"belllydance"-attempt in the figure skating world cup.

gisela · 03-23-2008, 02:19 AM

Did any of you watch it?

The Israeli ice dancing couple did a bellydance-flavoured program as their original dance. Other couples did african, spanish, russian, american, gypsy- kind of choreographies.

I have been wondering for many years why noone would do this. Have you seen bellydance-like figure skating before?

The only problem was... they didn't bellydance. At all. There was a very violent hip-up in the beginning and then absolutely NOTHING moving in the mid section of the bodies during the entire program. Big arm and leg movement and completely like any other ice dance choreo.
It was so weird to see someone dancing to shik shak shok (yes, that was their music choice) and keeping the body stiff like a stick.

I don't really mind the bad representation since the african dance, the flamenco and all the other programs also were standardized, adapted and built on stereotypes and not very true to the original soul of the dances.
I was just a bit disappointed that they didn't use bellydance. It didn't seem that they knew what it was really about. I think it could have been a great show.

Found a picture.
Didn't care much for her costume either. Given the costuming in Figure skating I think this could have been sooo much nicer.

KuteNurse · 03-23-2008, 02:37 AM

It would be an interesting combination! I did not see it, but I have also thought it might work. Too bad they didn't have any other BD moves practiced.

Eshta · 03-23-2008, 02:45 AM

Yesssss!!!! And no......!

I've been telling my friend that "Belly Dance On Ice" is going to be the Next Big Thing (can you imagine wings of isis?!), I will immediately be pointing out this thread to her just to prove I was right!! Please note as your mouse hovers over the reputation button to angrily give me negative rep, this has been a tongue-in-cheek joke for a while, I never said I thought it was a good thing, hahaha!!

So my budding youtubers, can anyone track down a clip of this performance? My curiousity is getting the better of me! And I totally agree on the costume point, although credit for it's relative modesty given the other way it could have gone

!

Hehehe!

KuteNurse · 03-23-2008, 09:15 AM

YouTube - Belly Dancing On Ice :-)

She does not seem to be able to skate or belly dance. lol
Funny we should mention ice skating. I saw Blades of Glory on cable tonight...It was hilarious.

Here is another one:
YouTube - Bellydancing on Ice

YouTube - Alexandra from Greece bellydances on ice

Aniseteph · 03-23-2008, 11:33 AM

Yeurgh. Except for Alexandra who wasn't really skating much.

It just doesn't work for me - maybe because belly dance is so grounded and you can't be grounded if you are sliding about on ice? (well, not in a good way).

gisela · 03-23-2008, 11:33 AM

yay here it is!

It could also have something to do with this couple not being one og the top couples. If the leading ice dancers did a bellydance-like dance it might be different. I've seen a lot of really enjoyable spanish, russian, tango and jive numbers.
Do you think bellydance is out of the question for skating or could it be done?

Aniseteph · 03-23-2008, 11:55 AM

Maybe there is some deep point in here about peoples perception of bellydance being basically the costume. If it was a Spanish number you'd at least expect some (probably fakey) flamenco-esque poses here and there - this had nothing apart from the starting pose. A top-ranking couple might carry the "bellydance" theme through a bit more convincingly but I doubt it'd be any good as ice/belly fusion unless they had a lot of bellydance training.

I still wonder if the balance/posture/use of the leg muscles is too different - any ice-skaters out there?

Suheir · 03-24-2008, 09:53 AM

Oh, dear - that was totally incongruous! Ice dance is all arms and legs, which belly dance isn't...

Jet Phoenix · 03-24-2008, 11:35 AM

I don't know.....it is hard for me to picture, say, Horacia holding Beata upside down, her clinging to his thighs with legs in his face while they spin madly.

For ice skating, I thought some of their body lines were interesting. There was one spin that was eye catching. For belly dance, I felt more like What?! Where!?! Did I miss it?!

I have been ice skating twice in my life...both several years ago. I seem to remember that while the knees are not locked straight, they are much stiffer than belly dance basic stance. Otherwise the skates slide on their own. Not as bad as roller skates, though.

I suddenly have a vision of 1970s roller disco belly dance queens! Hold me! I'm scared!!

lizaj · 03-24-2008, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suheir

Oh, dear - that was totally incongruous! Ice dance is all arms and legs, which belly dance isn't...

Truly dreadful
and did you see the male judge...OMG he reminded me of Nagwa and was that female judge, Heather Mills

?

Now then let's just hope this doesn't give Miles any ideas......

