By In the spring, I had this wild idea to make a solo dance video, including the elements of spoken word, model walking and a bit of voguing. As usual, the creative budget was zero dollars. LOL. But, I believed that a fat girl dancing — a Muslim girl dancing in the streets of Detroit — would make a powerful statement, a conversation about what an American Muslim looks like. What a modern-day fat girl looks like. An “overly-educated” Black girl. I knew that if I decided to do it, that I might get backlash from the opposing side, too.
“Why is that Muslim girl dancing?!? She shouldn’t be doing that. It’s not Islamic!”
For me, dancing is about expression. It’s about self-awareness. It’s about letting go.
“She’s so fat, why is she embarrassing herself?”
I put all that aside (’cause I’m grown) and danced my heart out, on and off, for about an hour in almost 90-degree weather to get these shots with my awesome and supportive team.
For me, dancing is about expression. It’s about self-awareness. It’s about letting go.
This video is an unveiling. Shedding the old skins of my past and just living in my truths. Living in the NOW.
It’s scary. Raw. Cinematic. Bad-ass. Feminist af.
Yeah, I’m fat, Black and very Muslim.
Do I make you uncomfortable?
Dancer: @Lvernon2000
Videography: @ReelCleverFilms
MUA: @Makeup_by_Madinah
Music: Comer Dorris
Location: Detroit, MI
Love it girl!!!!!
Thank you!
RIGHT ON SISTA
Thanks!!!
Tragic… really tragic. The objective should be to be more obedient to Allah–not imitate the people of misguidance or promote (perhaps, unknowingly) atheistic ideology.
*Sad face*
WOW!! Great job, Leah! Loved it!!!
Thanks girl!
You are not a great dancer. I however appreciate you for having done what you believe as the right thing to do and you don’t care about what others talk about you. Hope you will soon find better things to do and will find more effective ways of expressing yourself.