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V.I.P.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest USA
Posts: 4,500
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Dance ,etc.
Dear Khanjar,
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Originally Posted by khanjar
Ok, why not in the west do dancers not start adopting a more conservative approach to the dance in their costume, perhaps move towards how it was in the past as a folk dance in Egypt, i.e. dance covered up.
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Why would we want to do that? It does not come across well with Hilal and company, in my personal opinion. There is a certain something lacking. The dance is not about conservative, and I am not sure why some westerners insist that it is something that it is not. It is making a whole other kind of social statement!
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What the media industry has done in the west has brought us this dance, but it was wrong in the way the dance was portrayed, perhaps even insulting to the originating countries. Given that most western ME dancers know the history, and where it is wrong, they should be ok with doing things the right way, now they know there is a right way.
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Actually, when the dance came to the West, it had the exact same message it had in countries of origin and still does. "Naughty, scandalous, publicly sexual". It was not "wrong" in the way it was portrayed. It is just that many dancers in the West can not live comfortably with that image and so they strive to make a new one for the dance. This does not mean that the dance has no depth or integrity, but that integrity depends partly on having an understanding of the dance from a specifically cultural point of view. Dancers themselves understand how the public looks at them in countries of origin. Part of their attitude is radical and revolutionary, and this is more true of he wealthy and famous dancers than it is poor ones. They understand and accept that they work outside the norm, and have the chance to glory in that freedom.
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From what I would like to understand is ME dance is about dance, not the appearance of the dancer. If dancers danced covered, this would weed out the people that see ME dance as an ogle fest and perhaps if the west is seen to be covering up, this might send better signals to the originating countries, and they might be a little more lenient, in that it might stimulate more of an interest, because it does not insult religious beliefs too much.
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Costuming is a dance tool, just as music, movement,venue,general appearance and many other elements are. This dance is best shown off in clothing that hugs the body, or clothing that in some other way accentuates the body. There are movements in the true dance that are subtle enough so that they are not seen when all covered up in loose fitting garments. Also, if people want to do the dance, they have to expect a certain amount of sexual backlash. The dance IS sexual and the costume is meant to accentuate those subtle signals. Now, this does not mean that some people do not costume over the top, but there is no need for the rest of us to freak out and start dressing like nuns because of a few radical costumers. Most of us can dress ourselves quite nicely, thank you. I am not interested in the opinions of people who view belly dance only as an ogle fest anyway and I do not see any need to cater to their opinions one way or the other. I will neither dress nor undress for THEM!
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Public dance I do understand is a no no with certain religious beliefs, but there are different levels of those beliefs, as has been demonstrated in the past. Human nature usually is effective at leveling ideas, balancing things out, Lanes book is very helpful in showing the balance that existed before, in one originating country.
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I am not sure that's true in the way you are thinking. Public dancing girls were scandalous then as belly dancers are now. There was no level or balance. it is just that Lane was not as prejudiced as many people in his reporting.
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Though I have no plans to do this, as I am essentially a very private person, if it ever came to myself being on an acceptable level as to dance publicly and I had overcome my confidence issues, it would not my interest to be part of a flesh fest, and I would research a suitable costume to suit my requirements. To dance, is my interest for me, not my wish to entertain others, they don't like it, they can continue to fiddle with their cell phones.
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If you have no wish to entertain others, then I would recommend that you do not dance in public. The dance IS a form of entertainment and that means that if you get up in front of other people to do it, then it is your job to entertain them.
Regards,
A'isha |