Thread: The Big Lie?

Originally Posted by smuse33

So if you're not thin you are considered a "recreational" belly dancer even for women who have been doing it for years and can perform beautifully? Very discouraging indeed. In that case, overweight women might as well just drop out or be considered novices. Depressing.

Luckily, I never planned to be a pro dancer. I do, however, plan to do other things in the future like benefit shows, festivals and haflas which I would be content with.

To me, the term "recreational" merely means "doesn't seek paid gigs" and is NOT a statement on the person's skill level. A "recreational" dancer can certainly be capable of performing with a professional level of skill even if she doesn't seek restaurant gigs and birthday party gigs. What's so depressing about that?

Also, remember that there are some dancers who might be young and thin, but prefer to NOT take a professional path. For example, they may have highly-paid day jobs that they are satisfied with, and prefer to use their evenings for family time rather than taking on a second job as a dancer.

Originally Posted by smuse33

So if you're not thin you are considered a "recreational" belly dancer even for women who have been doing it for years and can perform beautifully? Very discouraging indeed. In that case, overweight women might as well just drop out or be considered novices. Depressing.

I think you're missing the point that many of us here disagree with the entertainment industry "body standards" and support quality dance in every variety of age, color and size.
A "novice" is someone who is "new". Period. Every single new student in any subject is a novice. Then some of us fall in love and grow with the dance. ..g.:
Novice however is quite different from the term "hobbyist" (or some say "recreational"). There are many AMAZING dancers who choose not to be professional (have dance as their profession or business) but who certainly provide professional *quality* dance entertainment/knowledge etc. The terms are in no way insults and not equivalent to novice.

Okay. Just checking because I'm as you know, a scared baby dancer.

I'm just thankful after reading this that I have never even wanted to be on the path to being a professional. I wear size 12 pants, have an overbite and one vein-y leg that is usually swollen. I would have no hope in a professional circuit but say, 10-15 years down the road I still want to be taken seriously as a dancer and be able to perform on stages though not professionally. I hadn't read all the posts yet since it's so long, but it was sounding for awhile like the people who want to stick with it but not be pro might as well be considered lower level dancers forever, even as they get incredibly good.

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

In a photograph, we put the taller and larger people in the back so that the smaller and or shorter people can be seen. We can't ignore the fact that if someone is smaller, they will not be seen behind someone who is larger.
If I were in a troupe with dancers the size of Carrera and Azhia- I would EXPECT to be behind them because otherwise they would not be seen and I would want them to have that chance.

BUT- I believe choreography for troupes should be set so that everyone has a chance to shine, everyone feels they are "seen" and everyone get's their special moment as well as the feeling of being a special part of the team.
This however means choreography gets more complex with shifting formations.

I should have said older not bigger. Not all were large ladies. It seemed this teacher always put her "commercial " looking dancers on the front of what were very restrictive choreos.
However even larger people should have the chance to be prominant (if they wish)surely. Yes as you say you design your choreography so that this can happen. Sadly some people who teach ( and that might include me) are nt the best choreographers in the world. Although I believe I am getting there!
When it comes to body shapes, you do have to mix and match and think about how that pans out visually.

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

Thunder Thighs was one of my brother's favorite names for me. That and Frizz (thank goodness for Curly Girl!).

I think this is the same goal as many professionals. We all love it, love to learn more and love to dedicate time, energy (and $) to it in order to give it our best. Aiming to go professional or not; everyone who desires to learn- should have the opportunity to do so. There are tons of performance opportunities (in this area anyway) that do not have the "gp marketability requirements" of regular venue/party work- and from what I see (and encourage), all are welcome. ..g.:

I totally agree in this area I have been very welcomed even though I am a novice dancer. I have been welcomed and encouraged. I love the bellydance community and the women in it.

Locally, Miasia really is a wonderful example of this. Have you seen her Jill? I consider her an absolutely beautiful top notch professional dancer who is a joy to watch and who has excellent knowledge. For these reasons alone I think an inspiration for anyone. On top of that however, she breaks all the barriers of the challenges mentioned on this thread- size, color and hair texture. She's not working the "typical" venues- but she has found an audience/market and she works.

I have and she is an inspiration to any dancer.

However, I can say I have received less support from family and outside the bellydance community friends. They do not take me seriously. I am curvy girl so that means to them I cannot possibly be a dancer or move gracefully. Well I guess we just have to prove them wrong.

Originally Posted by ssipes

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And by the way, even for professional belly dancing, the acceptable body parameters are way broader (no pun intended) than those of ballet.

This is a very important point! i'm 1.7 m and weigh 52 kg. You'd think that's an ideal body type for ballet right? wrong! during practice i was regularly reminded that:

my feet weren't arched enough, my upper body height was not the ideal proportion,
arms were too long, and to make matters worse, i had 'bow legs' (arched tibia). But that was ok i was told, because my teacher also 'suffered' from bow legs. it just meant i would have to lengthen a little harder :)

Those were all valid point. You're born with a prima ballerina's body or you're not! and if you're not making it to the top is that much more impossible