I am already on record somewhere as being a person who struggles with the concept of belly dance as done by men, as well as one who is willing to be enlightened, so I am reading this thread with interest. I agree in my heart with A'isha that belly dance is feminine in essence, which is not to say men should keep their shimmies under wraps and not follow their own passion for this dance or any other. What comes to mind on the subject of femininity and belly dance is one of Morrocco's essays on watching women dance for a laboring sister, encouraging her and helping her through a difficult and exclusively feminine experience with the movements of their own bodies.
More than once in my life, I have been the only woman or one of the only women working in a so-called masculine profession. I understand feeling defensive about the right to work- or dance- in a chosen field, about any criticism aimed my way for daring enter a bastion of masculinity, about searching for any precedents I could quote to make my own position more acceptable. In reading this thread and others re: the femininity/masculinity of belly dance, I sympathize with the struggle for full acceptance that male dancers are going through, and it appears most female dancers, in this forum at any rate, are more than willing to include their male brothers in Dancerhood, if you will.
That being said, I still believe belly dance is in essence feminine, and the dance as done by men is an interesting offshoot of the original middle eastern dances that were done and are done by women. My dears, a woman can dress in a kilt with a sporrain and tuck a skein dhu in her stocking and do the wildest, most heartfelt highland sword dance you can imagine, but traditionally, the kilt is worn only by men and the dance is done by men, and a woman interpreting this dance does not render the original dance anything less than masculine in essence, ancient female Celtic warriors not withstanding.
Women can do traditionally masculine dances and men can do traditionally feminine dances, but the essence of the dance changes with the gender of the dancer. And so what? To preserve the most ancient form of a dance as A'isha strives to do, and blessings on her head for it, does not mean all other forms are unacceptable and should be avoided. A'isha and I disagree on what can legitimately be called belly dance and what needs a new appellation, but I must agree with her re: the cultural femininity of the authentic middle eastern dances.
My two cents worth, with all due respect.
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