If it wasn’t for the glitz and glamour, would you be doing this?

[Duvet]

The excuse to wear pretty, glittery costumes and mega make-up; the five minutes of fame with the excuse to show off and love yourself; the applause and positive compliments no matter how you really danced; the fantasy of being a sensual (if not sexual) and adorable someone for however long you can sustain it... Of course for me these don't apply (Diva? Moi? Never!). I do it for the pure art and cultural appreciation, don'tcha know.

But if it weren’t for the fantasy image and the attention, would you really be spending your time and money on bellydance? :think:

 

[Shanazel]

I give up. The attempt to answer such a silly question defeats me.

You are not serious, right?

 

[Erik]

Er....um.....I thought it was a good question, and one I've been wondering about off-and-on for a few years but never had the guts to ask (even when I had too much to drink). Stopped in for something else and noticed it, so I hung around.

And if the answer is no, what is really so wrong with that?

Shanazel, we're never going to get to the root of your problem as long as you're in denial.

 

[Zorba]

But if it weren’t for the fantasy image and the attention, would you really be spending your time and money on bellydance? :think:

I think a lot of people are initially attracted to BD for exactly this reason - but I don't think many stay ONLY for it.

Yea, I love the glitz and glamour - who wouldn't? - but its the emotional sharing with the audience, the deeper connection with the dance, that keeps me coming back for more. It took me years to BEGIN to understand what that really means, and I'm still learning/figuring it out...

 

[Kashmir]

Not Me

Glitz? When I started belly dance I didn't have a sparkly thing to my name - nor owned a bra or make-up. The femme crap if anything turned me off - but I was lucky to have a straight up & down scientist for my first teacher.

What got me initially is losing oneself in the music - working your body to respond to nuance. Later I became entralled with the background and culture.

I only wear sparkles for performance because it is part of the act - but I've seen two standout dancers - one in a bulky striped pullover and another in cargo pants. I wish I was good enough to get away with that!

 

[Mosaic]

No the fantasy/sparkly image never entered my mind - I wanted an activity that I would rnjoy & I've always loved dancing and the fact that this dance is ME in origin and I love the culture & history of the ME - I thought why not Of course after a while the sparklies drew me in a bit, but I don't dance just for that or an audience, I dance for me. I absolutely enjoy going to classes even though I teach. I don't dance professionally only at local festivals and BD events.
~Mosaic

 

[Darshiva]

I started taking classes because I like dancing and frankly ballroom & latin were a bit over-the-top for me.

That I get to indulge my inner magpie is a bonus, not my raison danse.

 

[Aniseteph]

It's nice to have an excuse once in a while to try to do OTT glamorous, and I like sparkly sewing projects. But that's just for the occasional performance. Mostly it's that I like pottering along in my dance journey discovering stuff; the music, the enjoyment of learning new skills, achievement buzz when I get somewhere, watching other dancers, the social side, etc etc.

I've seen two standout dancers - one in a bulky striped pullover and another in cargo pants. I wish I was good enough to get away with that!

Sigh - yup. I'd rather be that kind of good than go for the sparkly diva thing, any day.

 

[~Diana~]

fantasy image and the attention?

Never crossed my mind once until you brought it up. Actually no, never got into this for any of the above reasons.

 

[mahsati_janan]

The excuse to wear pretty, glittery costumes and mega make-up; the five minutes of fame with the excuse to show off and love yourself; the applause and positive compliments no matter how you really danced; the fantasy of being a sensual (if not sexual) and adorable someone for however long you can sustain it... Of course for me these don't apply (Diva? Moi? Never!). I do it for the pure art and cultural appreciation, don'tcha know.

But if it weren’t for the fantasy image and the attention, would you really be spending your time and money on bellydance? :think:

I'll be honest in that this question bothers me a bit. It seems to imply that anyone who didn't come to this dance for those things is not being honest. However it was meant, I will answer this seriously.

I got into this dance form for the following reasons:

• Interested in culture and history of Middle East/North Africa/Central Asia
• Needed physical therapy for a serious knee injury
• Wanted to try a movement art to reconnect with my body

The biggest drawbacks to me starting out were:

• Wearing bright colors
• Wearing sequins or beads
• Dancing in front of people

So, my answer is that yes I would still be doing this without those aspects.

I grew to appreciate the costuming and the glamorous nature of it, but none of those things were part of my initial requirement and none of them are what drives me to dance.

 

[Amanda (was Aziyade)]

Personally the part that I like LEAST about performing is ... well, performing. I hate wearing makeup. I hate wearing uncomfortable tight bras and fringe belts you can't sit down in. I hate messing with my hair, other than putting it up in a bun. And I really don't like having to "play" to the crowd.

For me, this dance has always been about the music. I love the music first and moving to the music second. If I never performed again, I would still be happy because I could dance at home, in a track suit, and still get just as much enjoyment out of it (or more) than taking the stage.

 

[Shanazel]

Okay. I'll answer though I still think it is a silly question, like asking a football player if he plays the game because he gets to wear a helmet and knee pads, talk to reporters, and hear the roar of the crowd every time he gets tackled.

