American Muslim hip hop dancers share experience on to overcome Islamophobia

KOTA BHARU, Aug 13 ( Bernama) -- Two female Muslim hip hop dancers from the United States are here in Kelantan to share their passion for hip hop dance, their experiences as Muslims in America and on how to overcome Islamophobia.

“Today, Islamophobia has become a common thing in society, so I took an approach by using this hip hop dance as the medium to change the perception of the society towards Muslims,” Amirah Sackett, 40, told reporters after attending “The Get Down Session” programme at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan City Campus in Pengkalan Chepa today.

Amirah, the founder of  Women’s Dance Group “We Are Muslim, Do not Panic” said this hip hop dance had become a part of the cultures in America and that it could be considered the best way to be one of the medium to preach society.

“When the audience see me dance in fully covered attire (Abaya), it can turn off their bad perception towards us, and accept the fact that Muslims can also perform a ‘cool’ dance,” she said.

Meanwhile, Marry Mar, 36, from Detroit, said the hip hop dance they performed did not involve any sexy movement, but only normal and exercise kind of movements.

“This is my first time going away to other country to share our experience, our culture and our passion to dance as I believed it is one of the way to cultivate discipline and increase confidence level,” she said.

Meanwhile, United States Cultural Affairs Assistant Officer Sarah J.Talalay said the two dancers were brought to Malaysia in a programme to share the American cultures with the Malaysian people in Johor, Kelantan and Kuala Lumpur.

“We want to expose some of the American cultures with the people here and also to give them the opportunity to meet and interact with their Muslims sisters from America,” she said, adding that the programme began on Aug 9 and would end on Aug 18.

-- BERNAMA