Plus Size Dancers

Amri_

Amri_

New member
Salome, dat's Np, understandable.....But for such people as me( who 1stly type, then think. LOL) this function would be necessary)) I don't see any problems if one can delete his/her own posts only. Sometimes it's really needed. IMHO.But mod's actions are not for discussions, so those are the rules:) Sorry if I said smth wrong:)
 
gisela

gisela

Super Moderator
If you write something you regret writing afterwards, you can always edit your post and remove the text you don't want. It would be good to then write Edit: or deleted or something if it is part of/in the middle of a discussion. Otherwise it can make it pretty confusing.
I too often write and then think ;)
 
Melanie

Melanie

New member
So, what's new?

I missed this debate before, but thought I'd just jump in with my tuppence worth, since it's been going on so long.
I'm curious for an update from Lady of Lost Times - did you find another teacher/class? Are you still dancing? I hope so.
I agree with a lot of what's been said already. Whether or not you're happy with the size you are and accepting all that's been said about health and weight issues, the question still is, can you be too fat to 'be a belly dancer'?
Too fat to dance? Where would you draw the line? And everyone has to start somewhere. Are we to put our lives on hold until we match up to someone else's idea of perfect? I don't think so.
I'm very overweight and have had my share of bitchy comments. When I was in my teens and not overweight, I still got comments about how 'fat' I was. In everything, there are always some who make corrosive remarks, and it's really difficult not to be hurt by them. My first bd teacher is a big lady too, and she was emphatic that it doesn't matter so much what size or shape or how old you are, what matters is that you express the music and dance from your heart. This was repeated almost word for word to me this spring by Hossam Ramzy.
The only thing I would say is that carrying a lot of extra weight and flesh can affect the range and quality of movement. I find it hard to get good definition to some movements, and can lack crispness because I get a lot of 'sympathetic' movement from the wobbly bits. But the more I drill and dance, the better I get, and the more I love it.
There's loads of inspirational stuff out there, not least Shira.net and her Belly Dance Plus site :)dance:) so take heart and let us know how you're doing!
 
Sayyadina

Sayyadina

New member
I'm so new to this world. I will say though that when I signed up for classes, I was scared that my weight would be an issue. I'm reasonably healthy so there were no medical issues. I was worried about my size alone.
Then, my teacher walked into the class and she is my size if not a bit bigger. My worries vanished instantly.:dance:

She's extremely talented, by the way. My teacher also has an amazing hip bump.
 
dreamthief666

dreamthief666

New member
LadyofLostTimes said:
Hi there,

I am new to belly dancing (less then a year). I really love it but I have a problem and I was wondering if you ladies can help me. I am a plus size lady and I find it so hard to find any support from the belly dance community. I thought that belly dance was to empower you and make you feel like a woman and to have a place that all women (no matter what size or shape) can come together and celebrate being a woman and the love of the dance. All I have been receiving is hatred and negativity. I was once in a class to learn belly dance and all I heard was rude and nasty comments, even from the teacher. I had also placed a video on you tube of me dancing and showing off the costume that I hade made and all I got were nasty comments on there to. It had gotten so bad that I had to take it down. Now I know that you tube is filled with a bunch of lame brains that have nothing better to do then sit there and leave nasty comments all day long. The ones that left me the nasty comments were mostly belly dancers. (I know because I looked them up.) I will not sit here and list what they have said because some of them were really nasty. I would just like to know if and other plus size dancers are having just as hard of a time as me. Why do skinny dancers find it ok to beat down someone who is not as small as them? (I had enough of that in high school)

I know that I shouldn’t care about what other people think or say but it is hard when you want to share with people and they turn there backs to you when they find out that you are over weight and all you are left with are your cats and your boyfriend. It is heartbreaking to think that a community of something so beautiful can be filled with negativity, anger, and hate.

Sorry for the long rant but I just wanted to know what other people think on the subject.

Thank you
Fran

P.S If there is any big beautiful dancers out there that read this I want you know that there is some one out there that supports you. I may have hung up my coin belt but I will be there for you. (((((HUGS)))))
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please don't give up take a look at steffi from barefoot bellydance, she big and beautiful, and moves so gracefully, i wish you were in my area 'cause i'd give that teacher a kick up the a*** what an unproffesional thing to do, i'm very large and have never had a negative word from my teachers or fellow students
 
G

Goddess529

New member


Hi there!