I belly dance dance because I love to move to middle eastern music. I hate make up. I don't like messing with my appearance. All my costumes have been comparitively plain, and I don't indulge in fantasies of a world that revolves around me, even for a five minute dance. Interacting with an audience is a very different set of affairs than showcasing one's wonderfulness for the crowd to admire. I like interaction; I don't like grandstanding. My ego is not particularly stoked by the applause of a crowd.

Denial problems cleared up now?

 

[Yame]

Dressing up gets old really fast. Like others, I like not having to worry about my appearance, make-up, hair, nails, etc. I find that to actually be one of the drawbacks of performing.

I was also never comfortable in the spotlight, that was something I've had to overcome... so again, not a reason for dancing.

I can't say I was drawn to belly dance for the music, although that did grow on me. I was initially drawn because the dance looks and feels so good. Now I love the dance, and I love the music. I love learning new things. I love taking classes, I love going to intensives and dancing for 5 hours a day. I love going out with friends to Middle Eastern clubs and just having fun dancing socially with them and a bunch of strangers.

I love performing, too, but when I perform I have to worry about so many things that I don't have to worry about in a social or class context. The things mentioned in the first paragraph, plus the logistics of getting gigs, getting to and from the gigs, getting paid, buying and adjusting costumes, etc... it can get stressful. Those other contexts have no drawbacks for me. So yes, I absolutely would still do this even if I could not perform or even put on a costume again.

 

[Erik]

Of course, Shanzel. I wasn't trying to put you on the witness stand.....but if I did I'd like to think it might go something like this.

Shanazel: You want answers?

Erik: I WANT THE TRUTH!

Shanazel: YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH. Son, we live in a world of dances, and those dances have to be done by dancers in costumes. We use words like hafla, costume, shimmy. These are words we live by. To you they're just a punchline. I would rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, learn to dance yourself.

Erik: Did you order that sparkly costume?

Shanazel: I got the dance done.

Erik: DID YOU ORDER THAT SPARKLY COSTUME?

Shanazel: YOU'RE G-DAMN RIGHT I DID!

I would delve into this more seriously, but it's complicated, and time is short, but yeah, I can somewhat understand why it would be a silly question for someone who has been dancing a long time. Money is one thing, but time we can never get back, and to give the dance that much of your time, it must be something beyond the superficial elements.

 

[Zorba]

I probably didn't answer the question fully last time - or at least not like others seem to be doing...

I started BD because I saw a dancer who was beautiful in-her-dance. I wanted some of that beauty for myself. Yes, the glitz and glamour adds to that - but the movements themselves are the true beauty. I often find a connection to "the divine" in my dancing.

Keeping "up" hair/skin/nails is indeed a LOT of work! Especially for a male who wasn't raised that way. With that said, I do enjoy the body maintenance because I'm no longer "Zorba, who happens to dance", but a "Belly Dancer who happens to be Zorba". My entire ID, for better or worse, is wrapped up in being a dancer - I'm a dancer first, and everything else second - if that makes any sense.

I'm not particularly enamored of ME culture, finding it largely backwards and repressive to an extreme - even worse than our own. But I *am* interested in it, it really helps to know the how/why/when/where of things.

 

[Jane]

I started belly dance because I loved watching a friend of mine dance. She dragged me to class and I really enjoyed learning, the music, the social aspect, and the actual dancing. Later came a love of the real ethnic music and the cultural study which we weren't being exposed to in class.

I dislike wearing all that makeup and keeping my nails done and my legs fur-free constantly. Make-up and hair takes a lot of time and effort and I don't enjoy the process. I am a low maintenance person and was a tom boy as a child. Also, the costumes aren't comfortable to hang out in for any length of time when I'm not actually dancing; can't sit or eat and is annoying in the bathroom.

So, no. I didn't start or stay for the glam aspect. I'd rather bop around in a kaftan and a simple hip scarf and chap-stick if given a choice. All that glam is just annoying and a lot of damned work and money.

 

[AndreaSTL]

:lol: Erik, I can't wait to show that to DH. I don't even want to know how many times he's seen that movie.

 

[LilithNoor]

I love the glitz and glamour aspect of it, but I'm not a pro, and I suspect that side of dancing could get wearing pretty quickly if I was putting my game face on twice a week instead of once a month.

I love creating sparkly costumes, buying new makeup and accessories and dressing up like a crazy drag queen, but hands down the best fun i've had in dance has been in class, sweat soaked and crimson faced, but hanging out with wonderful people and doing something I love.

 

[Shanazel]

Oh, Erik! :lol: What did we do before you came along?

No, I DID NOT buy that sparkly costume. I'm the one in black with a modest metallic thread running through the fabric of the skirt. I disappear in front of black backdrops. I should invest in at least one costume that is not mainly black or take up "goth dance."

 

[Stephanie]

Eh. I don't really want to perform unless I absolutely have to. Maybe as part of a troupe or something, but not at a restaurant by myself (some people really enjoy this, though). For me it will be mostly about having fun, staying in shape, meeting new people, etc.