Eva Dalais et Thabo Legrand À“ two united hearts

This article may be used to:
1. Demonstrate positive use of images in media

2. Demonstrate how media can tell human-interest stories that provide different gender perspectives. 

3. Raise discussions about how cultural barriers are changing, and how media can represent this.

4. Raise discussions about gender and child rearing.

 

The article is a profile of two dancers who are also in a relationship. The article explains that the preparation of their show “Utopia,” the life of the couple, their responsibility as parents, and their choreography are very mixed together. They are a happy couple who work together and share responsibilities both in the preparation of the show, and also in the home.  The article mentions that during the interview they could not stop looking at each other, and Eva Dalais says that her meeting with Thabo Legrand was the landmark of her life. Dalais was born in Reunion Island At the age of eight she discovered dancing. She studied at the London Studio Centre and later became a dance teacher. One day while on holiday in Mauritius, she fell in love with the country and decided to stay. She has produced several shows. Botswana-born Legrand moved to Mauritius at the age of seven. At the age of 18, he had his first dancing experience at Coco Beach Hotel. The couple met through another dancer.

The article explores how in the multicultural Mauritian society taboos are falling down. Dalais is white, from what is usually termed a good social background and status, and has done her studies in England. Legrand is black, from a less privileged social status, and has done no tertiary studies. The story breaks different kind of barriers and stereotypes, gender, racial and social. Both mother and father look after their child and are partners in business and in their professional life.

 

1. Show students the article before having them read it. What impression do they get from the images alone? What do they think the story is going to be about?

2. What are the gender and social stereotypes around raising children? How does this impact on both genders? What can be gained from breaking down these barriers?

 

1. Asking students to investigate other examples of people who are in a relationship and working together, write similar profiles on how they balance professional and home responsibilities.

2. Break participants into two groups. Have one group make a list of flip chart paper of all qualities that make someone excel in business, and the other qualities that enable a person to run a home well. Compare lists.

 

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