I am so sorry to hear about your experience. What kind of teacher was that? Anyone who decides to share their knowledge should be kind and supportive. There is more than one type of beauty. The world would be pretty boring if everyone looked exactly the same. I am overweight by about 30 pounds, but I am trying to lose the weight to be healthier, and not to fit some so called beauty standard. Let me tell you a brief story. I am African-American and made the decision 11 years ago to wear my hair in locs. I read up on the maintence of this hairstyle, and how you have to have a strong mindset to wear your hair like this because you will get ALOT of negative feedback from it. I thought long and hard about it, and did it. It was one of the best things that I have ever done for myself. I love it, and have not once regretted it. It makes me feel beautiful and it shows. My mother HATED it. She once said that she didn't understand why I would do such a thing and how I "used" to be pretty. That really hurt me. My mother is a sweet and wonderful person, but she had a hard time accepting the "new" me. Afterwhile though, she began to notice how perfect strangers off of the street would come up to me and complement me on my hair and even ask to touch it! She slowly accepted that it wasn't so bad after all. Just different. I sometimes have a hard time getting jobs. Some places still disappove of the look, but I refuse to change because this is who I am. I love my hair because it is a part of me. As for you, please don't give up the bellydancing because of a few ignorant idiots. Bellydancing IS empowering and beautiful. The art of bellydancing belongs to anyone who desires to learn it and do it. Even if you can't find another class in your area, just buy some dvd's and some good bellydance cds and dance, dance, dance!!! Please believe that you ARE beautiful. Never let anyone tell you otherwise.

Happy shimmies!!!! :D

Goddess529
 
lizaj

lizaj

New member
Shanazel said:
Better watch out what you say about grannies- those knitting needles are sharp.
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I have to tell you that dreamthief is a far better knitter than I even though she is a young thang.....;)

This is the woman who put her needles down after she took 18 months to knit an Aran sweater:lol:
 
dreamthief666

dreamthief666

New member
Goddess529 said:


Hi there!

I am so sorry to hear about your experience. What kind of teacher was that? Anyone who decides to share their knowledge should be kind and supportive. There is more than one type of beauty. The world would be pretty boring if everyone looked exactly the same. I am overweight by about 30 pounds, but I am trying to lose the weight to be healthier, and not to fit some so called beauty standard. Let me tell you a brief story. I am African-American and made the decision 11 years ago to wear my hair in locs. I read up on the maintence of this hairstyle, and how you have to have a strong mindset to wear your hair like this because you will get ALOT of negative feedback from it. I thought long and hard about it, and did it. It was one of the best things that I have ever done for myself. I love it, and have not once regretted it. It makes me feel beautiful and it shows. My mother HATED it. She once said that she didn't understand why I would do such a thing and how I "used" to be pretty. That really hurt me. My mother is a sweet and wonderful person, but she had a hard time accepting the "new" me. Afterwhile though, she began to notice how perfect strangers off of the street would come up to me and complement me on my hair and even ask to touch it! She slowly accepted that it wasn't so bad after all. Just different. I sometimes have a hard time getting jobs. Some places still disappove of the look, but I refuse to change because this is who I am. I love my hair because it is a part of me. As for you, please don't give up the bellydancing because of a few ignorant idiots. Bellydancing IS empowering and beautiful. The art of bellydancing belongs to anyone who desires to learn it and do it. Even if you can't find another class in your area, just buy some dvd's and some good bellydance cds and dance, dance, dance!!! Please believe that you ARE beautiful. Never let anyone tell you otherwise.

Happy shimmies!!!! :D

Goddess529
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:clap: :clap: :clap:
 
Shanazel

Shanazel

Moderator
lizaj said:
I have to tell you that dreamthief is a far better knitter than I even though she is a young thang.....;)

This is the woman who put her needles down after she took 18 months to knit an Aran sweater:lol:
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I mainly use mine for making shish kebob. I did knit a scarf a few years ago, but only because I needed something to keep me awake during the course of an eight hour continuing legal education class.
 
