Belly Dance Forums - View Single Post - Male belly dancers considered "shameful" by ME males

Zorba · 08-30-2006, 04:27 PM

I have to agree with Rico's recent posts here...

For the record, I do indeed have respect for all cultures, including the middle east.

But....

Rico's right. If someone doesn't have respect for me, why should I have respect for them? Its a two way street. From what I read over and over and over again, Belly Dancers in most parts of the middle east are considered whores or otherwise undesireables. To my mind, they are figuratively being spit on.

Fine - then those who are doing the spitting have lost all right to define/complain about Americans/whoever co-opting "their" dance! The collective "they" are doing their very best to WIPE OUT the artform in its native land(s). "They" OBVIOUSLY don't want it - so its up to "us" to take it on (at least until our own "American taliban" religious whackoes succeed in banning it here).

Not only that, but it is my *PERSONAL* feeling that this dance is far older than the current religion/culture/people that are currently extant in the middle east - in other words, "they" didn't create the dance, they merely inherited it. We all know the debate about the origins of the dance - it isn't my intention to reopen that debate here. I think almost all theories have some basis in fact - the world is a big place in time and space.

To bring this thread back on topic - I've had many M.E. males leave the room or look away when I'm performing - and I've also had many M.E. males congratulate/compliment/thank me. Younger ones are particularly accepting - probably because they're "Americanized".

No offense intended to anyone - as always, these are my opinions only.

08-30-2006, 04:27 PM	#12 (permalink)
Zorba Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 884	I have to agree with Rico's recent posts here... For the record, I do indeed have respect for all cultures, including the middle east. But.... Rico's right. If someone doesn't have respect for me, why should I have respect for them? Its a two way street. From what I read over and over and over again, Belly Dancers in most parts of the middle east are considered whores or otherwise undesireables. To my mind, they are figuratively being spit on. Fine - then those who are doing the spitting have lost all right to define/complain about Americans/whoever co-opting "their" dance! The collective "they" are doing their very best to WIPE OUT the artform in its native land(s). "They" OBVIOUSLY don't want it - so its up to "us" to take it on (at least until our own "American taliban" religious whackoes succeed in banning it here). Not only that, but it is my PERSONAL feeling that this dance is far older than the current religion/culture/people that are currently extant in the middle east - in other words, "they" didn't create the dance, they merely inherited it. We all know the debate about the origins of the dance - it isn't my intention to reopen that debate here. I think almost all theories have some basis in fact - the world is a big place in time and space. To bring this thread back on topic - I've had many M.E. males leave the room or look away when I'm performing - and I've also had many M.E. males congratulate/compliment/thank me. Younger ones are particularly accepting - probably because they're "Americanized". No offense intended to anyone - as always, these are my opinions only. __________________ -Zorba "The Veiled Male" http://www.doubleveil.net "There is nothing sadder than a veil, that is for sale."