No hope

khanjar · 05-21-2008, 12:09 AM

Hello, I am a male and interested in learning oriental dance, and have found no one seems interested in teaching a male in my area, so, could anyone please direct me to a DVD which is available offline, so that I may learn that way.

I am sorry to say that though I have heard on various forums dedicated to ME dance that the majority would like to see more males involved, in practice, that is not the case as all I have received in my quest is that males are not wanted, we are perceived as a threat. So much for an equaliterian society.

I believe in equal opportunities for all, it is a sore pity not everyone else believes the same. I have no qualms about employing women and believe as long as the job is done, who cares what they are, everyone has something to give and variety is the spice of life.

Sorry if what I have written appears as a rant, but never have I experienced such discrimination and never did I think it possible in the twenty first century western world.

Yasmine Bint Al Nubia · 05-21-2008, 12:51 AM

Welcome Khanjar to ODN!!

We do have several male members(no pun intended) on this forum who are well known in the BD community. In terms of DVD's there are millions on the market. My personal favorites are from IAMED(international Association Of Middle Eastern Dance).
However, video learning can't provide a well rounded dance education. I truly believe one needs a live teacher for that. Don't give up, keep trying maybe private lessons from a patient and open-minded teacher. I'm sure others may have suggestions as well. Good Luck and Happy Dancing
Yasmine

Brea · 05-21-2008, 01:07 AM

Hi, welcome to the forums!

Next year I will be in Scotland and I teach men, if you are interested.

khanjar · 05-21-2008, 01:10 AM

Thank you for your reply Yasmine, I was wondering if I would get a reply as negativity is kind of rife at the moment with what I have experienced so far. I do understand Women's point of view about males, but we are not all predatory, and we are not all interested in seeing learning to express oneself artistically as a dating game or a quick thrill. I feel any man who wishes to put himself in a predominantly female enviroment to learn something which is largely seen as a female pursuit has a great deal of courage ,and I do admire those males here who have managed to suceed where many would fail.

As to a DVD, that I see as my only course of action, but I would be interested in something which would suit a male form of expression. I have been using what I can find on Youtube, some things I find so far ok to do, as I am also a yoga and Tai Chi student, the flexibility helps. The music, is ever on,as one has memories of middle eastern countries.

khanjar · 05-21-2008, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brea

Hi, welcome to the forums!

Next year I will be in Scotland and I teach men, if you are interested.

My thanks to you for your kind offer Brea, but alas, I am in the land of far far away, the South West.

sedoniaraqs · 05-21-2008, 01:18 AM

Hi Khanjar:

Welcome to the forum. I am sorry to hear about your troubles finding a class. This seems to be a much worse problem in the UK than elsewhere, from what I have gathered.

I have never heard of a US teacher that refuses to teach men (I'm sure there are a few, but it is not the norm here).

As far as DVDs go, I do not think you need instructional DVDs specifically aimed at men. The movement technique is the same for men or women. I'm not familiar with what is available in the UK, but if you post some DVD titles here, you can probably get some reviews.

If it helps, I have some youtube playlists that I keep for my students. One of them is male dancers I think are great:
YouTube - sedoniaraqs's Playlists

Brea · 05-21-2008, 01:24 AM

Yes, I agree with sedonia. There are no specifically 'male' movements to this dance (regardless of what some say). Men tend to express who they are inside with this, one way or the other, just like women do.

I'll be in Scotland for over a year; perhaps you can hop a bus up and we can discuss!

taheya · 05-21-2008, 06:29 AM

Where abouts do you live Khanjar?

Caroline_afifi · 05-21-2008, 08:42 AM

Hi there!

You are very welcome!!

I dont know about other threads but there is only one person on this forum who has any real objection to issues relating to men dancing.
The rest I am sure will welcome you with open arms.

Come to the Liverpool Arab Arts Festival in July!

