Redefine the Spotlight: A Petition for Cultural Representation

SIGN TODAY - ENTER TO WIN ONE OF THREE $50 AMAZON GIFT CARDS! DETAILS @ THE BOTTOM

Juliet, a traditional Chinese dancer, has attended numerous national and international dance competitions throughout her career. Often, she found herself competing in categories such as "open" or "contemporary" instead of a more apt category that would celebrate the uniqueness of her art.

Hence, we raise this issue to highlight the inequity prevailing in the art world. Currently, in top dance institutions, categories like ballet, lyrical dance, or tap are commonly included. Yet, the diversity of ethnic/folkloric dance is often overlooked. This lack of representation fails to capture the richness and diversity of art forms particularly reflective of cultural heritage like traditional Chinese dance, Bharatanatyam, Hula, Irish step dancing, etc.

We are fighting for a change, for a world where every young artist, regardless of their art form, is given a platform to shine and succeed. We encourage these institutions to broaden their horizons and celebrate diverse art forms. We strongly believe that adding a category for ethnic/folkloric dance will promote a fair representation of various arts from different cultures.

We are pleased to announce that after contacting one of the most prestigious national arts institutions, they have since revised their 2025 competition categories. We hope that in building this petition, even more arts institutions can follow their lead.

We are asking for your support in signing and sharing our petition advocating for:

1. Equal consideration of folk/ethnic dance categories in mainstream competitions
2. Representation of diverse dance traditions in promotional materials and showcases
3. Educational initiatives to increase awareness and appreciation of cultural dance forms

As the well-known dancer-choreographer Martha Graham once said, “Dance is the hidden language of the soul.” Let's ensure that every language gets a chance to be heard. Sign this petition to support our cause for a more diversified and inclusive arts world. It's free of cost, but your support is invaluable.

Details regarding $50 Amazon Gift Card Raffle:

• Sign the petition
• DM @julietddance on Instagram or email julietdong8@gmail.com your name and email
• That's it!
• Optional: to double your entry, repost this on social media and DM me evidence
• To triple your entry, refer this petition to your friends and have them message me as well
• Thank you!

Petition started by Juliet Dong, Meghan Li, and Olivia Bao