You need to have some knowledge before you can critique something, or know that someone's inaccurate or teaching rubbish: lots of people do things and rely on what they experience only, don't spend time researching independently, don't use the resources that are available, and don't, for example, come online to forums like this to learn from people who are 'reputable'.
How would you know if someone was reputable if your only contact with bellydance, (or healthcare!) is from the local person down the road? Especially if you didn't know anyone else who had done it (either dancing or health care!), and a lot of the sources available for reference were just as ill-informed as you?
At least with health care we can rely on scientific evidence-base, but in belly dance there just isn't that process available! You just have to use that rare but important thing 'common sense' to judge things. In my case, I refer to original sources where possible (a bit like a journalist) for dance, and spending time online at reputable websites that have been cited by a lot of people eg Shira's site... But imagine if you weren't as studious, and didn't like 'finding out' - I'd guess many people would just believe what they're told.
One thing I'm grateful to my teachers in any subject (and probably my parents too!): I LOVE the question 'why'?!
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He wahine, he taonga- Every woman is a treasure(Maori proverb)
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