Strictly Ballroom Essay

An individual’s interaction with others and the world around them can enrich or limit their experience of belonging.

The concept of belonging relates to the idea of being part of something where you are accepted. Finding a place in the world, where individuals can express themselves freely, can often mean facing challenges, yet also taking advantage of opportunities offered. The main character, Scott, in Baz Luhrmann’s film ,“Strictly Ballroom”, is forced to abide by the expectations of the colourful and glamorous world of ballroom dancing. This film is a satirical narrative about the ballroom dancing sub culture and the restrictions placed upon self-expression and individuality. Another text that explores the difficulties of being accepted,

changing relationships and belonging is Peter Skrzyneki’s poem about his father “Feliks Skrzyneki” that recounts his his father’s experiences asa Polish immigrant in Australia and how this has impacted on his relationship with his son.

Both these texts demonstrate how people interact with each other and the world around them.

Belonging is about finding a place in the world and to do this, the individual sometimes has to overcome challenges and learn to take advantage of opportunities that arise. Trying to ‘fit’ into the world causes the individual to have conflicted emotions about who they are and how they interact with the people in their life. The opening scene of Strictly Ballroom presents to the audience a fantasy world with images of dancers in their brilliant costumes, and this is the world that Scott belongs to. However, there is a fear of ‘new steps’ and Scott wants the freedom to express himself more creatively, which is against the ‘rules’. Scott’s need to belong has previously forced him to compromise his own values

and self-expression. In the film, Scott realises that “a life lived in fear is a life half lived”, and he no longer limits his self-expression in the pursuit to belong. The relationships people have with one another greatly impact upon how an individual sees himself or herself in the world, and it is Scott’s relationship with Fran and her Spanish family, that makes him understand the importance of dancing from the heart. An individual’s interactions with others is the central theme of Feliks Skrzynecki, a poem that details a persona’s reflection on the father he deeply loves and respects. The author recounts how his father dealt with change, the challenges of moving and having a dislocated sense of belonging. Peter Skrzynecki retells, “He never once heard him complain of work, the weather or pain”. This quote underlines how his father, when faced with the challenge of migrating to another country, withheld his emotions to ‘quietly’ fit in with an unfamiliar culture. For this reason his son respected his father’s stoicism and this enriched their interactions as father and son.

Changes in how an individual perceives their place in the world can have a significant impact.

In Strictly Ballroom, two contrasting perceptions of dance are presented; the world of traditional ballroom dancing as opposed to the passionate, world Spanish Flamenco dancing. Scott’s way of seeing things changes as he is introduced more and more into Fran’s world, allowing him to experience a feeling of belonging that his mother had never provided him with. An individual’s sense of belonging is always changing and this is evident in the text, Feliks Skrzynecki. Feliks Skyrzynecki is a Polish immigrant who has moved from one world to another. Over time the interactions and relationship between father and son changes. Feliks belongs to and has a shared history with other Polish immigrants he socializes with. His son belongs to his new home in Australia where he has grown up. They no longer share the experience of belonging to the place where they each grew up. This division or lack of a shared history makes it hard for his father to see eye to eye with his son. A lack of understanding between the father and son leads to a separation of identity, however, in saying this, it does not diminish the son’s respect for his

father.