Styles varying between men and women?

MyCapoeira · 05-31-2007, 07:32 PM

I have a post elsewhere on this board where I asked for your opinions about male belly dancers. I received some excellent responses, and I am now curious if styles differ between males and females. I would imagine some styles are considered strictly for female practitioners, correct me if I'm wrong. Thank you.

Aisha Azar · 05-31-2007, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyCapoeira

I have a post elsewhere on this board where I asked for your opinions about male belly dancers. I received some excellent responses, and I am now curious if styles differ between males and females. I would imagine some styles are considered strictly for female practitioners, correct me if I'm wrong. Thank you.

Dear MyCaqpoeira,
Are you talking about belly dance specifically, or folkloric dances, too?
Regards,
A'isha

MyCapoeira · 05-31-2007, 07:45 PM

Yes, I was speaking of Belly Dancing specifically, sorry for the generalization. However, now that you mention it, I would like to know more about folkloric dances as well.

Aisha Azar · 06-01-2007, 12:09 AM

Dear My Capoeira,
Essentially there should be no really technical difference between belly dance in men and women. In some folkdance there is a very big difference in the way each gender performs the dances, and there are also dances that are gender specific. If you have specific dances that you would like to ask about, we have a group of people on this forum who among them seem to have a large base of varied knowledge.
Regards,
A'isha

sedoniaraqs · 06-01-2007, 02:56 AM

This is a great video clip of Tito, an Egyptian dancer, and a female dancer (unknown to me) oriental dancing together. Obviously parts are choreographed because they are doing the same thing quite synchronized. Other parts are sorta girl/boy contest kindof thing.

Anyway, what strikes me is that Tito seems very masculine to me, and the woman seems very feminine, even when they are doing the same thing. This shouldn't really be surprising I guess.

Although some male oriental dancers do have a more feminine quality to them.

Yasmine Bint Al Nubia · 06-01-2007, 09:38 PM

thanks sedonia for the clip! Tito is a magnificent display of Oriental dancing. I also note that all of his performances I've seen, he is wearing a white caftan with a small black hip sash. No doubt this costuming choice lends a masculine and earthy appeal to his style. But you are right the moves are the same. It was fun to watch.
Yasmine

janaki · 06-02-2007, 01:39 PM

In my opinion every dancer has his or her own style. Style is as unique as we all are. In an other forum there is a similiar thread posted and Shira answered it so beautifully.....even woman's dance look differently depending on how big, small, muscular the body is.

For me dance is a dance, I don't care much about whether is it done by a man or women as long as it is done in a tasteful and respectable way!!!! Thank god, belly dance is not a partner dance. It allows a lot of freedom and spontainity to the dancer. How odd would it look if a women lead a man in ballroom dance??? Not that it is wrong... we are not used to watching this. For me it is ok to have your own style as long as you are not trying to be someone else. I can copy(I wish) fifi's style but I'll never be fifi!!!!!

As long as bellydancing men don't try to act like women and be like women, everything else is OK for me.

Cheers
Janaki

Amulya · 06-03-2007, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sedoniaraqs

This is a great video clip of Tito, an Egyptian dancer, and a female dancer (unknown to me) oriental dancing together. Obviously parts are choreographed because they are doing the same thing quite synchronized. Other parts are sorta girl/boy contest kindof thing.

Anyway, what strikes me is that Tito seems very masculine to me, and the woman seems very feminine, even when they are doing the same thing. This shouldn't really be surprising I guess.

Although some male oriental dancers do have a more feminine quality to them.

That is a nice video clip! But in my opinion he does have some kind of a feminine facial expression, not that that matters, it's really nice to see a duet like that.

