Alias...Using arabic names...wrong or right - Page 3

khanjar · 07-13-2008, 05:32 PM

Not Arabic, but an arabic sounding name, 'kajira', is not a name that I would if I were female choose, especially if I were on the dance circuit. Likewise I would not as a male take the name Kajirus for the same reasons.

A kajira is a female slave in John Norman's fictional stories of Gor.

Reen.Blom · 07-13-2008, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aisha Azar

Dear Reen,
There are many Arabs who do have light skin, blonde hair and blue or green eyes. Lebanese and Syrians are known for that and I think Dina has green eyes, but I do not know if they are contacts or not. The word "Blonde" has quite a different meaning among Arabs as well. It refers to anyone with lighter skin. My hair is dark brown, but I am considered to be blonde by many of my Arab friends.

I agree with Caroline that it is rather presumptuous to have a professional name before one is professional.
Regards,
A'isha

Well I am not saying that there are no light skinned or blodne arabs, I am just saying that this is NOT a Western stereotype for an ME, nor do I say any sterotypes are good.

Still my friend refuses to tan cos she likes her light skin, and is pressed to dye her hair daker, cos you know, that's what the restaurant public wants to see under ME name performer!

Raven · 07-14-2008, 08:08 PM

Hi, I love the idea of using a dance name! Mine isn't Arabic, but it does have a special meaning for me. Would an Arabic name be preferred if one is dancing Egyptian, or does it matter? And how do you choose the right Arabic name? Perhaps it's all about the feel of the name to the person using it. Thanks.

adiemus · 07-15-2008, 09:02 AM

I've been using 'Adiemus' as my pseudonym on the net for a long time - as far back as 1995 to be exact!
I do this because I have a professional name for work which I don't want to have mingled with my out of work time on the internet.
I also like to have a performance name (even for hafla! and student performances) that is separate from my professional name, because in that forum I am not being the same person as my professional person. It's partly because of the work I do (pain management, psychology), and it's not thought 'appropriate' to have another life outside of work (LOL!), well, more, it's not thought appropriate to be open about your outside of work life. And there are some people 'out there' (clients or ex-clients) who could be badly behaved and use that sort of information to gain access to me outside of work, which I don't really want to do. So in a way, I'm more careful with my professional name for work than I am with my online persona!! I mean I don't have my professional name and contact details available in the telephone book, electoral roll and I don't have my phone number listed either!

Perhaps we adopt a 'stage' name as part of putting on a costume - revealing something 'else' of ourselves?!

Kharis · 07-15-2008, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatinah

I have noticed alot of dancers use arabic names especially when they are regular performers.

I signed up for this site under the name Fatinah but my boring western name is Emma Jayne....not very arabic or exotic!!

Is it ok for myspace and forum purposes to use a different name??

I love using a different name because I feel a different person when I dance...even in my bedroom

Is it acceptable or do people just think your sad?

It's kind of expected when you are a professional dancer. I chose my name coz it's not Arabic but had connections with Egypt through the old Hammer Horror films which I used to love watching as a kid. It was a kind of pun really, as I didn't want to go up my own arse with really cheesy sounding names.

Let's face it, Ethel or Gertrude, is not conducive to the 'mystery and allure' of a belly dance performer.

Kharis · 07-15-2008, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caroline_afifi

I will probably get into trouble for saying this but I really dont see the point in having a stage name unless you are on the stage (or something similar).
You dont need an exotic name to be a student or teacher or Haflah performer.
Just my opinion, I am open to change, so dont stone me!.

Not at all. I chose a stage name because my own name, Madeleine, is not only nearly always pronounced incorrectly, but is always spelled incorrectly, and this drives me bloody nuts. Had I been a Jane, or a Lynn I'd have kept that name and been happy with it. I rarely use my stage name anyway for anything other than coming on dance forum boards. But I've had it for so long some people call me that now.

Aisha Azar · 07-15-2008, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adiemus

I've been using 'Adiemus' as my pseudonym on the net for a long time - as far back as 1995 to be exact!
I do this because I have a professional name for work which I don't want to have mingled with my out of work time on the internet.
I also like to have a performance name (even for hafla! and student performances) that is separate from my professional name, because in that forum I am not being the same person as my professional person. It's partly because of the work I do (pain management, psychology), and it's not thought 'appropriate' to have another life outside of work (LOL!), well, more, it's not thought appropriate to be open about your outside of work life. And there are some people 'out there' (clients or ex-clients) who could be badly behaved and use that sort of information to gain access to me outside of work, which I don't really want to do. So in a way, I'm more careful with my professional name for work than I am with my online persona!! I mean I don't have my professional name and contact details available in the telephone book, electoral roll and I don't have my phone number listed either!

Perhaps we adopt a 'stage' name as part of putting on a costume - revealing something 'else' of ourselves?!

