Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Royal Family Drama, Cultural Appropriation, and the Real Rules of Street Dance
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Royal Family Drama, Cultural Appropriation, and the Real Rules of Street Dance
The dance world is buzzing after accusations that New Zealand’s Royal Family Dancers copied old choreography. But beneath the online drama, there’s a much deeper story: How do ideas of originality, authenticity, and cultural exchange shape what dance really means today?
In this episode, we break down the heated controversy, investigate where to draw the line between inspiration and imitation, and explore the heavy legacy of cultural appropriation—from 19th-century minstrelsy to modern “blackfishing.” We trace the journey of hip hop from its South Bronx roots to a global art form, unpack the ways identity is negotiated in street dance, and offer real, practical steps for artists and audiences to honor sources, give credit, and create space for cultural originators.
Above all, we talk to working dancers about the unglamorous side of mastery: Consistency, mentorship, and the true test of battling. Whether you’re a dancer, creator, or just a fan, this episode will help you see the culture—and your own role in it—in a whole new light.
1. Biting vs Originality:
Copying unique moves or styles (biting) is a major taboo in street dance, where communities value innovation and personal expression at the highest level.
2. Cultural Appropriation is not cultural sharing.
Appropriation is often about exploitation—taking cultural forms without true understanding, credit, or reciprocity, rooted in deep histories of inequality from minstrelsy to modern pop stardom.
3. Hip-hop and street dance are rooted in resistance and community.
Born from African-American and Latino communities in the South Bronx, these art forms were built as expressions of identity, resilience, and protest.
4. Commercial success brings both risk and reward.
Mainstream exposure can erase or distort a dance style’s context, and the profits often flow away from the cultures that created them.
5. Vigilance about credit and opportunity is a duty.
Always credit teachers, choreographers, and styles. If you profit from a cultural form, create real opportunities for originators and their communities.
6. Mentorship, Practice, and Humility matter most.
Hard work, consistent labbing, and the willingness to keep learning—not just going viral—are the true “currency” for building skill and gaining respect in dance culture.
7. Battling is both art and mindset.
Freestyle skills are essential, but mental resilience, strategy, and the ability to improvise under direct pressure set great dancers apart.
8. The ‘gray area’ is real and requires honest, nuanced critique.
Dancers, fans, and media need to go beyond binary thinking (“good/bad,” “authentic/inauthentic”) to understand the ongoing negotiations and collaborations that happen in global street dance.
Whether you’re in it for the battle, the culture, or the conversation—knowing the rules, the history, and the stakes is essential for anyone who loves this art.
View all episodes
By Street Dance TalksThe dance world is buzzing after accusations that New Zealand’s Royal Family Dancers copied old choreography. But beneath the online drama, there’s a much deeper story: How do ideas of originality, authenticity, and cultural exchange shape what dance really means today?
In this episode, we break down the heated controversy, investigate where to draw the line between inspiration and imitation, and explore the heavy legacy of cultural appropriation—from 19th-century minstrelsy to modern “blackfishing.” We trace the journey of hip hop from its South Bronx roots to a global art form, unpack the ways identity is negotiated in street dance, and offer real, practical steps for artists and audiences to honor sources, give credit, and create space for cultural originators.
Above all, we talk to working dancers about the unglamorous side of mastery: Consistency, mentorship, and the true test of battling. Whether you’re a dancer, creator, or just a fan, this episode will help you see the culture—and your own role in it—in a whole new light.
1. Biting vs Originality:
Copying unique moves or styles (biting) is a major taboo in street dance, where communities value innovation and personal expression at the highest level.
2. Cultural Appropriation is not cultural sharing.
Appropriation is often about exploitation—taking cultural forms without true understanding, credit, or reciprocity, rooted in deep histories of inequality from minstrelsy to modern pop stardom.
3. Hip-hop and street dance are rooted in resistance and community.
Born from African-American and Latino communities in the South Bronx, these art forms were built as expressions of identity, resilience, and protest.
4. Commercial success brings both risk and reward.
Mainstream exposure can erase or distort a dance style’s context, and the profits often flow away from the cultures that created them.
5. Vigilance about credit and opportunity is a duty.
Always credit teachers, choreographers, and styles. If you profit from a cultural form, create real opportunities for originators and their communities.
6. Mentorship, Practice, and Humility matter most.
Hard work, consistent labbing, and the willingness to keep learning—not just going viral—are the true “currency” for building skill and gaining respect in dance culture.
7. Battling is both art and mindset.
Freestyle skills are essential, but mental resilience, strategy, and the ability to improvise under direct pressure set great dancers apart.
8. The ‘gray area’ is real and requires honest, nuanced critique.
Dancers, fans, and media need to go beyond binary thinking (“good/bad,” “authentic/inauthentic”) to understand the ongoing negotiations and collaborations that happen in global street dance.
Whether you’re in it for the battle, the culture, or the conversation—knowing the rules, the history, and the stakes is essential for anyone who loves this art.