Thread: Belly dancers with eyeglasses?

Originally Posted by kim sakkara

Ok, this girl with glasses wants to know:

Aside from reflective surfaces sometimes obscuring an audience's ability to see one's eyes, are there any reasons, cultural or otherwise, why a dancer should not wear eyeglasses for performing?

Yes, they look like re-entry shields. They are not flattering, end of story. When was the last time you saw a ballerina perform Swan Lake in spectacles?

Originally Posted by kharis_UK

They are not flattering, end of story.

Going a little off-topic here:

While I pretty much agree about glasses and performing, I do not agree with the statement above. Instead, I'd say that what is flattering in real life may not be flattering on stage, and vice versa.

Go out in full stage make-up in the real world, and *that's* not flattering. Similarly, glasses can be very flattering, when not on stage. Personally, I look much better with glasses than without, as they make me look more my age. Even with glasses, at 31, I still get people thinking I'm 21. Without them, I'd probably be seen as 15. Maybe when I'm 50, that will be a good thing, but it's hard to be taken seriously if people think you're still going through puberty. But that's on the street. On stage? I probably won't wear glasses, because my eyesight is not that bad, and I agree that on stage, glasses aren't really the thing to do, unless it's a deliberate part of the image you are trying to create, and even then, it's risky.

Back on topic:

I think whoever brought up the point about expressions has it right. Glasses, even if they are flattering when not on stage, still hide expressions, and that makes it harder to communicate with the audience. This is one of the reasons for having heavier stage make-up (depending on the lighting, of course, and whether it's inside or outside) - to allow the audience to see expressions, rather than just a flat face. Put glasses on, and you ruin any effect your eye make-up would have had.

I can't believe no one has posted this to this thread yet:



Meissoun, Mish Mish, where are our photos of Joyce in bedleh?

Can't you tell she's wearing one of those Fifi style beledi dresses?!

Originally Posted by mish_mish

Can't you tell she's wearing one of those Fifi style beledi dresses?!

Ah, Mish Mish, I KNEW this would bring you out of lurker mode!

HA! Actually, I had some kind of problem where I was locked out of the forums. Rosey helped me figure out the problem.

Originally Posted by Varuza

Going a little off-topic here:

While I pretty much agree about glasses and performing, I do not agree with the statement above. Instead, I'd say that what is flattering in real life may not be flattering on stage, and vice versa.

That's what I meant.... I think in ordinary life, glasses look OK.... in fact some are really cool. I wear glasses to read, my boyfriend wears them all the time. I'm not anti specs at all... just anti specs for performing dance...c::

I always wear my glasses when I dance. And I think I look quite stylish. Here is a picture of me in costume that Meissoun took on one of her visits to the U.S.:



and here is another:



I was thrilled when they invited me to be on this album cover:



Dahlal has used me as a costume model for Pharaonics costumes:

I think glasses are fine, can be part of your costume. I'd rather have the dancer be able to see than not. AND if people are focusing on "oh dear, she's wearing glasses", and not your dance, one or the other of you has a problem.

If you feel your daily glasses look too mundane, get another glittery pair, or even take a set of old glasses and glitz them up. The prescription may not work for the rest of your life, but can get you through a performance fine.

Oh, Joyce. Oh, Joyce, Joyce, Joyce.

It is so good to hear from Joyce herself.

Worn glasses since high school...mmmmm years ago, but prefer not to wear them on stage. Before performing, there is usually an opportunity to walk the stage & memorize power cord locations, instruments, uneven flooring, approximate length & width of stage. From there it's all smiles, can't see a thing.

First time dancing wearing contacts caught me completely off guard. Could see everyone! .w.: ..c:: .w.: Yikes! Fuzzy vision is just fine.