‘Queering’ Wacko Jacko!

King of pop continues to fascinate artists across the world.

King of pop continues to fascinate artists across the world. What else could explain Kentucky-based dancer Diepiriye Sungumote Kuku’s artistic attempt to ‘queer’ the legend? Through a 20-minute dance act titled Cross Dressing to Cross Over, Kuku gave Michael Jackson’s sexuality a quirky twist.

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Presented at the MF Husain Gallery, Jamia Millia Islamia recently, the performance tried to unmask the icon’s journey to sexual liberation. “In a bid to cross over [from black to white], MJ mutilated his entire body. At a time when black men were termed dangerous for white women — a view that stems from the rage in them due to racial discrimination — MJ opted for an ideal, ‘womanly’ body to be a hit,” said Kuku.

The Afro-modern dance act, which was followed by a two-hour talk, also featured performers from the Delhi-based Choreoteque Dance Studio. “MJ wasn’t a manly man — he had to sport long hair to eye make-up to fit in,” he said.

Kuku chose soul diva Aretha Franklin’s A Change is Gonna Come to depict MJ’s journey from the man he was to the man he chose to become.