Of historical interest. Posted by Seldom Scene Screenings
" Amateur cancan troupe from Suffolk England in the 1980s and beyond, featuring a cross-section of women ages 16-36 with a wide range of occupations: e.g. housewife, mother, artist, dance teacher. This1989 documentary, "Sisters Under the Skin", allows the dancers to speak, and surprisingly for those who would emphasize "exploitation" as a critique of the dance, nearly all of these women embrace cancan as an expression of female empowerment, and not as being counter-feminist.
Anyway, these particular dancers would probably have much preferred it to the kicking, jumping and revolving of taekwondo (had they the choice), as it requires as much focus, dexterity and strength as that martial art, but with its power hidden in its flaunting femininity - with women in complete control, without the inescapable patriarchal costumes and rituals of the warrior arts. What it may do for men (who are mostly passive spectators) is likely more primal and simplistic - if anything at all.
I do not own the rights to the various elements of this video; this content may found elsewhere in 3 parts, or in truncated versions, variously titled "Suffolk Cancan Girls" or "Sisters Under the Skin". I have edited the 3 parts into one whole presentation. It is presented here solely for entertainment purposes, and not for profit or profundity.
I suppose that this video could be considered an addendum to the very first presentation on this channel, "CanCan in 20th Century Films" - or considered whatever else you will.
0:00 - Title
02:22 - Introductory dance
09:00 - The Suffolk Cancan Girls perform with "Bad Manners"
21:50 - Performing in a pub
34:28 - Finale: performing before astonished Cambridge students at Summer Ball
1987"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qrEtJ1pkTY
BB
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