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Originally Posted by Tarik Sultan
Anisetepth makes a great point. Not that I don't understand where your coming from Zorba, I do and just for the record, I've seen your clips and I don't find you effeminate, even though I would never choose to wear some of your accessories.
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Thanx Tarik. But I'd love to know WHY you don't find me "effeminate" (And thanx for NOT laughing at my meager dance skills!). Your reaction is typical of most - yet again, I BREAK ALL THE RULES!
There's something else going on here besides mere appearance, and I don't know what it is. Is it my attitude? Is it my facial hair? I have a sneaking suspicion that it might, emphasis on "might", be that I don't bring my sexuality to the stage - for the simple matter that I don't care about sexuality. Don't get me wrong - I'm a "normal" guy, I enjoy a "roll in the hay" with my wife as much as the next guy - but I don't define myself by my sexuality like most guys (and gals?) seem to do.
I don't know.
Or perhaps its the exact opposite - I *do* bring my sexuality to the stage and its obvious.
What do you think?
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I do wear a minimal amount of makeup to hide my shaving scars, eyebrow liner to define my mustach and beard and liner to define my eyes. I use cosmetics to define my male features, not make a gender statement. To me that's another battle. For you this is an issue that's central to your life, on and off stage, for others, I feel they do it to broadcast their sexual preference. I feel that if a guy is effeminate, that's just who he is an you can see it. Dressing up is like putting hot sauce on chilli peppers, not neccessary.
I think they should strive to be known as a great artist, not that gay guy that belly dances.
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You're not quite on the gold here (in reference to me). I use cosmetics to look exotic and beautiful. Not to make a statement of any kind other than "I'm beautiful too". I do agree with your last sentence here - for myself I want to be known as an excellent dancer (perhaps some day?
) who "just happens to be male" as opposed to a "male who Belly Dances". I consider myself a dancer first, a male second (or even third).
Perhaps my "situation" is that I don't self identify as a male, or a "straight male", or as what I do at work, etc. Its part of my makeup yes, but isn't central to my self identity.
I'm just "me" for whatever that's worth. I hope THAT is what I take to the stage - and thus come across as so-called "masculine"?.
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On the issue of evening the gender playing field, there is another reason why I prefeer to see a guy present a masquline and that is because I think its high time that the entertainment industry as a whole acknowledge women. I mean think about it, everything is geared to what men find asthetically pleasing. Look at all the music videos, magazine adds. Even our dance was designed with a guys idea of the ideal woman in mind. I don't think there's anything wrong with appreciating feminine beauty, but it why can't women go to a show and see beautiful guys dancing for their viewing pleasure, who really know how to dance and are not strippers? Guys have been able to appreciate women's beauty in an artistic context, why should women be able to enjoy the same privilidge, (sp?)?
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YES!
This is exactly my point - let the gals enjoy BEAUTIFUL men!
That's what I (try to) do - and the gals seem to love me, makeup and all! This is NOT typical male bragging - I have to practically beat the women off with a stick at times. I stay backstage with my dance sisters where I'm safe when I'm not dancing, I've had too many run ins with what I call "Feral Women" who appreciate me a little too much. I find it annoying, my wife thinks its amusing. She tells me tidbits she overhears in the audience.
This is an interesting conversation - and like all "good" conversations, it provokes thought on my part - and thus helps me understand not only others, but MYSELF as well.
Keep it coming!
{BOW HERE}