what do you consider to be damaging to the future of Middle Eastern dance? - Page 11

Kharis · 07-15-2008, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marya

Yes indeed, that is why when I teach I ask students to come in exercise clothes, so I can see what they are doing. As a beginner student I thought having the teacher show up in Bedlah was cool, as an advanced student I would not like that at all because I would not be able to see what the teacher was doing. Not being able to see what the teacher is doing is a serious issue.

Marya

I rarely take a class without being able to see my students legs. I get the odd one who wants to wear a skirt, but I get them hiked up. I never allow students to wear skirts at my workshops, and I never wear anything but pants when I teach. You see, when you teach the dance as a sole living, there are several things to consider. Most beginners love to dress up to some degree, with dreadful jangly belts that drive me nuts, but I remember when I first started and I loved jangly belts too, so with beginner classes, I'm indulgent and let them wear more or less what they want. If they wear a skirt, fine...but they end up having to hike it up and it doesn't take them long to realise that pants are more practical. Part and parcel for many women in the UK is that dress up element...sad but true. I've been teaching for too long to ignore this fact and if I want to keep my classes filled, I have to be flexible to a degree. Workshops are different. They are not geared up for fun, but for work. No jeans, no skirts, no jangly belts. In fact, jeans in class are a real no no with me. It's also important for me that my students can see not only my legs but my abdomen, so I usually wear a stomach cover that is not too densely black but enables them to see the finer abdominal muscle movements.

Having said all this, I have one student in my beginners class who insists on wearing the most awful cheesy bedlah with nipple tassels. She's a real oddball, and is well known on the circuit of teachers, as she flits from one teacher to another. I've tried telling her in no uncertain terms to wear more suitable class wear but she's off with the fairies, and I'm not gonna kick her out of class just because she looks like a twat. That would be bad for business, and I'm not teaching just for the love of it... it's what I do for a living.

Kharis · 07-15-2008, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aisha Azar

Dear Caroline,

Also here in the States. The Halloween one seems so perfect for everyone to dress up.

Regards,
A'isha

This seems to be where the lines are maybe getting crossed. Many haflahs in the UK are themed. My haflahs are held at xmas and are nearly always themed. So, the dress up thing is part and parcel of it, which you obviously concede too. However, should the haflah not be themed, what's the difference?

I'm wondering if your haflahs are more like performance platforms? Perhaps it's a case of language nuances being lost in transatlantic translation.... fanny pack in the UK means something you wear over your front bottom...

And Vase is pronounced VAARZE. You say tomayto and I say tomaahtoe, --- potato, potahrtoe.... lets call the whole thing offfffffff

Aisha Azar · 07-15-2008, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kharis

Mmmmm. Obviously touched a nerve with you, which kind of makes a change as it seems you're usually the one who'se riling up others...

I think there is a definite clash of dance 'cultures' betwixt what you consider to be a haflah and what takes place in the UK. A performance platform here requires dancers to act in a professional manner, much the same as you are describing in former posts. But our haflahs are mostly relaxed and informal events, where anything goes. Those who wish to 'dress up' can do so without feeling that they are doing anything wrong. Those who wish not to dress up do so, myself included. I never dress up at haflahs. I dance for a living, so it's a kind of busman's holiday and I want the day off. But I see the joy and excitment of the students who want to live the dream of the belly dancer for the night and impress their friends and family, and I'd never take that away from them with what I consider to be silly notions of 'ethical' right or wrongs. That's my opinion, and you have yours, which I respect but in this case, don't agree with.

Makes you feel proud to rile up other people does it? You must be just a jewel. What touched a nerve with me was your outright rudeness, not your opinion, which you are entitled to no matter how ridiculous.

Kharis · 07-15-2008, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aisha Azar

Makes you feel proud to rile up other people does it? You must be just a jewel. What touched a nerve with me was your outright rudeness, not your opinion, which you are entitled to no matter how ridiculous.

Physician, heal thyself.

Aisha Azar · 07-15-2008, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khanjar

what do you consider to be damaging to the future of Middle Eastern dance?

I was wondering we in the west are spouting what we believe to be the danger, but how do the people of the middle east see the problem, if there is a problem as they see it. From what I understand by reading the various site names on here and their stated location, most of us are of the Western world.

Are there any here from the countries concerned, the middle eastern countries, how do they see the 'problem', after all ME dance is of the region they live.

If we are to engage in ME dance, we should be looking to the ME for guidance on trends etc, it is not our place, those of us in the west to dictate how things should be done or else we may be likened to our colonial ancestors.

If it is the wish of the west to go it's own way, perhaps the dance should be named ME style dance?

Gee when I mentioned how the Arabs that I know do things before, aren't you the one who had a cow and told me how uppity I am? Make up your mind.

Aisha Azar · 07-15-2008, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kharis

Physician, heal thyself.

Right back atchya.

Kharis · 07-15-2008, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aisha Azar

Right back atchya.

Oh come on, you can do better than that!

khanjar · 07-16-2008, 12:06 AM

In answer to Kharis

Hahaha, sometimes I pity you teachers with the things you have to put up with from us students, but you are valued all the same and often well admired for your knowledge and skill, not to mention patience.

The class I went to demands pants as it is the wish of the most excellent and attentative teacher to see if things were being done correctly. I see this as a person interested in her students and making sure they do things right, though I will admit I was kind of a handful.

I was asked to wear sports pants and t shirt, I did and could see why, as a class where one is to learn is not the dance floor.

Keep it up, good teachers are valued, more than you can think in areas of the country which can best be described as a cultural wasteland.

Aisha Azar · 07-16-2008, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kharis

Oh come on, you can do better than that!

Yes, I was almost as mundane and unoriginal in my response as you were in your call.

khanjar · 07-16-2008, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aisha Azar

Gee when I mentioned how the Arabs that I know do things before, aren't you the one who had a cow and told me how uppity I am? Make up your mind.

What !!!!

I do not remember saying such things, in fact I didn't, you have me crossed with someone else I believe.

Though I might disagree with a person, it is not my way to openly and publicly insult another, so what you say here is not me.

07-16-2008, 12:06 AM	#108 (permalink)
khanjar Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: England Posts: 442	In answer to Kharis Hahaha, sometimes I pity you teachers with the things you have to put up with from us students, but you are valued all the same and often well admired for your knowledge and skill, not to mention patience. The class I went to demands pants as it is the wish of the most excellent and attentative teacher to see if things were being done correctly. I see this as a person interested in her students and making sure they do things right, though I will admit I was kind of a handful. I was asked to wear sports pants and t shirt, I did and could see why, as a class where one is to learn is not the dance floor. Keep it up, good teachers are valued, more than you can think in areas of the country which can best be described as a cultural wasteland. __________________ I am a dream to some...and a nightmare to others.