Quote:
Originally Posted by khanjar
I understand that is the view of those from those countries, and they are entitled to their own view in their country. But like I wish not for the western countries to dictate to other countries, it is again a two way street, they have not the right to come to the west and foist their opinions on us. They criticise from afar, fine if if it is in their own country.
Name calling, I have gone past that, jibes at homosexuality and effeminacy, I know I am not and that is all that matters, I will pursue what I wish.
Sleazy activities are not only confined to public entertainers, I mean, just look at our country's leaders and their often covert activities. Favours sexual or otherwise have long been a way to get to where one wants to be.
There is a difference in reasons for dancing, some dance because they like it and want to , others dance because they can and do so for a living, but I cansee why all are lumped together,
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Dear Khanjar,
I am not trying to be insulting here, though it may sound that way. I find the attitude of "The dance is what I choose to say it is" to be just a bit on the ethnocentiric, condescending side. It is as if the people do not know the meaning of their own dance. Dancers from places of origin, themselves may see it differently than the average citizen, but the fact is that in the long run,
it should be those dancers and the people native to the countries from which the dance comes and not us from the west who determine the dance's meaning and purpose. They do so within a cultural understanding that the rest of us have to spend the rest of our lives learning, so who are we to make any such decisions? It is our job to learn what the dance is from their point of view and to pass that information on to our students. If we decide to use a few Middle Eastern elements and make up our own dances, we need to take the responsiblity to say so very, very clearly.
As far as when dancers from the Middle East come to the West and tell us what their dance is about, they have EVERY right to foist their opinions off on us.
Regards,
A'isha