Quote:
Originally Posted by Aisha Azar
Dear Reen,
This dance is about an intimacy between the audience and the dancer that does not translate very well from the concert stage, and it gives the dance a formalization that was never intended. The costuming is only part of the story in countries of origin, not the whole story. Dancers have been looked down on in countries of origin long before the development of belly dance, and for many of the same reasons.
Serious dancers are already promoting the dance as an art, but that does not mean we have to leave behind its sexual attributes, either. Art can be very sexy and still have class. Oh, and we have a group of dancers who are already dancing very covered up. They practice the Hilal Method. Go and watch a video or two. I would be interested to see what everyone thinks of them.?
Regards,
A'isha
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Oh, I wholeheartedly agree, I am an artist in metalwork and I understand the psychology of art and there I know it is not the blatantly obvious sexual art that is beautiful, but often the message a piece of art sends. With the dance, it an art form, a message can be sent to the viewer, which is a private message that every viewer understands in their own personal way. Being blatant has the effect to repel some people.
For example, yesterday I was speaking with a ceramicist who was stuck with the direction their art should go from a sales point of view. They had thought to create more sexualized pieces, as sex sells. My ideas to them were you can create something which whilst not obvious, is suggestive, that is more likely to sell, as the message being sent is a personal thing. Many people, perhaps the majority wish not to be open with their personal interests, and prefer to let the mind see what they want to see.
Dance to me, it is about the movement, not the flesh, it is the movement which I find the attraction. I see the message in the movement, so covered up dancing, is welcome to me, as I see beyond the obvious in a lot of arts.