Suheir · 05-21-2008, 08:59 AM

Hello, and welcome khanjar! I'm so sad to hear about the discrimination you've experienced in the UK. I'd suggest that you write to UK belly dance magazines to inform people about this continuing discrimination:

Mosaic Magazine

Taqasim - Britain's Old Middle Eastern Dance Magazine

The Editor of NADA magazine is lizaj on this forum

05-21-2008, 12:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
khanjar Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: England Posts: 444	No hope Hello, I am a male and interested in learning oriental dance, and have found no one seems interested in teaching a male in my area, so, could anyone please direct me to a DVD which is available offline, so that I may learn that way. I am sorry to say that though I have heard on various forums dedicated to ME dance that the majority would like to see more males involved, in practice, that is not the case as all I have received in my quest is that males are not wanted, we are perceived as a threat. So much for an equaliterian society. I believe in equal opportunities for all, it is a sore pity not everyone else believes the same. I have no qualms about employing women and believe as long as the job is done, who cares what they are, everyone has something to give and variety is the spice of life. Sorry if what I have written appears as a rant, but never have I experienced such discrimination and never did I think it possible in the twenty first century western world.

05-21-2008, 12:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
Yasmine Bint Al Nubia V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 1,139	Welcome Khanjar to ODN!! We do have several male members(no pun intended) on this forum who are well known in the BD community. In terms of DVD's there are millions on the market. My personal favorites are from IAMED(international Association Of Middle Eastern Dance). However, video learning can't provide a well rounded dance education. I truly believe one needs a live teacher for that. Don't give up, keep trying maybe private lessons from a patient and open-minded teacher. I'm sure others may have suggestions as well. Good Luck and Happy Dancing Yasmine __________________ www.visionsofthenile.com

05-21-2008, 01:07 AM	#3 (permalink)
Brea V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,283	Hi, welcome to the forums! Next year I will be in Scotland and I teach men, if you are interested. __________________ www.breamorgiane.com

05-21-2008, 01:24 AM	#7 (permalink)
Brea V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,283	Yes, I agree with sedonia. There are no specifically 'male' movements to this dance (regardless of what some say). Men tend to express who they are inside with this, one way or the other, just like women do. I'll be in Scotland for over a year; perhaps you can hop a bus up and we can discuss! __________________ www.breamorgiane.com

05-21-2008, 01:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
khanjar Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: England Posts: 444	Thank you for your reply Yasmine, I was wondering if I would get a reply as negativity is kind of rife at the moment with what I have experienced so far. I do understand Women's point of view about males, but we are not all predatory, and we are not all interested in seeing learning to express oneself artistically as a dating game or a quick thrill. I feel any man who wishes to put himself in a predominantly female enviroment to learn something which is largely seen as a female pursuit has a great deal of courage ,and I do admire those males here who have managed to suceed where many would fail. As to a DVD, that I see as my only course of action, but I would be interested in something which would suit a male form of expression. I have been using what I can find on Youtube, some things I find so far ok to do, as I am also a yoga and Tai Chi student, the flexibility helps. The music, is ever on,as one has memories of middle eastern countries.

05-21-2008, 01:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
sedoniaraqs Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: cultural wasteland of the midwestern US Posts: 574	Hi Khanjar: Welcome to the forum. I am sorry to hear about your troubles finding a class. This seems to be a much worse problem in the UK than elsewhere, from what I have gathered. I have never heard of a US teacher that refuses to teach men (I'm sure there are a few, but it is not the norm here). As far as DVDs go, I do not think you need instructional DVDs specifically aimed at men. The movement technique is the same for men or women. I'm not familiar with what is available in the UK, but if you post some DVD titles here, you can probably get some reviews. If it helps, I have some youtube playlists that I keep for my students. One of them is male dancers I think are great: YouTube - sedoniaraqs's Playlists

05-21-2008, 06:29 AM	#8 (permalink)
taheya Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: uk Posts: 524	Where abouts do you live Khanjar?

05-21-2008, 08:42 AM	#9 (permalink)
Caroline_afifi V.I.P. Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Liverpool UK Posts: 1,376	Hi there! You are very welcome!! I dont know about other threads but there is only one person on this forum who has any real objection to issues relating to men dancing. The rest I am sure will welcome you with open arms. Come to the Liverpool Arab Arts Festival in July!

05-21-2008, 08:59 AM	#10 (permalink)
Suheir V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Europe - London Posts: 1,227	Hello, and welcome khanjar! I'm so sad to hear about the discrimination you've experienced in the UK. I'd suggest that you write to UK belly dance magazines to inform people about this continuing discrimination: Mosaic Magazine Taqasim - Britain's Old Middle Eastern Dance Magazine The Editor of NADA magazine is lizaj on this forum