Alexandros · 06-03-2007, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A'isha Azar

Dear My Capoeira,
Essentially there should be no really technical difference between belly dance in men and women. In some folkdance there is a very big difference in the way each gender performs the dances, and there are also dances that are gender specific. If you have specific dances that you would like to ask about, we have a group of people on this forum who among them seem to have a large base of varied knowledge.
Regards,
A'isha

Hallo everybody ,
Aisha you are right but i have to say to everybody as a male bellydancer to be a litle bit more open minded, EXAMPLE: I enjoy when i see womens dancing "cane dance", but cane dance its a male dance so i have to say something negative about that ofcourse not cause i like it and i dont care if it is a male dance on the other hand if a male bellydancer dance "samadan" why the womens bellydancer they dont accept it?????

This a very simple example so my point is that the womens must be a litle bit more open minded and to stop thinking that the art of bellydancing belong to them!!!

Take care
Alexandros

janaki · 06-03-2007, 12:36 PM

Hey Alexandros,

I am definitely on your side!!! BTW, I like your long hair!!!! I saw your clips Maria Aya posted. You are awsome!!!!

Cheers
Janaki

05-31-2007, 07:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
MyCapoeira Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 71	Styles varying between men and women? I have a post elsewhere on this board where I asked for your opinions about male belly dancers. I received some excellent responses, and I am now curious if styles differ between males and females. I would imagine some styles are considered strictly for female practitioners, correct me if I'm wrong. Thank you. __________________ Hue Socks \| fruit baskets

05-31-2007, 07:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
MyCapoeira Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 71	Yes, I was speaking of Belly Dancing specifically, sorry for the generalization. However, now that you mention it, I would like to know more about folkloric dances as well. __________________ Hue Socks \| fruit baskets

06-01-2007, 12:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
Aisha Azar V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest USA Posts: 4,516	Differences Dear My Capoeira, Essentially there should be no really technical difference between belly dance in men and women. In some folkdance there is a very big difference in the way each gender performs the dances, and there are also dances that are gender specific. If you have specific dances that you would like to ask about, we have a group of people on this forum who among them seem to have a large base of varied knowledge. Regards, A'isha

06-01-2007, 09:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
Yasmine Bint Al Nubia V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 1,139	thanks sedonia for the clip! Tito is a magnificent display of Oriental dancing. I also note that all of his performances I've seen, he is wearing a white caftan with a small black hip sash. No doubt this costuming choice lends a masculine and earthy appeal to his style. But you are right the moves are the same. It was fun to watch. Yasmine __________________ www.visionsofthenile.com

06-01-2007, 02:56 AM	#5 (permalink)
sedoniaraqs Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: cultural wasteland of the midwestern US Posts: 574	This is a great video clip of Tito, an Egyptian dancer, and a female dancer (unknown to me) oriental dancing together. Obviously parts are choreographed because they are doing the same thing quite synchronized. Other parts are sorta girl/boy contest kindof thing. Anyway, what strikes me is that Tito seems very masculine to me, and the woman seems very feminine, even when they are doing the same thing. This shouldn't really be surprising I guess. Although some male oriental dancers do have a more feminine quality to them.

06-02-2007, 01:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
janaki V.I.P. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: hong kong Posts: 1,211	In my opinion every dancer has his or her own style. Style is as unique as we all are. In an other forum there is a similiar thread posted and Shira answered it so beautifully.....even woman's dance look differently depending on how big, small, muscular the body is. For me dance is a dance, I don't care much about whether is it done by a man or women as long as it is done in a tasteful and respectable way!!!! Thank god, belly dance is not a partner dance. It allows a lot of freedom and spontainity to the dancer. How odd would it look if a women lead a man in ballroom dance??? Not that it is wrong... we are not used to watching this. For me it is ok to have your own style as long as you are not trying to be someone else. I can copy(I wish) fifi's style but I'll never be fifi!!!!! As long as bellydancing men don't try to act like women and be like women, everything else is OK for me. Cheers Janaki

06-03-2007, 12:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
janaki V.I.P. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: hong kong Posts: 1,211	Hey Alexandros, I am definitely on your side!!! BTW, I like your long hair!!!! I saw your clips Maria Aya posted. You are awsome!!!! Cheers Janaki