First experience seeing a male belly dancer

Hadassah · 08-16-2006, 03:50 PM

My first experience on a personal level with a male dancer was with Raffa last month. I took a workshop with him, and found him to be very affable and a good teacher. His movements were quite masculine, but still the same basic movements of bellydance. He didn't "try" to masculinize them, they just appeared different on his body. His undulations were the same as ours, just not as soft.

Speaking for myself, when I saw him dance, I much preferred his Saidi cane number over his cabaret number. I like to see more folkloric dances with the guys, I don't know why, it just appeals to me. On every DVD I own with male dancers, it's the debkes, shaabi numbers, and cane numbers that I love. Call it prejudice, but I just prefer Raqs Sharki danced by a woman. I think there are some very fine dancers out there who are male, and I have seen some very beautiful movements on the male form. To all you fellas out there, keep dancing. After all, this is America, and if you want to bellydance, you should.

I do agree with A'isha that the majority of Arabs dislike seeing a man dance sharki. One of my dancer friends is married to a Lebanese man, and every time a man gets on stage at a show, he gets upset. I don't now why it's this way, but it is. The last workshop I was at, There were two Saudi men in the audience at the show. They were laughing at a lot, but especially at the men. I know it's not nice, but in their culture men don't "belly-dance" per se - they do folkloric or just celebratory dances. I'm sure there are male dancers in Egypt who do cabaret, and there might be an underground movement toward that, but I think A'isha's right about the Arabs seeing it as "shameful."

Tenica · 08-30-2006, 11:36 PM

Recnadocir: I reject the tyranny of absolutes, especially in the art of dance, which must always be free to borrow and fuse, to meld and synthesize, that art might ever be fresh, vital, and inspiring.[/quote]

Thank Goodness someone said this loud and clear.
Amen, Amen, Amen!!!

For all you male belly dancers out there, do your thing and do it well. That´s all I ask. And I know that you do!!!

My very first experience seeing a male belly dancer was on a trip to Egypt :eek: with a group of 20+ female belly dancers. Our guide, an Egyptian male, was of course aware of what we were and not only showed us a very good time during our trip, but jumped in during a "Belly Dance" party, with other non belly dancers and began to "belly dance" with the simple scarf (no coins) that he had borrowed from one of the girls. In no way, did he look or move too feminine even with the scarf and he was AMAZING!!! He made me forget, for a moment that this is a dance primarily dominated by women. Yes, there were several other males present when he did this. From that moment on, I totally shifted my ideas and opinions about males not having a place in this dance, especially since I have seen more and more perform. It´s not to say that I don´t still have my hang-ups, but I´m definitely more open and appreciative of good male talent when I see it.

At this point, I only care that it´s done right and it´s done well just as I expect from female dancers.

This dance is way too beautiful and liberating to be put into a box or god forbid forced to follow biased rules dictated by xyz.

Peace,
Tenica

Demelza · 08-31-2006, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tenica

Our guide, an Egyptian male, was of course aware of what we were and not only showed us a very good time during our trip, but jumped in during a "Belly Dance" party, with other non belly dancers and began to "belly dance" with the simple scarf (no coins) that he had borrowed from one of the girls.

:eek:

Salome · 09-01-2006, 04:13 AM

Moderator message
Hello newcomers to this thread, it may seem a bit disjointed, my apologizes. It’s a spin off from another topic that deserves it’s very own thread. Happy posting!

Tenica · 09-01-2006, 07:27 AM

Hello Demelza,

Your face combination was funny, but I get the feeling you may have intended it to also be something esle?

Clue me in?

Tenica

Moon · 09-01-2006, 10:22 AM

I've never seen a professional male dancer in real life (only on youtube), but I have seen an advanced male student of my dance school perform, and he was very good, to be honest, the best of all advanced students. His dancing looked more "feminine" than the way the male student in my own (beginners) group dances, but I don't think that was because he was bellydancing, but because this guy is always a bit more "feminine" than other guys (he sometimes weares skirts in everyday life).

Fatima · 09-04-2006, 03:21 PM

There's a couple of male belydancers in my area and a couple or more students. They all are fantastic. I know for a fact that at least the professionals are homosexual (not that al male bellydancers are gay), but they don't try to imitate women's movements. I've not seen them as "femenine" male bellydancers. They're usually very masculine in their dance. I really enjoy watching them, thay al are very good dancers.

