Demelza

Moon

My opinion: I don't really like crop tops on male dancers, but if they want to they should! (i don't find it as distracting as high heels on a bellydancer)
Male bellydancers should wear make-up on stage for the same reason as female dancers do: to prevent their faces from looking washed out with the stage lighting.
Feminine in essence? I don't really know, I think it started as feminine in essence but it could become unisex?

Michelle

Yes! It has nothing to do with looking feminine. If you have ever been in any kind of theatrical production (not including bellydance) like a play, for instance. Even the most macho, butch character gets makeup, to prevent from looking washed out and so that facial expressions can be seen. I don't care how good an actor could be, he has to wear makeup and lots of it; if not the people in the cheap seats have no idea what is going on (well, depending on the venue, they still might not have any idea....)

Shanazel

Woh, Demelza, don't hold back, tell us how you really feel!

I agree with the makeup is for avoiding washout school of thought. I personally hate makeup, hate putting it on, hate the feel of it, hate hate hate. Ugh. (I'm not holding back, either.) But I wear the damned stuff on stage, though probably not nearly as much as I should, and not nearly as much as I did when I was performing back in the Dark Ages.

I don't care for crop tops on male dancers (of course, a lot of people would not care for crop tops on ME). I prefer far fewer frills and giggles on guys, and find most appealing the gentleman who always dancers in the long white robe with the hip sash (can't think of his name). Lord, that fella puts the bare chested harem panted sequin sparkling male dancers in the shade. Maybe this is the result of a lifetime spent amidst cowboys and oil field workers, but I LIKE subtle costumes, especially on guys.

I also don't like high heels on dancers, though combat boots might be acceptable if dancing on a stage with splinters.

(Okay, is the debate smokin' yet? If not, I will be happy to take the opposite point of view and argue with myself.)

Moon

Wow Shanazel!
Finally someone who feels the same about make-up as I do!
Why should male dancers be allowed to perform without the damn make-up and we poor females should wear it? Males must wear it too!

Demelza

ha ! Love it......Shanazel.....I think I know what you mean....It's probably my problem that I like a man to be a man. I know where you are coming from with the oil field workers and cowboys thing. I think it's maybe just my upbringing. I was brought up around big burly men working on cars and working the fields etc. so it's probably that that has given me a dodgy feeling when i see a man in make-up.....Do you get me? I'd tell my muscley 'oiled up' man to go home and have a shower but not to wash his hands !!! xxx ha!

ps. do you think I'm using too many of these '!!!!' in my posts? it just occured to me. It's like this adiction with my fingers on that key. Should I be concerned??? !!!!

Moon

¡¡¡try do it the spanish way!!!

¿or you don't like that?

Gabi

As long as you don't - you know - use too many of those, or too many ..... 'cause that would be gabiwrite infringement

As to the Boy's in Crop Tops - I don't really like 'em either because I want to see nekkid skin *lech lech*. No, seriously I don't like them as much as either bare or full shirt, probably because they remind me of a bra.

The make-up - you bet! Can we make 'em shave too *snork*

Aniseteph

Shave what?
Naah, let's epilate 'em. Waxing's for sissies.

I dunno - heated debates besplatter the rest of the forum, then you build a nice little home/insulated nuclear bunker for them, and we all sit here being silly...

Hey I just thought of something for the claims-to-fame thread!

Desideria

HMM I do not know Zorba has a Male dance directory. I went through their web sites. Some of the Male dancers are very attrctive and wear very nice masculine costumes. They also dance very well great even.
I think eyeliner makes a guy looks mysterious. Almost Sultan look.But yes crop tops I donot know about that.