Quote:
Originally Posted by Machiavellia
I generally agree with this view. I can get myself into the mindset of a traditionalist who feels that some types of bellydancing simply are "not". I think people have a right to preserve, or attempt to preserve, what they perceive as an endangered art, but that inevitably that attempt will fail. There is no such thing as an unchanging art. Even passing it from generation to generation is just playing Chinese Whisper. And I do think that traditionalists understand this, but perceive that overarching change as being acceptable, while micro-evolution of the dance through fusion and experimentation is more open to criticism.
I utterly disagree but I don't mind the opinion because I think if everyone was doing the same thing, that would be unfortunate for the community. I do prefer that people preserve or experiment with respect though, which unfortunately doesn't always happen.
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Dear Machiavellia,
AND allowing change to happen within the countries of origin and within certain cultural boundaries is very different than taking a free hand with someone else's art form and still referring to it as the original product. Fusion and other styles can be wonderful when well done, but they need to have their own definition, and not just be lumped into "Middle Eastern Dance", which most are not.
Now that I have said that, I also want to say that I lived in Stevenville, Newfoundland when I was a child,and I started school there at St. Steven Catholic school. I went there 1st grade and part of 2nd. When I got back to the states, I did not know how to say the Pledge of Allegiance, as they made us do every morning to start the school day in America. I have a sister who was born there, too.
Regards,
A'isha