So I was going along -- break for holidays, checking into forum after weeks.......was going to read a little and BAM a thread I can't resist!!
A'isha and other experts: here is my question (and sorry if this is not exactly in line w/ what y'all are pointing out) but could some one t4ell me why in this modern age some belly dancers who "want to be respected" don't cover up a little? Do jiggling boobs gain you credibility? Ballet dancers don't let all hang out, most times.
Loo,k I don't want to be a stick in the mud or fuddy duddy and I am not extremely church-y etc though spirituality is very important -- I am mostly secular but just find that some dancers (esp some "well endowed") could do themselves better or would for me come across as better dancers if they had just a tad less flesh showing. Bellys I understnad can be part of the dance (although I love some of those Egyptian style costumes that are ful length evening dress w/ maybe a slit to knee or so) -- That for me is so much more elegant than "sexy"-supposedly skimpy (esp tops), and for me gives the dancer much more credibility. As they say for a "family friendly" presentation. Of course if one is performing in a club or somewhere where they wer hired for their overt more immodest costume, so be it, but I question in this discusion why I have not seen (have not read all 10 pages) but isn't it so extreemely obvious that for those who want to be "accepted" and not looked down on (as with normal street or work clothes), you can't have your private parts showing?
To me it does not take away from artistry of the dance at all, not to have flesh showing.
But so interesting to me that someone who is such an honest to goodness class act (Suhaila - whether you like her style or not, I find her a non-endingly elegant woman and dancer) could wear almost anythiung and it would not affect the incredible artistry or elegance of their dance that shows, but for a less expert dancer it seems to me even more important not to have the audience thinking the person was hired, or is dancing to show off their body, and the way to do that is cover up a bit, at least cleavage, so that the audience focusses on your dancing and not on your skin.
Does this strike a chord wi/ anyone? I aspire to start performing soon but as I never ever, even in evening dress (I am just someone who could never feel comfortable with cleavage showing whether on the street in public or evening dress even) will show other tha n a modest amount -- such as w/ a typical but not very revealing bikini top for instance....
What does that have to do w/ religion? I don't feel you have to be a prude or nun just to want to keep your image a more general audience rated and thereby in our modern world gain credibility rather than insist on following those dancers who make it a standard costume to really emphasize cleavage, etc slit up to there, etc. Somehow I also feel if those of us who want to be "accepted" agreed to follow this might just have an easier time 'selling" this dance form to a general audience (as w/ ballet for instance as an example) as selling dance and art rather than skin and "sexiness", we'd have an easier time of it --
Pls forgive me if this sounds harsh, but I have a hard time understanding some who may moan about not being "accepted", or being looked down on, and go on stage w/ so much skin showing, no wonder people would equate BD w/ strippers, etc -- I'm not saying any of on forum are that I am just saying that if we came across as more serious about this dance, public might take dancers more seriously, too. And BD might have better credibility as a dance form, instead of being seen more as a type of vaudeville.... Of course to each their own -- and where they are performing...........(I like to watch any of it, anywhere, as long as good dance technique, taste, etc)
Sorry so long but what do you others think and what is your practice -- ? Does anyone else feel this way, that we are responsible for how we are perceived by public? (this seems so obvious yet nearly all BD seem to insist on showing lots of skin -- again in nightclub and for a very gutsy, excellent dancer no problem -- but for those of us who need all the cr4edibility we can get, I wish (es[p as a woman) there could be less skin showing in BD, not more -- (I am a slender body-type but still, being more modest to me is more elegant and artistic than the other way...) --
Happy New Year, all!!! Ludmilla
A'isha and other experts: here is my question (and sorry if this is not exactly in line w/ what y'all are pointing out) but could some one t4ell me why in this modern age some belly dancers who "want to be respected" don't cover up a little? Do jiggling boobs gain you credibility? Ballet dancers don't let all hang out, most times.
Loo,k I don't want to be a stick in the mud or fuddy duddy and I am not extremely church-y etc though spirituality is very important -- I am mostly secular but just find that some dancers (esp some "well endowed") could do themselves better or would for me come across as better dancers if they had just a tad less flesh showing. Bellys I understnad can be part of the dance (although I love some of those Egyptian style costumes that are ful length evening dress w/ maybe a slit to knee or so) -- That for me is so much more elegant than "sexy"-supposedly skimpy (esp tops), and for me gives the dancer much more credibility. As they say for a "family friendly" presentation. Of course if one is performing in a club or somewhere where they wer hired for their overt more immodest costume, so be it, but I question in this discusion why I have not seen (have not read all 10 pages) but isn't it so extreemely obvious that for those who want to be "accepted" and not looked down on (as with normal street or work clothes), you can't have your private parts showing?
To me it does not take away from artistry of the dance at all, not to have flesh showing.
But so interesting to me that someone who is such an honest to goodness class act (Suhaila - whether you like her style or not, I find her a non-endingly elegant woman and dancer) could wear almost anythiung and it would not affect the incredible artistry or elegance of their dance that shows, but for a less expert dancer it seems to me even more important not to have the audience thinking the person was hired, or is dancing to show off their body, and the way to do that is cover up a bit, at least cleavage, so that the audience focusses on your dancing and not on your skin.
Does this strike a chord wi/ anyone? I aspire to start performing soon but as I never ever, even in evening dress (I am just someone who could never feel comfortable with cleavage showing whether on the street in public or evening dress even) will show other tha n a modest amount -- such as w/ a typical but not very revealing bikini top for instance....
What does that have to do w/ religion? I don't feel you have to be a prude or nun just to want to keep your image a more general audience rated and thereby in our modern world gain credibility rather than insist on following those dancers who make it a standard costume to really emphasize cleavage, etc slit up to there, etc. Somehow I also feel if those of us who want to be "accepted" agreed to follow this might just have an easier time 'selling" this dance form to a general audience (as w/ ballet for instance as an example) as selling dance and art rather than skin and "sexiness", we'd have an easier time of it --
Pls forgive me if this sounds harsh, but I have a hard time understanding some who may moan about not being "accepted", or being looked down on, and go on stage w/ so much skin showing, no wonder people would equate BD w/ strippers, etc -- I'm not saying any of on forum are that I am just saying that if we came across as more serious about this dance, public might take dancers more seriously, too. And BD might have better credibility as a dance form, instead of being seen more as a type of vaudeville.... Of course to each their own -- and where they are performing...........(I like to watch any of it, anywhere, as long as good dance technique, taste, etc)
Sorry so long but what do you others think and what is your practice -- ? Does anyone else feel this way, that we are responsible for how we are perceived by public? (this seems so obvious yet nearly all BD seem to insist on showing lots of skin -- again in nightclub and for a very gutsy, excellent dancer no problem -- but for those of us who need all the cr4edibility we can get, I wish (es[p as a woman) there could be less skin showing in BD, not more -- (I am a slender body-type but still, being more modest to me is more elegant and artistic than the other way...) --
Happy New Year, all!!! Ludmilla
