1st March 2018: Are you a copycat in Dance ? by Aida Redza.
https://www.facebook.com/aida.redza/posts/10155327880362452
https://www.facebook.com/aida.redza/posts/10155327880362452

Conversations here got me thinking ceaselessly for days: Why the act of copying is such a big deal? Is it merely because we’re intolerant for disrespect or dishonest? Or more likely it is the incorrect recognition or credit has been given to someone who is not entitle to it? What is just when we’re talking about teaching, learning and excelling? I think ultimately it relates to our education pattern and mindset here, concerning whether or not students are given enough room or freedom for creativities. Simple question – do we teach and only expect students to follow and comply? How often we wished students would not do something other than instructions and hope that they only do what we considered ‘correct’? I assume the issue of copycat can be less complicated if ‘creativity’ is always practiced, as everyone just likes to express themselves with individual distinct ideas. May be I’m idealised.

Alright be realistic, why do we copy? Why do we create? Why do we dance? I’m picturing possibilities…

* We copy because we have no time to create our own / because we have no knowledge to create / because it is the easiest way to do / because it makes greater impact / because everyone is doing so..?
* We create because we want to explore the unknown / because it is a required job / because the trend forces it / because we want to examine / because we want to compete..?

– Just because the police didn’t catch me stealing then I am not a thief. Right?
– Just because many people have done it doesn’t mean it can become the right thing to do. Right?
– Just because everyone has received some sort of compensation or no one has lost anything, the act of copying shall bring no harm. Right?

What is right and what is wrong here? Why is right or wrong important? I personally believe that sometimes norm is not necessarily ‘the’ standard. Especially we are in so-called creative industry, imagine what will happen if everyone is not looking at creativity anymore but just ‘the standard’ / the norms? On the other hand, what is dance? What is our reason to copy / to create / to dance? I believe the answer can be a very personal choice as ultimately it relates to the way we see things, the arts and our life. We can have very different way to live but the important thing we should know is what we are doing and why we do it.

Anyway, let’s not stop at answering.