Please help me brighten my knowledge... - Page 4

Yasmine Bint Al Nubia · 08-19-2006, 11:03 PM

Very interesting posts and replies! i'm learning a lot , but my eyes are getting crossed:o "feminine mammary appendages"? hey Rico can I use that line?

Crossed-Eyed But Loving it
Yasmine

Recnadocir · 08-19-2006, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yasmine Bint Al Nubia

Very interesting posts and replies! i'm learning a lot , but my eyes are getting crossed:o "feminine mammary appendages"? hey Rico can I use that line?

Crossed-Eyed But Loving it
Yasmine

Why of course Yasmine. It was certainly meant in an admiring way, too.

Best
Rico

Descendant of the male shamans

Dipali · 08-21-2006, 03:47 AM

hi everybody

The thread seem to trigger a wide ranging debate on the male belly dancing topic. i also beleive i have learned a lot and for that i give my warmest thanks, its good to see so many male dancers with such positve attitudes adding to the discussion, im sure the future dance of the male will evolve into a more masculine(I am using the word again!) role, When i say masculine i mean the feeling of it.As a general viewer of male belly dancing (forget all the scintific terms) i would love to see male bellydancing stand out on its own.

Aisha Azar · 08-21-2006, 02:48 PM

Dear Dipali,
Male belly dancing does stand out on its own already.

Regards,
A'isha

Dipali · 08-22-2006, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A'isha Azar

Dear Dipali,
Male belly dancing does stand out on its own already.Regards,

A'isha

Dear Aisha..
I was not that clear about my post probably, Ok When i say Stands out its own i mean the general interest on public , when man and women both would love to see a male belly dancer performing,I know everything takes time, Female Belly Dancing is getting its position slowly but surely into the mainstream culture, Because they created an identity, as general public relates the dance entirely to female. But probably a little bit of change in dancing style for male dancer , would be more appropriate for a broader general public,what change it would be all depend on what the public likes, also all the male dancers who love the dance and want to see it growing.I am not talking here about individual expression , but a general opinion , Male bellydancing has lot more to go before it makes its entry to our eyes and soul.

Zorba · 08-22-2006, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A'isha Azar

You state that the quality and essence of the dance "can be different" in males than in females. How so? When in your mind does it stop being belly dance and become something else?

I meant, simply, that due to our different body structure - particularly hips - some moves will (generally) have a different quality on a male body. My oft presented example of Maias point this out pretty well. My Maias just don't look quite the same as my instructors - and they never will because of my hip structure.

Quote:

You say that in your mind it is impossible for you to do anything that is feminine because you are a male. The fact is that no one is either all female or male. We all have varying degrees of hormones and other elements that make us both male and female. This is only a suggestion.... perhaps it is some feminine part of your nature that makes the dance appeal to you as a personal performance art...???

Much of this comes down to semantics. I say the above because it is my personal view of self. Any so-called "'feminine' part of my nature" is actually part of my masculinity - because its ME.

This said, if you, or others want to say it is my "feminine" side, that's OK with me too. I'm certainly not afraid of the word like so many males are! Now who's right in an absolute sense - I honestly don't know (or care!). I go with what works...

Males in this dance form need to resolve the "feminine" in one way or another. Many/most seem to deny it within themselves. I embrace it and call it part of my "masculinity" - but I'm OK with calling it my "femininity" also.

This is one reason why its so hard to have a male BD troupe - there's so few of us, we all have different philosophies, which colors our dance styles (and costuming) to the point of incompatiblity.

Frankly, there are a LOT of male dancers whose styles turn me off cold. Then there are others who I love - like our effervescent DaVid, who is probably the most versatile male dancer I've seen stylewise. He could probably dance with most other males and adapt to their styles. Most other males could not (including me).

We just had a friendly dust-up on Bhuz regarding my latest costume where we covered a lot of this same territory.

Aisha Azar · 08-22-2006, 06:59 PM

Dear Dipali,
I have to say that I think the dance should definately NOT "depend on what the public likes", because the "public" is not educated as to what the dance is! The dance instead, should be able to depend on dancers to dance with integrity and honesty and present to the public the various dances, including fusion styles, with honesty and integrity.
We often forget that this is a niche market, so part of this is that it may or may not ever have wide appeal, no matter who performs it.

Dear Zorba,
I LOVE your statement above that males "need to resolve the feminine" in the dance. I find that to be true, in this society, also of many females, who have confused liberation with burying their sexuality as they go out into the workplace.

Is there a photo of the costume somewhere??
Regards to you both,
A'isha

Salome · 08-29-2006, 11:09 PM

Greetings everyone

The original topic has sparked many stimulating conversations. Which is wonderful, I love an active forum! The original topic was regarding if there is a special style of belly dance for the male gender. In this thread we are going to stay on that topic. Our moderators Zorba and Rico are going to be moving posts on the other topics around to new threads or starting new threads about the other topics so those conversations can continue, just in another thread. Thanks everyone and happy posting.

