Thread: Tito Seif video

Current Magazine has produced a short video clip about Tito, which features an interview with him about his dancing and his place in raqs as a man (plus some great footage of his show and of Cairo).

Current Magazine's direct link.

You tube link:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8px-ab5G-uM]YouTube - VC2: Male Belly Dancer[/ame]

As is too often the case the narrator is a bit annoying, but this clip still totally worth a watch. :)

Awesome! I especially love him dancing in the car. What a worry he must have been in his taxi driver days!

Tito is, however, a big liar about not using "female" moves. He dances exactly like a girl, it's his male body and his personality that makes it masculine.

i agree - the only female moves that I can think of that tito wouldn't do are ones that I wouldn't want to see anyone do!!!

PS If you can't get the Youtube vid as it is not available outside US, the other link shows the whole thing anyway

Thanks so much for posting! Very interesting.

Wonderful clip! He's so passionate about what he does...very inspiring!!!

Thank you so much for posting this clip - I loved it!

my only complaint is it was too short! I just adore him!!

Originally Posted by zumarrad

Awesome! I especially love him dancing in the car. What a worry he must have been in his taxi driver days!

Tito is, however, a big liar about not using "female" moves. He dances exactly like a girl, it's his male body and his personality that makes it masculine.

Totally agree! About the "female" moves - of course he dances exactly the same as women with his personality making it masculine. The moves are the same for both men and women - 'nuff said!

P.S. there's nothing quite like being in Cairo traffic in a taxi with a dancing, singing, gesturing driver!!!! Been there, experienced that! ..l;,.w.:

Thanks Monica for posting and putting in the video. I always enjoy Tito. I will say that I think he was "posturing" a bit for the Egyptian video as the moves he does are pretty much the same as a female Raks Sharki dancer does only excecuted on a male body. Also, I have a number of clips of him where he is not in galabaya but is shirtless with a vest and pants.
More western look or BD look I think.
We have to remember that he has actually been a performing and public artist for a number of years before he started coming to the states. He may seem like an "overnite success" here but he has been working alot of years for the recognition he has now.

Does anyone know how old he is?

That man is super HOT! (squeals)

Ok, back to the dance part....

Originally Posted by zumarrad

Tito is, however, a big liar about not using "female" moves. He dances exactly like a girl, it's his male body and his personality that makes it masculine.

I love Tito! I think this denial comes from his own need to assert his masculinity. There is a part of him that clearly struggles. I can imagine that he's had to explain himself a lot.

I also noticed the Koran on his right hand right away(very symbolic) He even mentioned it later in the clip.

His protestations that his dancing is not an imitation of women were a bit much. He does feminine moves.

I love Tito. I got to meet him last September. I got the same masculine/feminine speak.

I have said this before, men dancing, using feminine moves in public view(especially for gain) is new. It is still considered a sign on homosexuality, unfortunately.


I do second Angelina. He is hot!

Originally Posted by zumarrad

Tito is, however, a big liar about not using "female" moves. He dances exactly like a girl, it's his male body and his personality that makes it masculine.

Which is as it should be!

I dont think he struggles with himself to assert his masuline side, I think he struggles to find a balance within the Arabic/Egyptian society as far as how far he can push the traditional envelope with things not being too fem.
Please know that there are not the same freedoms or acceptances that we have in the west.
I have met him a few times, he is pretty confident in himself. He isnt a "Troubled Soul"

I think he struggles to find a balance within the Arabic/Egyptian society as far as how far he can push the traditional envelope with things not being too fem.

I also suspect this, having never met the guy. I think his deliberate choice of "traditional" mens' clothing would be part of this. Does he wear his more revealing costumes at home or only when he's travelling, I wonder? To me his stage clothes say "I am a traditional Egyptian man, look, I'm doing traditional Egyptian things!" especially when coupled with the stick performances.

It's kind of ironic to me because in my experience, things that would be considered quite effeminate in my neck of the woods don't even seem to register as "femmy" for men from Middle Eastern/Persian/etc countries. I think I've written before about my friend's Afghan ex-husband using her floral perfume oils and appropriating her lovely Chinese silk embroidered robe for a dressing gown - which just seemed to make him seem more masculine than before because he didn't CARE that it had flowers on it. Young Kiwi guys are more interested in their appearance these days, but they've got nothing on the little Arab boys running round town. Men wearing jewellery is still a bit louche here.

Great clip! Thanks for sharing! For the very first time, I had the opportunity to participate in his workshop last year. I had a blast as I was trying to execute some of his moves - totally kicked my butt!! At any rate, it was all good fun!

Originally Posted by patrisha

I dont think he struggles with himself to assert his masuline side, I think he struggles to find a balance within the Arabic/Egyptian society as far as how far he can push the traditional envelope with things not being too fem.
Please know that there are not the same freedoms or acceptances that we have in the west.
I have met him a few times, he is pretty confident in himself. He isnt a "Troubled Soul"

That is what I meant by what I said. I know he is not troubled or in angst about his art. He does struggle with people who are against male professional dancers. Clubs still cannot hire male dancers to dance in night clubs in Egypt.

When we met, he seemed hesitant with me at 1st. Almost as if he expected the Egyptian girl to be judgmental of his dancing. I quickly dispelled that notion. I was so in awe of his skill! He relaxed and was very friendly after that. He is sweet and humble man. There is a discussion going on OD re this exact clip.It's interesting to read the many diff opinions.

Good lord, Orientaldancer is like the Gaza Strip!

Originally Posted by zumarrad

Good lord, Orientaldancer is like the Gaza Strip!

No kidding...I have only ever lurked over there because there are a couple of, shall we say, dominant personalities who seem to turn most threads into a duel between them. I don't think Jimmy Carter could negotiate his way through that mess.

Sorry Princess, I didnt see where you wrote the "Not in angst" part. I think we can all agree the man has alot of talent and its always good to see him.
I am a fan!

Aaaah, thats my uncle :=)

Originally Posted by patrisha

Sorry Princess, I didnt see where you wrote the "Not in angst" part. I think we can all agree the man has alot of talent and its always good to see him.
I am a fan!

Definitely!..g.:

Tito is by far my fav. When I took a few workshops with him last September during Ramadan, the man had more energy than everyone in the room combined! This was a great clip. I too wish that it was longer. I would love to know more about him.

T