Masculine/feminine interpretation.

[khanjar]

I have just been wondering about this, how both male and female interpret the same dance instruction and have an idea, based upon my classes. In my classes, I have found upper body work comes easier, the ribcage circles and isolations, but the hip stuff, I struggle at, it does not come that naturally and I have to work at it. Now, I was wondering is this the natural difference in interpretation, males find upper body work naturally easier ? Exactly the same move, but more defined on males ?

 

[cathy]

My guess is that this is totally or almost totally individual. Every person finds certain movements easier or harder, certain parts have more flexibility, more muscle tone, or you find them easier to "tell what to do" and have them do it.

Same thing with yoga, karate, etc.

There may be --on average, not over every individual--certain factors such as greater hip flexibility in women or greater muscle mass in men. But I tend to think individual differences are greater than gender differences when it comes to this.

Cathy

 

[Aniseteph]

I found upper body isolation much when I started and I'm female .

My hips wanted to do odd things, horizontal moves kept flipping up at the edges, hip drops were weird and really hard work at first.

The same move looks different on different bodies, not so much interpretation as just the way it is. The same hip move might look bigger on a curvy lady than a slim-hipped guy (or gal).

 

[Pirika Repun]

My guess is that this is totally or almost totally individual. Every person finds certain movements easier or harder, certain parts have more flexibility, more muscle tone, or you find them easier to "tell what to do" and have them do it.

Same thing with yoga, karate, etc.

There may be --on average, not over every individual--certain factors such as greater hip flexibility in women or greater muscle mass in men. But I tend to think individual differences are greater than gender differences when it comes to this.

Cathy

I agree with Cathy. I don't think gender difference make some moves easy or difficult. I see many female students have difficulty for hip drops, and other hip moves.

Many dance moves... I mean any dance style and dance moves.... usually we do not do in our daily life. When you walk you don't do shimmy or undulation with it, so when you start moving some muscles you never use before in your daily life, of course it is difficult to move it at the begining. Especially when you start taking dance classes in adult (not child) your body already developed muscles and lose some flexibility then children. You know when you look at baby, she/he suck their toe's to play with it, but not many adult can do it though. :lol:

So, I think this is all individual like Cathy and Aniseteph say, and these moves can't get over night. You have to get used to the moves. Don't think about this is gender difference, but all individual difference and be patient, you'll get eventually. Please don't give up only a couple of classes or couple of months or even years. If you want to be get it, and be better, it'll come to you.

 

[Kashmir]

Individuals vary more within the sexes than between

The main physical differences between male and females don't apply much in dance Rather, you will get differences based on genetics (eg tightly strung or loosely strung, differences in the angle and length of the femur neck), usage patterns (eg tight shoulders for office workers) and social patterns (kiwis - male and female - are not too happy about waggling their hips, some kiwi women are inhibited about any movement that brings attention to their breasts)

 

[Tarik Sultan]

The main physical differences between male and females don't apply much in dance Rather, you will get differences based on genetics (eg tightly strung or loosely strung, differences in the angle and length of the femur neck), usage patterns (eg tight shoulders for office workers) and social patterns (kiwis - male and female - are not too happy about waggling their hips, some kiwi women are inhibited about any movement that brings attention to their breasts)

Total agreement. Such sweeping generalities based on sex are old wives tales. What a person can or can't do has more to do with their own genetics, body structure level of previous activity and cultural familiarity.

I had no problem with hip moves because I'm West Indian and in our culture men move their hips just as much as women when we dance. Fluid arm moves were more difficult because I wasn't use to them.

On the other hand, I have a student who has the perfect Coca cola bottle figure. I had to teach her how to do the most basic hip moves. It took me two hours to teach her how to do a basic hip circle. She had never used that part of her body and so her muscles there were very weak. They had to be built up. And then, I've had guys who could shimmy, undulate from the first try. Cuba Gooding Jr. had no problem copying me doing it at a party, but that's because he's an example of a man use to doing movement.

My advise to you and everyone, don't spend time worrying about what you can or can't do because of your sex. It's all a matter of just training your muscles. Each person is an individual case and should be treated as such, not, "well, your a woman, therefore, you can do XYZ". Or "You're a man. XYZ is going to be a challenge for you".

 

[Freddie]

Glad to read this thread - my son is joining me at my classes and I was wondering if I needed to be aware of any differences re. the structure of male bodies vs. the structure of females.

So far he's exceedingly rubbish, but he's a brilliant percussionist so I have high hopes! He's 11 now so you lot watch out in about 6 years lol!

 

[Zorba]

Total agreement with Tarik et al - there are NO differences in dancing between the genders OTHER than the natural body differences that occur between INDIVIDUALS, regardless of gender. Anyone who tries to teach a so called "masculine" version - RUN AWAY!

AS A GENERAL RULE: Male hips tend to be very tight - you just have to work at hip movements more to get them trained to the movements. Some gals have the same problems, some guys do not! Some guys can shimmy, flutter, and belly roll like crazy right out of the box - too bad I'm not one of them! :think:

If you haven't seen them before, read these articles:

Male Belly Dancers, Are We Feminine?
Getting Started
Male Student, Now What?

 

[Tarik Sultan]

Glad to read this thread - my son is joining me at my classes and I was wondering if I needed to be aware of any differences re. the structure of male bodies vs. the structure of females.

So far he's exceedingly rubbish, but he's a brilliant percussionist so I have high hopes! He's 11 now so you lot watch out in about 6 years lol!

 

[Freddie]

Wowza!!

Thanks for posting that, I'll get him to watch it later. That boy must be about 9 years old??

I have to say that when Mikey (the son in question) was born I wondered what sort of "bonding" activities we'd do together - belly dance didn't cross my mind at that point! I kinda visualized us playing snooker or poker together.

But he really understands the rhythms and he does a pretty mean reverse bodywave (as does that cool kid in the video!). Second lesson for him tonight, let's see if his slides are getting there ...

 

[Yue]

you know, for me the torso movements are DAMN HARD.... I can do a little after many hours practising at home.

The hip movements, on the other hand, seem to come out naturally. So I guess the gender differences are not that important