R

r4lildragonflies

New member
I Love belly dancing! I have taken some classes in the past, but then had to stop because I moved and had car accident. Now I am trying very, very hard to find a belly dance teacher (Close) to me, but unfortinitly so far I havent. I have seen some ytub videos recently of some plus size/full figured dancers and they were beautiful and their dancing was excellent. I am trying to learn American Cabaret, thats if I find a techer. I am a plus size women also, I love to eat, but some of my wieght gain is also due to alote of steroids that I am on. I have to take them on a daily basis because I have Lupas and RA. Plus I take humeris(shot) every week. I have a dream to dance professionaly, and I plan to try to do just that once I find my teacher and start dance classes again. I d not think there is anything wrong with being a proffesional belly dancer and being a plus size. Even if you dont want to be a proffessional it is still ok to be plus size and still dance. If you love to dance then by all means "Dance" !!! You got someone here who cares and hugs back to you. I sure hope you started dancing again!!
Dont give up on your dreams, and dont ever listen to someone who is downing you. You are beautiful inside and out know matter what. Also just wanted to give you a quick look at a couple of links of women I have seen belly dancing on ytube.....
YouTube - ‪Enta Omri Bellydance by Caroline Labrie‬‏
YouTube - ‪Tabla player and bellydancer impro by Caroline Labrie‬‏
Her name is:Caroline Labrie, and I think she is just beautiful. also...Zahra Al-Baida
YouTube - ‪HMKA2 pt1 05- Zahra Al-Baida.wmv‬‏
YouTube - ‪Zahra with Wings of Isis‬‏ her website with video clips is:

Zahra Al-Baida::Bellydancing

There are lots of beautiful, beautiful dancers out there. no matter what your size you can belly dance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Imeera

Imeera

New member
Wow this is an old thread! =] Personally I feel there are two sides to this. Firstly I want to say I have nothing against overweight women, they are still amazing women their weight makes no matter to me. However health issues that come from being overweight are awful. Fat is good! Its only when its too much to too little it is bad.That is my only hate for overweight men and women, the stress it puts on the body is so painfuly bad. I don't like seeing it for that reason alone.

But when belly dance is concerned, size does not matter. The comments made by those women were completely wrong, and I hate the way people are with people that are overweight. Its despicable. It should not matter to everyone else what size or shape another is. Personality is everything, not how the person looks. Stupid shallow people. I am so annoyed now! -rantrantrant-
 
Greek Bonfire

Greek Bonfire

Well-known member
Imeera said:
Wow this is an old thread! =] Personally I feel there are two sides to this. Firstly I want to say I have nothing against overweight women, they are still amazing women their weight makes no matter to me. However health issues that come from being overweight are awful. Fat is good! Its only when its too much to too little it is bad.That is my only hate for overweight men and women, the stress it puts on the body is so painfuly bad. I don't like seeing it for that reason alone.

But when belly dance is concerned, size does not matter. The comments made by those women were completely wrong, and I hate the way people are with people that are overweight. Its despicable. It should not matter to everyone else what size or shape another is. Personality is everything, not how the person looks. Stupid shallow people. I am so annoyed now! -rantrantrant-
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At the risk of playing devil's advocate, I know of many club owners who have a 15 pound rule, meaning that if you are 15 pounds overweight, you do not get hired.

However, for private events as well as private parties, it's all a matter of the organizer's personal preferences. Many of the events/parties/hafli the majority of dancers are plus size and we enjoy watching them just as much as the slender dancers.
 
I

IsmailaGodHasHeard

New member
I am a plus size dancer too. I am lucky to have a good teacher who would not allow any disrespect like that. Just keep your head up and tell the haters to bugger off.;)
 
Ahava_Melantha

Ahava_Melantha

New member
lizaj said:
Read on
......I also said if she was happy in her skin, good luck to her. I have friends who have had medical people tell them they are overweight and they are healthier than me!
But sometimes the solution is right in front of us and all we need is the right "push"...I've just been through that myself...an event came up, measurements added to asthma and slightly high BP and I thought yup get on the stir fries and fruit.
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just because someone is overweight, does NOT mean they don't eat veggeies. it doesn't mean they eat candy and junk food a lot.

it doesn't really mean anything. they could have a bad thyroid, an endocrine diesease, bad hormones, pcos, etc.

and your body weight is only one factor in good health.
 
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