Amanda (was Aziyade)
Well-known member
Did anybody else see this piece as a metaphor about dance and the folly of youth?
Or am I just looking too hard...
Or am I just looking too hard...
Oum Kalthoum was a singer, not a godess. Even if some culture can sacred her songs, it is still wrong to put such ridiculous boundaries.
It's only music
and if we can't use our creativity with song that we know, understand and like, by changing their first meaning and by using it to make something new and different, then where is the fun? Where is the creativity of the artist if we put limits like that?
It is a very good thing to understand other culture, to know what Oum Kalthoums means to arabs people, but respect is not about thinking the way the other culture think.
I certainly don't like to put boundaries were no one is needed.
Thinking that a human is sacred is never a good thing. It's not because other culture do it that we should think the same way. Maybe it's not a good thing to present this choreo in Egypt, because the public won't like it anyway, but here in America, I don't see why we should be offend by a simple, funny and cute comedy on an Oum Kalthoum song.
Putting limit on our art is the best way to kill the creativity.
I agree, but I also don't think it's necessary to ALWAYS break the rules or be innovative or edgy or puch the envelope. Not every piece of art is Art. Not every dance is edgy ART. Sometimes it's just dance and just fun. personally, I am more weirded out by thinking I have to create ART everytime I step on stage than I am about having "boundaries" on what I can do.We should know the basic rules first, but then, we should go over it. It is art! So smile, relax and have fun
Oum Kalthoum was a singer, not a godess. Even if some culture can sacred her songs, it is still wrong to put such ridiculous boundaries. It's only music and if we can't use our creativity with song that we know, understand and like, by changing their first meaning and by using it to make something new and different, then where is the fun? Where is the creativity of the artist if we put limits like that? And it wasn't for an arab public, it was for an american public that doesn't even konw who Oum Kalthoum really is.
QUOTE]
I don't understand a statement such as "it's only music"
but they are acting as if they don't know what the song was all about
er..it's on Youtube..who's watching it now!?
I'm not offended by it but I'm not an Arab and I am sure some will be.
So should we care wether we offend or not? What do you think? Is creativity more important than giving offence?
I note comments are now disabled..why?
Actually it seems rather silly to me.
Why interprete a beautiful peice of music like that?
I this the person who uploaded it thought she might attract Arabs and bellydancers who might be offended by this.
I mean the fact that you would say she has no respect for Arabic music is downright laughable.
She even talks about her company, Maqamikaze on her website,
What do you get when you cross Egyptian bellydance with American vaudeville? Maqamikaze Dance Theater brings its blend of sublime Arabic melodies and addictive rhythms, exhilarating traditional dance, and theatrical antics to the festival stage. The company's name captures its essence: "maqam" refers to an Arabic musical mode, while "kamikaze"is a twist on the classics of Middle Eastern repertoire.
www.amyraks.com
If for some of you, Oum Kalhtoum is sacred, why dance to her song in a way you like, only because you want it that way? Why should I put limit in my dance, just because some people don't want me to dance a certain way to a certain song?
If Oum Kalhoum is sacred to you, fine, but don't ask to everyone to think your way or to act in a way it won't offend you. It's your problem if you don't like it, and it's your right. But it's also the problem of the dancer to experiment something new on Oum Kalthoum and it's her right too. Why should she respects you by acting the way you want her to act, and why don't you respect her by letting her act the way she want to? Where is the respect when we prohibitsomething just because it's sacred for us?
This is why I don't like all the sacred thing. It's so egoist and only a one way road. We can't offend you because you decide that this thing, is your sacred thing. It's the way I understand it and it is why I will never dance to please everybody.
Actually, A belly dancer is NOT someone who learned a few moves and has danced a few years. It takes many many many years in order to become a belly dancer. It's more than learning to shake your hips and swaying to be a belly dancer. There's a feeling and understanding that is absolutely necessary before you can begin to call yourself a belly dancer.
It takes learning to understand the reasons , themes in compositions, understand the culture, the people the physical, anatomical body requirements in belly dance.
The whole point of this is that when you borrow my car, I have every right to tell you what kind of gas goes in it. We have every right to say how Um Kulthum is to be treated. She belongs to us.
Believe it or not, it also takes learning to respect a culture and history without which you couldn't get up on stage and be that belly dancer you believe yourself to be. Yes, as a person, you are free to dance to the Good Morning America theme song, or jingle bells, if you choose. That does not a belly dancer make.
You will never understand what I or any of the other people have tried to explain to you. Telling you something is offensive is not our way of controlling your dancing or curtailing your creativity. We are all for the advancement of the dance, but the minute we sell everything in exchange for creativity, that is when Belly dance loses it's core attraction. Dancers from all over have united over a beautiful, empowering, art that has connected Arabs with Americans and Americans with Indians and Greeks and Turks. It's a beautiful connection. One based on understanding and respecting each other. Sticking to your ignorant, uneducated opinion simply for the sake of argument is obstinent.
As Maria has said, it's not an issue of understanding the dancers system. Maqam and Kamikaze go together about as well as muddy shoes in an all white floor art exhibit.
So the bellydancers of the comedy are no longer bellydancers because you feel provocate? Even if they do bellydance in the choreography?
Hum... I don't think so.
And lizaj, I'm saying that a dancer (and a bellydancer) has the right to use the music he-she wants and dancing the style he-she wants. Even if it's Oum Kalthoum. It's called freedom of expression and no matter the culture, everybody has that right