Zardoz

I am male and just getting started (I haven’t actually started classes yet) and see must guys talking about how they are viewed as gay. I am wondering a few things. (Sorry if this has been discussed earlier. I haven’t read much here). Sorry if these questions seem blunt, I’m really not trying to be offensive. I’m honestly curious and looking for honest even blunt answers.

First, my only dance experience is with country dance (two step, three step, swing, etc.). Do male dancers in general (meaning dance other than belly) face this “gay” stereotype? Or is it particularly evident with belly dancers?

Second, I am 37 years old and to my knowledge my sexuality has never been questioned. I don’t know that I’m extremely masculine or anything, but so far this has never been brought up to me. Are these men that are called gay doing something or acting some way that could be seen as effeminate aside from the dancing?

Lastly, are the people calling you gay others involved in belly dancing or are they only people on the outside that really don’t have a clue about what’s going on?

I’m not really worried that this will affect me (I have a black belt and I can sword fight very well. Just kidding) and this isn’t something that would change my mind about learning to belly dance. I’m just curious if this is something I might experience or if it only happens to certain dancers.

Sorry in advance if question 2 is overly blunt I just don’t know an easy way to ask that.

Shanazel

WELCOME TO THE CAN OF WORMS! Please peruse all threads related to maleness, and never fear- you will be loved, admired, reviled, and sneered at, just like everyone else who has ever decided to take on something new. Don't let it slow you up a bit. Just smile and keep the shimmy going.

gisela

I don't have an answer for you but just thought of this:
The only male dancer I've met in person actually is gay BUT I would never have guessed from the way he dances, I think he moves really masculine (whatever that is, I usually don't like those "definitions" but anyway..) and in kind of a raw turkish style. I never heard ANYONE talk about him as gay so it's not everywhere that's a big deal.
More male belly dancers, I say! The more the merrier.

Zorba

Among the male Belly Dancers I'm acquainted with, 2/3rds or 3/4ths of them *are* gay. So what, who cares?

Male dancers of any kind are generally thought to be gay in the U.S.. Whatever...

People can "question" my sexuality or masculinity all they like - I really don't give a rolling red rat's rectum. It used to bother my wife far more than it did me!

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-Zorba
"The Veiled Male"
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chryssanthi sahar

Dear Zardoz.

As a dancing man you always get confronted with some prejudices, especially if you don't dance the "hard" stuff like break dancing or hip hop. Well, the truth is, that there are many gays among the professional dancers of most dance styles. But not every guy who deals seriously with dancing is gay. There are at least as many straight men who dance professionally, or deal intensively with dancing. The percentage of gay guys among the belly dancers is maybe higher than among, let's say, hip hoppers, but also in the case of belly dance there are quite some straight guys who dedicated themselves to it (our Zorba for example ). So don't worry about these stereotypes. You know what you are and if belly dance is fun for you, just go on and shake it I love to watch male belly dancers

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Aisha Azar

Dear Zardoz,
If you are concerned about being thought gay, then this might not be the dance form for you. First, the dance in its natural state is going to put you in touch with certain aspects of yourself that are feminine if you allow yourself to really dance the dance. If this is a problem for you, you might be more interested in pursuing some of the folkloric dances that can have a heavy masculine element, such as Saidi, Debke, or Ardah or Bambouteyeh, and leave the belly dance alone.

But, like Zorba says, let them think what they may, and realize that in the end, they will think what they want anyway and it really does not matter. It only matters what YOU know about your sexuality. It really is no one else's business. And Zorba is correct also in that the majority of male belly dancers are gay.

I would like to ask you a question now. What is your motivation for wanting to learn belly dance?
Regards,
A'isha

Recnadocir

I would estimate that at least 2/3 of male ballet, modern, and jazz dancers are gay. I think that in the public mind male dancers are perceived as gay, with the exception of hip hop and break dancers, ballroom dancers, country western dancers, and Irish step dancers. Interestingly enough, I remember, years ago, mentioning that I belly dance to a male ballet dancer who I think was "latent." He had a visible reaction, and made a hasty exit. So, that kind of tells me that even among repressed gay male dancers of other styles, male belly dancers must be really flippin' gay!

We are the male belly dancers, gayest of the gay, whether or not we are really gay. Wrap your mind around that!


I shave my chest, wear gay outfits and pose, but I'M NOT GAY!

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chryssanthi sahar

Hey Rick, you are not only the twin brother of Brad Pitt, you are also the twin brother of Michael Flatley What a wonder of nature

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www.chryssanthi.com

Recnadocir

On second thought, best to delete ballroom dancers and Irish step dancers from the list of "dancers generally not considered gay."

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Nos es in Hollywood , quod vos es non!

slinks

Chryssanthi, I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing and was gonna comment, when I finished reading the thread ... but you beat me to it .. it's so true ..

Hey Recnadocir hiya gorgeous

Oh and for the original poster of this thread .. I love male dancers, gay or not !!! so who cares, if you want to dance go for it, as Zorba says who gives a red rats rectum to what others think :-)