Oshun by Claudia Olivos
From the eyes and experience of women across the diaspora
Over a year ago, a new student stepped into the lively atmosphere Dani Criss creates in her Dirty South Twerkout classes. With a masterful curation of music common at neighborhood parties, family events, private gatherings, clubs and public festivals in the South and beyond, Dani likely moved the class through the sexual cultural landscape of women in the South and beyond. The day's choreography probably consisted of booty popping moves along with shimmies and claps. The students, usually women of color, probably joined the excitement by repeating the moves, cheering each other on and showing off their new moves in the dance circle.
Dani teaches that it's through movement, music and self-expression that many women of the Diaspora "get liberated." She emphasizes that these moves, this music, this culture is not about oppression and stigmatizing women. But it's about giving women a voice and a space to own their sensuality and path to freedom.
The new student didn't return to this class, citing that the music was degrading and dangerous to the feminist movement. But that was okay because we understand liberation doesn't look the same for everyone.
Women across the diaspora are not a monolith. They are varied with endless ways of expression of love, sexuality, intelligence, power, healing, rage. They are colorful and journeying like anyone on the earth, finding their voices, owning their voices and defining themselves for themselves and no one else.
The feminine divine looks different to each person and we welcome all of those beautiful versions, celebrating the multifaceted, complex elements of this collection of energy. This month, we have taken a dive into what the feminine divine through sensuality, sexuality and healing. Continue this journey this week in our special workshops and get your freedom with Dani each week on Thursday nights.
Now, more than ever, we all, men, women and non-gender conforming persons, are invited to get in touch, explore and learn more about the feminine energy that connects, heals, fuels and empowers us all.
Want to learn more about black women and sexuality across the diaspora? Check out this scholarly article called Sexuality and Healing in the African Diaspora: A Transnational Approach to Toni Morrison and Gyasi.