Salome · 09-01-2006, 04:37 AM

Moderator Message - update
I did my best to sort this thread out into several threads that focus on one topic at a time, where I could. These are the other threads I created:
Male belly dancers considered “shameful" by ME males
First experience seeing a male belly dancer
Male costuming discussion
Cultural appreciation and BD history
Dance more than just movement

It took a long time to sift through and separate, have mercy on me

and stay on topic and even better start new topics as they come up for you.

Zorba · 09-05-2006, 04:23 PM

Salome -

I don't want to be an ungrateful wrech - but I really wish you hadn't done that...

No other board (on ANY subject, I'm interested in quite a few and thus am on a LOT of boards) on the intenet is so anal about keeping threads "on topic", I've been thinking all weekend about how I'd respond to A'isha's latest - and now I don't even know where it is.

This does NOT foster good communications, it just adds more confusion than there already was.

08-21-2006, 03:47 AM	#33 (permalink)
Dipali Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sunshine coast,Australia Posts: 859	hi everybody The thread seem to trigger a wide ranging debate on the male belly dancing topic. i also beleive i have learned a lot and for that i give my warmest thanks, its good to see so many male dancers with such positve attitudes adding to the discussion, im sure the future dance of the male will evolve into a more masculine(I am using the word again!) role, When i say masculine i mean the feeling of it.As a general viewer of male belly dancing (forget all the scintific terms) i would love to see male bellydancing stand out on its own. __________________ Australian Belly dance store - Belly Dance Costumes, Bollywood & Tribal outfits. Last edited by Dipali; 08-21-2006 at 04:13 AM.

08-21-2006, 02:48 PM	#34 (permalink)
Aisha Azar V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest USA Posts: 4,462	Males Dear Dipali, Male belly dancing does stand out on its own already. Regards, A'isha Last edited by Salome; 08-22-2006 at 05:47 PM.

08-22-2006, 06:59 PM	#37 (permalink)
Aisha Azar V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest USA Posts: 4,462	Males Dear Dipali, I have to say that I think the dance should definately NOT "depend on what the public likes", because the "public" is not educated as to what the dance is! The dance instead, should be able to depend on dancers to dance with integrity and honesty and present to the public the various dances, including fusion styles, with honesty and integrity. We often forget that this is a niche market, so part of this is that it may or may not ever have wide appeal, no matter who performs it. Dear Zorba, I LOVE your statement above that males "need to resolve the feminine" in the dance. I find that to be true, in this society, also of many females, who have confused liberation with burying their sexuality as they go out into the workplace. Is there a photo of the costume somewhere?? Regards to you both, A'isha

08-29-2006, 11:09 PM	#38 (permalink)
Salome Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Corvallis, Oregon, USA Posts: 1,809	On Topic Greetings everyone The original topic has sparked many stimulating conversations. Which is wonderful, I love an active forum! The original topic was regarding if there is a special style of belly dance for the male gender. In this thread we are going to stay on that topic. Our moderators Zorba and Rico are going to be moving posts on the other topics around to new threads or starting new threads about the other topics so those conversations can continue, just in another thread. Thanks everyone and happy posting.

09-05-2006, 04:23 PM	#40 (permalink)
Zorba Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 857	Salome - I don't want to be an ungrateful wrech - but I really wish you hadn't done that... No other board (on ANY subject, I'm interested in quite a few and thus am on a LOT of boards) on the intenet is so anal about keeping threads "on topic", I've been thinking all weekend about how I'd respond to A'isha's latest - and now I don't even know where it is. This does NOT foster good communications, it just adds more confusion than there already was. __________________ -Zorba "The Veiled Male" http://www.doubleveil.net "There is nothing sadder than a veil, that is for sale."

08-19-2006, 11:03 PM	#31 (permalink)
Yasmine Bint Al Nubia V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 1,132	Very interesting posts and replies! i'm learning a lot , but my eyes are getting crossed:o "feminine mammary appendages"? hey Rico can I use that line? Crossed-Eyed But Loving it Yasmine

09-01-2006, 04:37 AM	#39 (permalink)
Salome Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Corvallis, Oregon, USA Posts: 1,809	Moderator Message - update I did my best to sort this thread out into several threads that focus on one topic at a time, where I could. These are the other threads I created: Male belly dancers considered “shameful" by ME males First experience seeing a male belly dancer Male costuming discussion Cultural appreciation and BD history Dance more than just movement It took a long time to sift through and separate, have mercy on me and stay on topic and even better start new topics as they come up for you.