08-16-2006, 03:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
Hadassah Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 62	My first experience on a personal level with a male dancer was with Raffa last month. I took a workshop with him, and found him to be very affable and a good teacher. His movements were quite masculine, but still the same basic movements of bellydance. He didn't "try" to masculinize them, they just appeared different on his body. His undulations were the same as ours, just not as soft. Speaking for myself, when I saw him dance, I much preferred his Saidi cane number over his cabaret number. I like to see more folkloric dances with the guys, I don't know why, it just appeals to me. On every DVD I own with male dancers, it's the debkes, shaabi numbers, and cane numbers that I love. Call it prejudice, but I just prefer Raqs Sharki danced by a woman. I think there are some very fine dancers out there who are male, and I have seen some very beautiful movements on the male form. To all you fellas out there, keep dancing. After all, this is America, and if you want to bellydance, you should. I do agree with A'isha that the majority of Arabs dislike seeing a man dance sharki. One of my dancer friends is married to a Lebanese man, and every time a man gets on stage at a show, he gets upset. I don't now why it's this way, but it is. The last workshop I was at, There were two Saudi men in the audience at the show. They were laughing at a lot, but especially at the men. I know it's not nice, but in their culture men don't "belly-dance" per se - they do folkloric or just celebratory dances. I'm sure there are male dancers in Egypt who do cabaret, and there might be an underground movement toward that, but I think A'isha's right about the Arabs seeing it as "shameful."

08-30-2006, 11:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tenica Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Spain Posts: 25	Recnadocir: I reject the tyranny of absolutes, especially in the art of dance, which must always be free to borrow and fuse, to meld and synthesize, that art might ever be fresh, vital, and inspiring.[/quote] Thank Goodness someone said this loud and clear. Amen, Amen, Amen!!! For all you male belly dancers out there, do your thing and do it well. That´s all I ask. And I know that you do!!! My very first experience seeing a male belly dancer was on a trip to Egypt :eek: with a group of 20+ female belly dancers. Our guide, an Egyptian male, was of course aware of what we were and not only showed us a very good time during our trip, but jumped in during a "Belly Dance" party, with other non belly dancers and began to "belly dance" with the simple scarf (no coins) that he had borrowed from one of the girls. In no way, did he look or move too feminine even with the scarf and he was AMAZING!!! He made me forget, for a moment that this is a dance primarily dominated by women. Yes, there were several other males present when he did this. From that moment on, I totally shifted my ideas and opinions about males not having a place in this dance, especially since I have seen more and more perform. It´s not to say that I don´t still have my hang-ups, but I´m definitely more open and appreciative of good male talent when I see it. At this point, I only care that it´s done right and it´s done well just as I expect from female dancers. This dance is way too beautiful and liberating to be put into a box or god forbid forced to follow biased rules dictated by xyz. Peace, Tenica

09-01-2006, 04:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
Salome Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Corvallis, Oregon, USA Posts: 1,842	Moderator message Hello newcomers to this thread, it may seem a bit disjointed, my apologizes. It’s a spin off from another topic that deserves it’s very own thread. Happy posting!

09-01-2006, 07:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tenica Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Spain Posts: 25	Hello Demelza, Your face combination was funny, but I get the feeling you may have intended it to also be something esle? Clue me in? Tenica

09-01-2006, 10:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
Moon V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 3,642	I've never seen a professional male dancer in real life (only on youtube), but I have seen an advanced male student of my dance school perform, and he was very good, to be honest, the best of all advanced students. His dancing looked more "feminine" than the way the male student in my own (beginners) group dances, but I don't think that was because he was bellydancing, but because this guy is always a bit more "feminine" than other guys (he sometimes weares skirts in everyday life).

09-04-2006, 03:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
Fatima Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 135	There's a couple of male belydancers in my area and a couple or more students. They all are fantastic. I know for a fact that at least the professionals are homosexual (not that al male bellydancers are gay), but they don't try to imitate women's movements. I've not seen them as "femenine" male bellydancers. They're usually very masculine in their dance. I really enjoy watching them, thay al are very good dancers.