Funny gimmick or just bad taste? - Page 3

SmilingMarie · 05-18-2009, 08:48 PM

just because people 'make jokes about fat (women)' all the time doesn't make it right.

I felt like adding that it she could turn up in a 'black person outfit' only to reveal (to the relief of the party guests!) that she was not 'actually a black (ie.fat) bellydancer' the whole thing would be instantly thought of as racist and horrible. I wonder how being fat is different.

Anyway, I feel a feminist tangent sneaking up but will just post this link as it discusses treating homosexuals/blacks/jews and fatties (endearing term!) the same way - ie. with respect and as actual individuals and human beings (see... I'm off on that tangent now...)
Aussie Fat Pride ad sparks debate, controversy The-F-Word.org

Creaky Old Dancer · 05-28-2009, 07:54 PM

I would say bad taste and unprofessional. Is the person a dancer or a commedian she seems to miss the point of both. If you hired someone to dance I would want someone who takes their dance seriously and not go for laughs the same if I hired someone for humor I don't think them suddenly doing something serious and artful would be suitable. So in my opinion the woman doesn't seem to know what she's doing and either way she's failing her clientle.

candi · 05-28-2009, 08:50 PM

I think it is horrible and offensive.

Meuz · 05-29-2009, 10:57 AM

I think humour that relies on ridiculing a group or person is in bad taste.
I fail to see the connection between belly-dancing and bigger people?
Is she saying that big people cannot dance?

I don't like that steriotype, because it is flawed. Being bigger is not going to make you a worse dancer, just like being thin does not make you a better dancer... especially in a dance for like belly dancing that doesn't require feather-weight for lifting or leaping etc.

I have seen the skinniest belly dancers who look good, but just cannot move and I have seen very large dancers who move like inspiration itself.

I plain just don't get it.
I think it is in poor taste.

Reen.Blom · 05-29-2009, 01:08 PM

Well, I dont think she uses the suit to make her 'look better'. My friend dancers at restaurants, and her employers always want some 'trick', they actually will not give half a penny for a technically perfect performance/expression of music. The guests are having a party, getting drunk and they want to see tricks - changing suits, fusions, impersonations... If you can bellydance riding a unicycle and juggle apples at the same time you will get the job and admiration of the visitors. And if dancing is your only source of income, and you got 2 small kids, you will go an extra mile to cme up with smth....

I guess it is not everywhere like that, but some places you need to show some 'creativity'.

As for insult to fat people? I dont know... Too many times people EXPECT to see a more plump dancer... you know 'you need a belly to bellydance' type thing... So I think it is funny...

Not BD, but here's some strip tease for you...hehehe This skater does not need any gimmicks or tricks, cos his technique is flawless, but some creative use of costume is fun!

shiradotnet · 05-29-2009, 03:04 PM

I occasionally hire entertainers from singing telegram companies to spice up parties. (For example, when my husband turned 40 I hired the Grim Reaper to come and help us mourn the passing of his youth. When he turned 50, Mae West came to honor the occasion.) Anyway, I noted that the entertainment agency also offered the option to hire an obese stripper.... Um, no.

About ten years ago, when Shira.net was a fairly young web site, I received an email from a reader asking me for advice on how to do a "bag lady" gig. I didn't understand the question, so I sent a reply asking what she meant. It seems that in her local community, several of the belly dancers offered this. They would show up for a gig dressed in "bag lady" garb. As the music started, they would peel it off to reveal the glamorous belly dancer underneath. I told the person who asked for advice that I really couldn't help her, because I'd never heard of this before and it must be a local phenomenon.

05-18-2009, 08:48 PM	#21 (permalink)
SmilingMarie Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Denmark Posts: 120	just because people 'make jokes about fat (women)' all the time doesn't make it right. I felt like adding that it she could turn up in a 'black person outfit' only to reveal (to the relief of the party guests!) that she was not 'actually a black (ie.fat) bellydancer' the whole thing would be instantly thought of as racist and horrible. I wonder how being fat is different. Anyway, I feel a feminist tangent sneaking up but will just post this link as it discusses treating homosexuals/blacks/jews and fatties (endearing term!) the same way - ie. with respect and as actual individuals and human beings (see... I'm off on that tangent now...) Aussie Fat Pride ad sparks debate, controversy The-F-Word.org __________________ 6arab [tarab] all the way!

05-28-2009, 07:54 PM	#22 (permalink)
Creaky Old Dancer Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New York out in the 'burbs of Lungh Eylund Posts: 321	funny gimmick or bad taste I would say bad taste and unprofessional. Is the person a dancer or a commedian she seems to miss the point of both. If you hired someone to dance I would want someone who takes their dance seriously and not go for laughs the same if I hired someone for humor I don't think them suddenly doing something serious and artful would be suitable. So in my opinion the woman doesn't seem to know what she's doing and either way she's failing her clientle.

05-29-2009, 01:08 PM	#25 (permalink)
Reen.Blom V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Between Heaven and Earth Upside Down Posts: 3,586	Well, I dont think she uses the suit to make her 'look better'. My friend dancers at restaurants, and her employers always want some 'trick', they actually will not give half a penny for a technically perfect performance/expression of music. The guests are having a party, getting drunk and they want to see tricks - changing suits, fusions, impersonations... If you can bellydance riding a unicycle and juggle apples at the same time you will get the job and admiration of the visitors. And if dancing is your only source of income, and you got 2 small kids, you will go an extra mile to cme up with smth.... I guess it is not everywhere like that, but some places you need to show some 'creativity'. As for insult to fat people? I dont know... Too many times people EXPECT to see a more plump dancer... you know 'you need a belly to bellydance' type thing... So I think it is funny... Not BD, but here's some strip tease for you...hehehe This skater does not need any gimmicks or tricks, cos his technique is flawless, but some creative use of costume is fun! __________________ Join the World Bellydance Day! <<<== Click here Last edited by Reen.Blom; 05-29-2009 at 01:15 PM..

05-29-2009, 03:04 PM	#26 (permalink)
shiradotnet Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Iowa City, Iowa, USA Posts: 794	I occasionally hire entertainers from singing telegram companies to spice up parties. (For example, when my husband turned 40 I hired the Grim Reaper to come and help us mourn the passing of his youth. When he turned 50, Mae West came to honor the occasion.) Anyway, I noted that the entertainment agency also offered the option to hire an obese stripper.... Um, no. About ten years ago, when Shira.net was a fairly young web site, I received an email from a reader asking me for advice on how to do a "bag lady" gig. I didn't understand the question, so I sent a reply asking what she meant. It seems that in her local community, several of the belly dancers offered this. They would show up for a gig dressed in "bag lady" garb. As the music started, they would peel it off to reveal the glamorous belly dancer underneath. I told the person who asked for advice that I really couldn't help her, because I'd never heard of this before and it must be a local phenomenon. __________________ www.shira.net and www.bellydanceplus.com, on twitter @shiradotnet

05-28-2009, 08:50 PM	#23 (permalink)
candi Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 80	I think it is horrible and offensive.

05-29-2009, 10:57 AM	#24 (permalink)
Meuz Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Perth, WA Posts: 8	I think humour that relies on ridiculing a group or person is in bad taste. I fail to see the connection between belly-dancing and bigger people? Is she saying that big people cannot dance? I don't like that steriotype, because it is flawed. Being bigger is not going to make you a worse dancer, just like being thin does not make you a better dancer... especially in a dance for like belly dancing that doesn't require feather-weight for lifting or leaping etc. I have seen the skinniest belly dancers who look good, but just cannot move and I have seen very large dancers who move like inspiration itself. I plain just don't get it. I think it is in poor taste.