03-23-2008, 02:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
gisela Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Denmark Posts: 945	"belllydance"-attempt in the figure skating world cup. Did any of you watch it? The Israeli ice dancing couple did a bellydance-flavoured program as their original dance. Other couples did african, spanish, russian, american, gypsy- kind of choreographies. I have been wondering for many years why noone would do this. Have you seen bellydance-like figure skating before? The only problem was... they didn't bellydance. At all. There was a very violent hip-up in the beginning and then absolutely NOTHING moving in the mid section of the bodies during the entire program. Big arm and leg movement and completely like any other ice dance choreo. It was so weird to see someone dancing to shik shak shok (yes, that was their music choice) and keeping the body stiff like a stick. I don't really mind the bad representation since the african dance, the flamenco and all the other programs also were standardized, adapted and built on stereotypes and not very true to the original soul of the dances. I was just a bit disappointed that they didn't use bellydance. It didn't seem that they knew what it was really about. I think it could have been a great show. Found a picture. Didn't care much for her costume either. Given the costuming in Figure skating I think this could have been sooo much nicer. __________________ You need chaos in your soul to create a dancing star-nietzsche Last edited by gisela; 03-23-2008 at 02:21 AM.

03-23-2008, 02:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
Eshta Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 337	Yesssss!!!! And no......! I've been telling my friend that "Belly Dance On Ice" is going to be the Next Big Thing (can you imagine wings of isis?!), I will immediately be pointing out this thread to her just to prove I was right!! Please note as your mouse hovers over the reputation button to angrily give me negative rep, this has been a tongue-in-cheek joke for a while, I never said I thought it was a good thing, hahaha!! So my budding youtubers, can anyone track down a clip of this performance? My curiousity is getting the better of me! And I totally agree on the costume point, although credit for it's relative modesty given the other way it could have gone ! Hehehe! __________________ Saqarah - London's monthly Belly Dance Hafla!

03-23-2008, 11:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
gisela Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Denmark Posts: 945	yay here it is! It could also have something to do with this couple not being one og the top couples. If the leading ice dancers did a bellydance-like dance it might be different. I've seen a lot of really enjoyable spanish, russian, tango and jive numbers. Do you think bellydance is out of the question for skating or could it be done? __________________ You need chaos in your soul to create a dancing star-nietzsche

03-23-2008, 02:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
KuteNurse V.I.P. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,986	It would be an interesting combination! I did not see it, but I have also thought it might work. Too bad they didn't have any other BD moves practiced.

03-23-2008, 09:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
KuteNurse V.I.P. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,986	YouTube - Belly Dancing On Ice :-) She does not seem to be able to skate or belly dance. lol Funny we should mention ice skating. I saw Blades of Glory on cable tonight...It was hilarious. Here is another one: YouTube - Bellydancing on Ice YouTube - Alexandra from Greece bellydances on ice

03-23-2008, 11:33 AM	#5 (permalink)
Aniseteph V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sussex, England Posts: 1,704	Yeurgh. Except for Alexandra who wasn't really skating much. It just doesn't work for me - maybe because belly dance is so grounded and you can't be grounded if you are sliding about on ice? (well, not in a good way).

03-23-2008, 11:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
Aniseteph V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sussex, England Posts: 1,704	Maybe there is some deep point in here about peoples perception of bellydance being basically the costume. If it was a Spanish number you'd at least expect some (probably fakey) flamenco-esque poses here and there - this had nothing apart from the starting pose. A top-ranking couple might carry the "bellydance" theme through a bit more convincingly but I doubt it'd be any good as ice/belly fusion unless they had a lot of bellydance training. I still wonder if the balance/posture/use of the leg muscles is too different - any ice-skaters out there?

03-24-2008, 09:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
Suheir V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Europe - London Posts: 1,227	Oh, dear - that was totally incongruous! Ice dance is all arms and legs, which belly dance isn't...

03-24-2008, 11:35 AM	#9 (permalink)
Jet Phoenix Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 48	I don't know.....it is hard for me to picture, say, Horacia holding Beata upside down, her clinging to his thighs with legs in his face while they spin madly. For ice skating, I thought some of their body lines were interesting. There was one spin that was eye catching. For belly dance, I felt more like What?! Where!?! Did I miss it?! I have been ice skating twice in my life...both several years ago. I seem to remember that while the knees are not locked straight, they are much stiffer than belly dance basic stance. Otherwise the skates slide on their own. Not as bad as roller skates, though. I suddenly have a vision of 1970s roller disco belly dance queens! Hold me! I'm scared!!