Tarik Sultan

Yes, but these same guys know that when they are in the West these types of behaviors are a big no, no. And yes, these are some of the things that have been taken out of context by westerners to slander the sexuality of Middle Eastern men. Sometimes the affection shared between men is indicative of nothing more than affection, sometimes there is more going on beneath the surface. One can't make general assumptions.

It is understood in it's own environment. People have a very human need for affection. The danger though is what might happen if men and women are allowed to be this close. The fear of illegitimate sexual relations and the resulting illegitimate births are seen as being far more destructive to the fabric of society than two guys who might be getting it on on the down low. As long as it is discrete and everyone conforms to the social roles, i.e. get married have kids etc, no one asks questions or stirs the dirt. What they do not take kindly to is having it thrown up in their faces blatantly.

I know exactly what you are talking about and there is that element to it as well, there always is, even with regards to the restrictions female dancers have to deal with. However, the bigger issue here is FEAR. Fear of what types of guys will want to perform, fear of the message it will send, fear of what people will say, fear that they will be accused of promoting and encouraging immorality, fear about the possible fundamentalist backlash. FEAR. No doubt there was some individual who dropped a dime in someone's ear and fanned the flames. I've had it happen to me on several occasions. It sucks, but that is the reality and also why it takes a great deal of wisdom if one is going to heal with it. Just think of a cat stuck in a tree. The damn thing is scared shi*less to begin with. If you come at it barking orders and trying to tug and pull at it, it's going to panic and start scratching and biting. You have to assuage it's fears and get it to trust you before it will allow you to get near enough to help it down. These official types in Egypt need to be handled with kid's gloves. You're never going to get them to listen to you if you show up looking like their worse fears realized.

Zorba

Same here. Chin up Tarik, chin up! You rock.

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Tarik Sultan

Nahhh. I prefer to look down. That way I don't step in dog doo.

Zorba

You gotta point there.

Keeps the hem of your skirt outta the dog doo too! {Grinnin, Duckin, and Runnin'! }

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Caroline_afifi

You make me laugh everytime!

Brea

I think you have a point, Tarik. Regardless of my own feelings about gender (which are FAR different from those of most people anywhere as far as I can tell), I also know that even in the West it's hard to convince any men to attend dance classes because they fear looking like they are gay. Homophobia is alive and well everywhere, and it takes a certain kind of person to turn their back on society and judgement and follow their drummer.
There are not a lot of male performers who on first glance appear to most men to be entirely straight, so I think there is an issue there too, not to mention that just about any guy that wants to dance is looked at as flaming.

Still, I'm hoping this will blow over eventually.

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Saqra

We are basically talking about gender-limiting the right to shake your butt in public for money?
And here I thought it silly thinking you had to get a permit to be a dancer at all.

~Saqra

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Outi

I highly recommend Yasmina's Journey of Desire DVD.

Catherine reviews the DVD, Journey of Desire, for the Gilded Serpent

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Caroline_afifi

ha ha.. getting a permit is not a journey, it is an ordeal!

Outi, do you personally know any men who have been through this process?

Saqra

Yes, Yasmina's DVD is very good.

But seriously, it seems silly to require a permit for something in the arts. We as dancers can inspire, but we can't truly harm anything but someone's sensibilities unless we are doing some sort of politically-inspired and inspiring dancing.

Egypt isn't concerned that men might create something more political. Though I suppose someone somewhere could come up with something incomprehensible (to me) about endangering someone's soul?

Very sad that anywhere in the world people would find it necessary to try and limit something harmless (IMO) someone else wants to do instead of simply not watching what they don't want to watch.

Men should dance. Women should dance. People should dance. And the permit system is foolish.

~Saqra

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