Dear Adiemus,
What does the name mean, and how does it have special meaning for you? It is unusual, and in fact I have not seen anyone else with the name. I have been curious for awhile and this seems the ideal opportunity to inquire!
I should add that one of my Arab teachers named me A'isha, which means "Living" or "Living well". I took my surname from a family with whom I worked very closely for many years, dancing at their family events and functions,and finally in their restaurant for 12 years. When I started to write and do more workshops out of the region, I decided I needed a last name as well to distinguish me from the other A'ishas out there.
Regards,
A'isha

Reen.Blom · 07-15-2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adiemus

Perhaps we adopt a 'stage' name as part of putting on a costume - revealing something 'else' of ourselves?!

I love the way you put it! Very romantic actually!

masrawy · 07-15-2008, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janaki

Yep, Lucy and Dina a couple to quote. I have always wondered why? If dancers out side middle east are taking arabic names to connect with the dance/culture etc., What are mid east dancers trying to connect with by taking western names???

Unfortunately this is part of the Western invasion to the Middle East. If you take a walk through Cairo streets nowadays you would hardly see store names in Arabic anymore. So Arab dancers and performers are no different

As for the question about taking Arabic name as alias I think it's perfectly fine whether you are a professional or just want to connect with the culture. But definitely you should consult with native Arabic speaking person, because sometimes it gets to be tricky with names, especially after the Danmark cartoons. People in the Middle East are little bit sensitive since then, Even if you operate only in the Western world why offend someone in the other side. Just my opinion peace

Aisha Azar · 07-15-2008, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masrawy

Unfortunately this is part of the Western invasion to the Middle East. If you take a walk through Cairo streets nowadays you would hardly see store names in Arabic anymore. So Arab dancers and performers are no different

As for the question about taking Arabic name as alias I think it's perfectly fine whether you are a professional or just want to connect with the culture. But definitely you should consult with native Arabic speaking person, because sometimes it gets to be tricky with names, especially after the Danmark cartoons. People in the Middle East are little bit sensitive since then, Even if you operate only in the Western world why offend someone in the other side. Just my opinion peace

Dear Masrawy,
I think that Dina IS an Arab name. I know several Arab Dinas who are just average people and older than the dancer. Not sure about Lucy, but I have noticed that quite often, Christian Arabs especially are prone to have names that they share in common with westerners. I know women named Mervette, Jodette, Katy, Viola, men named Georges, Elias, Antoine, all Arabs. Sara seems to be a popular name that is shared by even Muslim Arabs and westerners. I know a little Saudi girl named FAy, which is European, American and Arab! If I were going to name my kids Arab names, I would name my boys very Arab names like Khaled, Suhail, Neheyan, Ra'ed and my girls names like Suhaila, Shetha, Rafaal. So many Arab names are like wonderful songs.
Regards,
A'isha

07-13-2008, 05:32 PM	#21 (permalink)
khanjar Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: England Posts: 314	Not Arabic, but an arabic sounding name, 'kajira', is not a name that I would if I were female choose, especially if I were on the dance circuit. Likewise I would not as a male take the name Kajirus for the same reasons. A kajira is a female slave in John Norman's fictional stories of Gor. __________________ I am a dream to some...and a nightmare to others. Last edited by khanjar; 07-13-2008 at 05:35 PM.

07-14-2008, 08:08 PM	#23 (permalink)
Raven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 15	Dance Name Hi, I love the idea of using a dance name! Mine isn't Arabic, but it does have a special meaning for me. Would an Arabic name be preferred if one is dancing Egyptian, or does it matter? And how do you choose the right Arabic name? Perhaps it's all about the feel of the name to the person using it. Thanks. __________________ Raven

07-15-2008, 09:02 AM	#24 (permalink)
adiemus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 970	I've been using 'Adiemus' as my pseudonym on the net for a long time - as far back as 1995 to be exact! I do this because I have a professional name for work which I don't want to have mingled with my out of work time on the internet. I also like to have a performance name (even for hafla! and student performances) that is separate from my professional name, because in that forum I am not being the same person as my professional person. It's partly because of the work I do (pain management, psychology), and it's not thought 'appropriate' to have another life outside of work (LOL!), well, more, it's not thought appropriate to be open about your outside of work life. And there are some people 'out there' (clients or ex-clients) who could be badly behaved and use that sort of information to gain access to me outside of work, which I don't really want to do. So in a way, I'm more careful with my professional name for work than I am with my online persona!! I mean I don't have my professional name and contact details available in the telephone book, electoral roll and I don't have my phone number listed either! Perhaps we adopt a 'stage' name as part of putting on a costume - revealing something 'else' of ourselves?! __________________ He wahine, he taonga- Every woman is a treasure(Maori proverb)