 1.4 million. Although, to improve the classical Indian dance syllabus in ISTD is to incorporate other classical Indian dance forms. Furthermore, they should not just include classical Indian dances, but any other dances that are part of other diverse cultures within the U.S and Britain. Imagined Spaces What I found interesting about this article is the talk about “imagined spaces”. Being someone who grew up watching bollywood films, my sisters and I used to make fun of how stereotypical Indian movies are. However, with the examples such as Kabhi Kushie Kabhi Gham, they really are portraying what they want people to believe India is. The gave the example of the scene of them celebrating festivals. From what I have seen in India, people do actually celebrate festivals in a huge way. I used to think it was a bad thing that films portrayed this. Although, after reading this article, I realized that by portraying family and celebration in films, it removes India from the stereotypes of poverty and uneducated people. Additionally, I also agree with the idea in the article that throughout the years, now more of a western perspective is showing up in Bollywood movies. For instance, nowadays a lot of Bollywood music includes rap, a western way of dancing, and English words, songs such as “Bom Diggy Diggy”, the remake of “Cheez Badi” and “Tareefan”. Gender and Kathak Kathak is a traditional Indian dance that tells mythological stories and teaches its audience about Hindu traditions and religion. Traditionally, this dance was performed exclusively by men, thus, female characters are portrayed by men. Performers who impersonate women do not simply disguise themselves as women, they portray ¡°the physical and emotional state of her being, behavior, actions and reactions to the context in which ¡°she¡± is portrayed¡±.(6) Their representation is for the majority based on the emotions of women opposed to their physical appearance. Characters in Kathak represent masculine or feminine characteristics based on the traditions and lessons the story is trying to convey. What is particularly interesting in these performances is that ¡°Kathanks do not merely replicate those in everyday life; they are more sharply defined and more emphatically presented, the inherent imagery offering both an ideal and a critique.¡± (9) It Is really fascinating that this traditional and religious dance allows fluidity of gender, as the dancers are meant to represent the Hindu philosophy of perfection.