Thread: Has Oprah had bellydance on her show?

This could also be posted in the "Business" section, I suppose.

You know how The Oprah Winfrey Show has a "Be on the Show" section on their site? Right now they have "Found Creative Ways to Exercise?" in the Weight Loss section of Tell Us Your Story. Well, if you want to bring more exposure to dance classes for exercise, this could be a good opportunity. I don't teach (yet - I have plans!) and I know some people poo-poo the idea of promoting MED classes for fitness, but some class numbers have been down, right? And I'm always being asked at gigs about health benefits of dancing, so I know there are lots of women (and men) out there who just need a little nudge. If you can get a LOT of dancers to share their stories, Oprah's show might inspire more people to seek out classes.

What do you think?

(p.s. If you are involved with Nia, they are encouraging people to write in about their fitness method.)

I think this a great idea. Most of the girls who take classes in my troupe do it for the fitness and social side of things. I think it also presents an opportunity for the real meaning of MED to be communicated. I still get people comparing it to pole dancing which I find highly offensive. Im sure Oprah would put a halt on that attitude. Id personally love to see her shimmy!!

Originally Posted by monsoondancer

I think this a great idea. Most of the girls who take classes in my troupe do it for the fitness and social side of things. I think it also presents an opportunity for the real meaning of MED to be communicated. I still get people comparing it to pole dancing which I find highly offensive. Im sure Oprah would put a halt on that attitude. Id personally love to see her shimmy!!

Oprah featured pole dancing on her show a couple of years ago, I don't think she would find it or comparisons to it particularly offensive or shocking.

~~Kimahri

I don't think so..I will give her a call tomorrow! lol.............

i emailed oprah with this idea about 4 years ago but never heard back.

My mother-in-law suggested recently that I should email the Oprah show about me personally being on and discussing/demonstrating BD. ..l;, While I'm flattered that she finds me Oprah-worthy, I assured her that's a task for someone with much more experience and expertise than I have.

Originally Posted by laura 2

My mother-in-law suggested recently that I should email the Oprah show about me personally being on and discussing/demonstrating BD. ..l;, While I'm flattered that she finds me Oprah-worthy, I assured her that's a task for someone with much more experience and expertise than I have.

You could so do it, Laura! I think your mother-in-law has a good idea for you. This may open up into something big for you.

If you/we could get multiple dancers (I'm thinking at least 50, hundreds would be better!) to write to the show in response to their question, they would seriously consider it. Nia has sent out a message to everyone who gets their newsletter, asking them to write in.

What they would probably want is someone well-known in the BD world, preferably who has a fitness DVD already, to be on the show with some "back-up" dancers for a demonstration. I think Aziza would be GREAT, though her fitness DVD is really more for dancers than the general public and isn't as easily available as, say, Neena & Veena's DVDs. (I like them, too, and they already have lots of t.v. experience.) Michelle has at least one DVD that is aimed at beginners, right? She would be good, too. Suhaila has a dedicated following and t.v. experience (on Ellen, right?), but I don't know if she has a DVD focused on beginners.

Originally Posted by aasiyah

i emailed oprah with this idea about 4 years ago but never heard back.

Originally Posted by bonnywhiteford

You could so do it, Laura! I think your mother-in-law has a good idea for you. This may open up into something big for you.

That's so sweet of you! {{{{hugs}}}} But as kiyaana mentioned, I think it would be more appropriate for someone on the national/international workshop circuit. I've been interviewed by a couple of tiny local papers, and I nearly swallowed my own tongue - I'd probably have a nervous breakdown on national TV!

Michelle would be a good choice. She has already appeared last July on a San Francisco ABC station's magazine show "View from the Bay" demo-ing fitness and fun through belly dance. Great presentation!

Oh, I didn't intend to go against Bonny's recommendation of you! I'm sure they would want testimonials from several dancers and would pick out inspiring stories from the letters they receive. But as far as who would then be the official spokesperson on the show and would likely be asked to give something (DVD) to the audience - that's where my suggestion of dancers came from.

Originally Posted by laura 2

That's so sweet of you! {{{{hugs}}}} But as kiyaana mentioned, I think it would be more appropriate for someone on the national/international workshop circuit. I've been interviewed by a couple of tiny local papers, and I nearly swallowed my own tongue - I'd probably have a nervous breakdown on national TV!

Originally Posted by kiyaana

Oh, I didn't intend to go against Bonny's recommendation of you! I'm sure they would want testimonials from several dancers and would pick out inspiring stories from the letters they receive. But as far as who would then be the official spokesperson on the show and would likely be asked to give something (DVD) to the audience - that's where my suggestion of dancers came from.

Oh, I didn't take offense at all. I'd be more than happy to share my experiences, but the though of presenting myself as The Official Word on Belly Dance on the Oprah show scares the pants off of me!

emailed her ten years ago....they were not interested...pole dancing is more interesting

I'd love to see any of you go on - not taking anything away from the national or international stars, but a local dancer would hit home more when people see that you don't have to have national acclaim to bellydance or to be so glamorous because all of you are that already - excellent dancers and also very glamorous. But then again, big names do get bigger attention.

I e-mailed the Oprah show about a couple of years ago. I did not even have a reply. Was quite disappointed given the advantages of bellydance, what it does for the mind, body and soul.

I don't watch Oprah often, but I recall seeing an episode or clip a couple of years ago where Oprah and a friend took part in a belly dance class as part of a retreat or spa or something, I don't know.

I think that was when she and her friend Gail did their retreat/road trip....it was a weeklong series a year or two back, if I'm correct

Look, you know she'd pick someone like Dolphina anyway.

Ohhh, I *think* I remember this one-vaguely though. I want to say the only reason why I might remember it is because she was in Arizona-maybe even Tucson (I'm in Tucson-so it was of interest)-Is this right???? I never saw it though and would be curious to know who the teacher was. Is

Originally Posted by najla86

I think that was when she and her friend Gail did their retreat/road trip....it was a weeklong series a year or two back, if I'm correct

I wrote in about five or six years ago when Oprah made a statement, 'Don't know why anyone would want to belly dance any way.' It aggrivated me. There are a few who enjoy it & I disliked the negative statement from someone who had never tried it.

No response. I went from being a regular viewer to someone who watches when I can't think of anything else to do. I can always think of something else to do. Including watching cartoons.

Yes, she and Gail were doing a women's empowerment with a selected group of ladies at a retreat. Belly dancing was part of it.