A cosmopolitan shaman's call for an inclusive world

Not just another music video

An iconic music video that brought together two distinct art forms: pop and Odissi. Black or White, the debut single from Michael Jackson’s eighth album Dangerous, featured a striking desi cameo.

Here come Yamuna!

While MJ needs no introduction, who is the woman performing Odissi beside him on the LA freeway? Meet Yamuna Sangarasivam! Born in Sri Lanka to a mixed-race family, she began training in Bharatanatyam and Odissi at the age of six. Despite moving to the US, she carried with her a deep passion for classical dance that shaped her journey long before that unforgettable performance.

Leading up to the ‘Black or White’ video shoot, MJ and team had put out a call for ethnic and modern performers from across cultures. Yamuna was one of the 3000 artists and dancers who responded.

At the time, she was pursuing her Master’s degree at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The video was shot in the middle of Los Angeles, which led to the shutdown of a part of its expressway! There were scenes featuring African Zulu hunters, traditional Thai dancers, Plains Native Americans, Hopak dancers, and Yamuna. It was filmed during a 14-hour marathon session.

MJ's message of love above all

The Black or White music video, in its entirety, presents Jackson as a ‘cosmopolitan shaman’, performing alongside artists from across the globe. The iconic morphing sequence, where faces of various races blend into one another, captures the essence of the video’s message.

In an interview, Yamuna reminisced about her experience with Michael Jackson with great fondness, highlighting his exceptional talent and humble nature. She recalled how he had arranged for a Mercedes to bring her to the set and personally brought a blanket for her mother, who was feeling chilly.

Yamuna is currently a Professor of Anthropology at Nazareth College, New York. She also serves as Director of the Women and Gender Studies Undergraduate Program in Sociology and Anthropology, as well as the Women and Gender Studies Program.

Her performance, among many others, alongside the King of Pop, reinforces the video’s core message: accepting the people you love for who they are.

Image Credits :

Black Or White Dancer Reflects Yamuna Sangarasivam who famously danced with Michael in the middle of a road for the short film ‘Black or White’ has reflected on what her experience was like.

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