Thread: How many ?

I've known of two male belly dancers in Montana. I don't think one of them is dancing anymore. Both are American Oriental style. Geographically large state (area of 147046 square miles/380850 km2) with a small population (298,199.)

Viraj is still around.

If they don't have a web presence and/or they're not local to me, they don't exist.

I have links to every male dancer that I know of that has a website - and I know that's a fraction. Lots of them come and go...

Originally Posted by Duvet

Not enough!!
In my own limited experience I think I’ve met more male Bellydance teachers than I have British male students. I couldn’t begin to count the number of female Bellydance students I’ve met. I get told by women I meet in workshops and festivals that they have men in their classes, yet when I go to Bellydance festivals – where are they? If they are out there, what are they doing and why aren’t they being encouraged to attend, or why don’t they feel able to go? OK, money is a factor, but this has been over a five year period. Do men rarely get beyond the beginner-who-has-a-go stage?

I realised I wrote my post, and then didn't give any indication of actual numbers. After thinking;
8 Male teachers = Ozgen, Khaled & Shafeek (all based in London), Paul (who used to teach in Bournemouth), Tito, Karim Nagi, & Wael (visitors to the UK), & Guy Schalom (who I only know as a drummer, but am aware he does dance too).
8 Male British students = two at Majma, another at Sirocco, two at Shimmy in the City, one from Oxford & one local (the two last no longer bellydance). Me.
I've met five other male students from outside the UK, and seen a couple other male performers, also from abroad.

I have met one other male student at a festival and he was good, he possessed a naturalness and a confidence I envied.

The classes I have had have had three others join then drift away after a few weeks, perhaps that is the majority, those that drift off. Even my first ever class a taster session four or was it five years ago the teacher said that she had taught a couple of other males in the past, they had lasted a couple of years, attained a respectable level and also dropped out of it, men do that was the impression I got. But I guess that is what the majority do of either gender, those that go on to be something are a minority, perhaps a determined and thick skinned minority.