Suzanne Azhaar
New member
Dance as long as it brings your heart joy. Dance as long as your body allows you to. Then smile, because you did, and your heart still does.
Yup, this is the mantra of the belly dance community. Don't worry if you look like a drag queen, don't worry if people are making patronising comments about you, don't worry if the kids think you're a figure of fun. Perhaps you'd say I shouldn't care what people say about me, I wish I could do that, but maybe I'm too vain.Dance as long as it brings your heart joy. Dance as long as your body allows you to. Then smile, because you did, and your heart still does.
Actually I'm a perennial student, so I have never done bellygrams, competitions or professional shows - and bellydancers in Australia never, ever do stag parties. What students do is community fairs.Oz, you're missing the point of the belly dancer mantra which is YOU ARE ACCEPTED BY THIS COMMUNITY AND WE THINK YOU ARE VALUABLE. .
They're right - so shaddup and get on stage! :lol:..."oh you're a beautiful dancer, it doesn't matter what shape or age you are yadda yadda", and the pressure can be quite relentless!
I wish I was that strong! I think I'm discovering something interesting about myself - I always thought I danced purely for the sake of dancing, but I now realise how important the social aspect is for me. If I just go to class and don't participate in the costume buying/making/rehearsals/performance, I miss an essential part of the group dynamic and feel on the outer - and that really matters to me, more than I'd have thought.If we can't resist peer pressure at 60+, when can we resist it? :dance:
This. An older, experienced dancer? She's got SO MUCH the youngsters, and even the 'middle aged' (like me) don't yet have. She's an inspiration, a role model, and just tons of fun to be around because of that experience!You're welcome, honey.
Maybe your classmates are insistent because they like you and so appreciate your contribution to the group that they hate to see you go. It's not just the retiring member of a troupe that gives up something when she bows out.
'Cause we are red-hot mamas and daddies. :dance::lol: