Thread: Gay Scene Cabaret meets Middle Eastern Dance

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyaW4KE-c3s]YouTube - Raks Sharki stylised Baladi fusion to Lady Gaga[/ame]

So are you telling us that this guy is gay? He is not the first gay dancer I've seen; there are quite a few, which is not an issue. But this guy needs to get some pants that fit - you could see his crack!

Fotia... I think it's a self-assessment

A self assessment of his own dancing? What is the point here, his dance style or his sexuality? I liked his dancing but his costume doesn't fit.

Originally Posted by Fotia

A self assessment of his own dancing? What is the point here, his dance style or his sexuality? I liked his dancing but his costume doesn't fit.

lol! the pants rode down with the hip circle, i felt em slip, they actually have waist band but the hip belt slipped underneath band rather than sit on it.

i've been training weights and i've put five kilos, off muscle weight may i say, as i keep telling everyone at work when i went to get fitted for new work pants!

the issue is not my sexuality it is my dancing, if we shall call it an issue, the title reads gay SCENE cabaret meets ME dance, not mincing queen dancing to Gaga! possible other titles, one i used on OD.net, which can be of a more conservative leaning, was "its this sort of controversial tastelessness that gives BD a bad name" as I've seen a few threads on there of dancers clips or costume choices that aren't as traditional being called bellydance that brought on slurs.

for me its lighthearted fun, i like to sway in my learning from authentic baladi, to a more sharki styled baladi, to say something like this, being whatever mood i'm in and how i feel to express myself. i try to be careful in defining something as this or that. as on the forums, some seem to take offense, or be overtly sensitive, or assumingly waspish. not that it implies in this instance however.

It works well with Lady Gaga; you are right - it is definitely lighthearted fun!

I like it!

About gay middle eastern:our group even has rainbow "Pride"costumes from Eman Zaki that we used for the Stockholm Pride Festival.
And I did my first and only disco fusion to "You Made Me Feel Mighty Real"+"Super Freak"in flared pants+wings in a HBT club:D


OT:Have you ever given modeling a thought?You have such a cute face,and I bet you´re tall:)

Originally Posted by emma-bessa

I like it!

About gay middle eastern:our group even has rainbow "Pride"costumes from Eman Zaki that we used for the Stockholm Pride Festival.
And I did my first and only disco fusion to "You Made Me Feel Mighty Real"+"Super Freak"in flared pants+wings in a HBT club:D


OT:Have you ever given modeling a thought?You have such a cute face,and I bet you´re tall:)

half an inch minus six foot, never had any offers to model, i wouldn't think i was the right class of man for that sort of thing.

would you mind posting a link of your dance if you've a upload on youba tuba? perhaps on this thread while we are waving the rainbow flag?!

i'd like to do the more authentic bellydance on the hafla scene in London, and fusion on london gay scene, still in learning although i've been informally invited to a few hafla's, well two invitations, although i wan't to perform i want to take some more tuition and feel very ready. and at some point, somehow, get my tush on the gay scene in London.

How about just going to haflahs to see other people performing? No-one's going to invite you unless they know you and it's good to pay your dues to the community before you start using it.

Originally Posted by beafarhana

How about just going to haflahs to see other people performing? No-one's going to invite you unless they know you and it's good to pay your dues to the community before you start using it.

someones on form today, really Bea! all be it unecessarily!

...to put the record straight, and recast the dispersion, i've been going to a hafla and watching performances and paying my dues to the community, and tomorrow i shall be going to JUST BECAUSE and bringing my mother and best friend along too.

i was refering on getting onto the other scene, i've already been invited, but thankyou for the unwarranted remark. nor do i believe in idea of "using" the community, this seems rather an exploitive attitude to hold, moreso participating and interacting. but if thats stance you yourself hold its not my place to pass judgement. nor to attempt to castigate another for having an aspiration.

and further, to bring more clarity to your misapprehension of my post, i'm in no hurry to perform, it gives me pleasure to grow to be part of the community as i hope to continue to do, and i'd rather work with my teachers of the Egyptians styles and educate myself before stepping on a stage.

You're the coolest. Even though I'm a purist, I'm totally guilty of wanting to perform fusion to Lady Gaga

The fundamental axiom of marketing and/or "being seen" is "fish where the big fish are." Haflas are a great place to be seen by other dancers, but probably not the most targeted way to be seen by the gay community. Do you have any local LBGT meetup groups (online or in person) you can join? Any gay clubs that host special parties, theme nights or fundraisers? Start getting to know people, making friends and taking an interest in what they do, and they'll take an interest in you.

I love the idea of rainbow costumes, too! Did you see the great clip of the troupe that wears coordinating rainbow-colored cowgirl outfits and dances to the country-western song "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy?"

I really liked your performance...even though it was just for fun...if you are posting on line to be seen...work more on your expression on your face...I would love to see more cheeky or expressive looks from you...I'm sure you have it in you!

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

You're the coolest. Even though I'm a purist, I'm totally guilty of wanting to perform fusion to Lady Gaga

The fundamental axiom of marketing and/or "being seen" is "fish where the big fish are." Haflas are a great place to be seen by other dancers, but probably not the most targeted way to be seen by the gay community. Do you have any local LBGT meetup groups (online or in person) you can join? Any gay clubs that host special parties, theme nights or fundraisers? Start getting to know people, making friends and taking an interest in what they do, and they'll take an interest in you.

I love the idea of rainbow costumes, too! Did you see the great clip of the troupe that wears coordinating rainbow-colored cowgirl outfits and dances to the country-western song "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy?"

aaahhh gosh save a horse ride a cowboy! love it!

no i didn't, i wish i had, is it on here, if not please feel free to post on this thread if you'd like to.

i'd no intention of targeting the gay community at halfa's, not a very sensible avenue really. i'm not a complete and utter fool you know! time and place!

although i'd mentioned both in the same setence, the difference is quite clear to me, and i'd assumed it to be a given obvious what i was saying. but your the second party to misread me.

its been a pleasant process so far, getting to know hafla community, i've been going to Saqarah in London, theres hafla starting near me in St Albans, but its actually easier to get to and from Euston! real friendly eccletic community there. nice variety of styles and fusion, lovely hosts and receptive audience, i do get a bit excitable when the Egyptian style dancers come on! although you do come across the odd vitriolic snob, who can only scoff and sneer.

BTW thanks for the marketing advice, although i've my aspirations, right now i'm getting to know the nature of beast i.e. BD community, aswell as being a enthusiastic student of BD, i'm biding my time and getting to know and work with different teachers. i think your allowed to be both without being accused of wanting to use a community for your own motives, and quite honestly, that, is not motive. i've seen some students who aren't ready to perform but are too zealous, and my stomach butterflies for them.

Mikey- your post reads as "I've been invited to haflahs but I'm not going because I don't feel ready to perform yet". (I don't see why you consider posting all your YT videos as not performing.) Nothing you've ever posted indicated that you've been taking part in the exciting and vibrant dance community we have in London & its environs. This is the first you've mentioned of it. So yeah, that was why I posted.

I hope you have a great time at the JB show, it's such a good cause. Are you doing any of Sara's workshops?

Originally Posted by yeli

I really liked your performance...even though it was just for fun...if you are posting on line to be seen...work more on your expression on your face...I would love to see more cheeky or expressive looks from you...I'm sure you have it in you!

not feeling insecure or unconfident about posting myself, doesn't automatically imply the precise opposite. its not a case of either or.

may camera's face recognition is a bit ca ca you know, i was dancing to my dear darling friend and we were both grinning away.

thanks for the compliment.

Originally Posted by beafarhana

Mikey- your post reads as "I've been invited to haflahs because I don't feel ready to perform yet". (I don't see why you consider posting all your YT videos as not performing.) Nothing you've ever posted indicated that you've been taking part in the exciting and vibrant dance community we have in London & its environs. This is the first you've mentioned of it. So yeah, that was why I posted.

I hope you have a great time at the JB show, it's such a good cause. Are you doing any of Sara's workshops?

alas the workshops were booked up when i booked tickets, although i'm learning Egyptian, I got chatting to Ozgen on FB and he told me he is doing a workshop at Expression studio in Kentish town, so before JB i'll going to his workshop.

I don't know Bea, mmm, you know i don't really see my YT as performing at all, when it comes to stage at a hafla, thats performing, although informally invited, they're booked up till July anyway, its nice to know the opportunity is there, but although one may want and feel there are ready to perform, going to Saqarah, and seeing students who think they are ready however aren't has taught me to abit wiser and cautious and whats more, the more i learn and see, i realise the less i know.

so i'm saving myself to work with some good teachers, and take my time, and meanwhile get to know the community and make friends hopefully.

Ditto what yeli said. Nice!

*sigh* your vid makes me miss my friend Christian.

Originally Posted by kemintiri

Ditto what yeli said. Nice!

*sigh* your vid makes me miss my friend Christian.

sweet of you, thanks!

You are a very talented dancer. Your next mission is to explain to the fag hag that the Middle Eastern music is needed to make it belly dance. You clearly described it as "fusion" - which is correct - but does your friend realize that nothing to Lady Gaga can actually be straight belly dance? It isn't "more modern" but rather a different dance style (dancing to Arabic pop would have been modern belly dance rather than fusion)

Originally Posted by ababalond

YouTube - Raks Sharki stylised Baladi fusion to Lady Gaga

I love lady gaga.... she's top.

I don't like it. I can understand the context of the video where your friend wants you to dance to lady Gaga and your just having fun. I think we've all at some point in time danced to an non ME tune just for pure sensual pleasure.

However, with your costume, your moves, your choice of music you are crossing the line! It didn't become a belly dance performance, not even a fusion performance. It screamed, get a room...!

You have some raw talent but from what I've seen of your videos, you have a lot of learning to do yet. Sorry to be so harsh, but I've spent decades fighting women doing exactly the same type of performance then wondering why they aren't treated with respect. I certainly won't tolerate a male doing the same thing!

Giving you the same advice I'd give anyone. Stand in front of a mirror and check your costume from the front, sides and back.

As these lace pants are see thru how about wearing something other than a Jock strap under them or at least a belt that actually covers your behind. We don't need to see your bits when you dance.

Originally Posted by norma

I don't like it. I can understand the context of the video where your friend wants you to dance to lady Gaga and your just having fun. I think we've all at some point in time danced to an non ME tune just for pure sensual pleasure.

However, with your costume, your moves, your choice of music you are crossing the line! It didn't become a belly dance performance, not even a fusion performance. It screamed, get a room...!

You have some raw talent but from what I've seen of your videos, you have a lot of learning to do yet. Sorry to be so harsh, but I've spent decades fighting women doing exactly the same type of performance then wondering why they aren't treated with respect. I certainly won't tolerate a male doing the same thing!

i completely see where you are coming from, and believe or not, i do sympathise and respect your view.

the whole thing was actually a push at the snobbery that one can come across, that i've coming across posting more serious uploads of my youtube video journal. the dance was purposefully tongue in cheek and with humour.

i don't think at one point i'd given the impression that i feel i don't have alot to learn yet, and i'm making a point of working with good teachers.

If I saw someone dancing like this at my local gay club I think I would pee myself with delight and then proceed to put him in a box and take him home with me.

I do however have a problem with the buttcrack and jock strap. If you were a stripper it would be ok but for this I just don't need to see all that.

but seriously, my local gay boys can't dance. its very disappointing.

you know the old saying 'you can't please all the people all the time.' i say dance for yourself.

Anyone in the Philadelphia area who knows Omar, knows that he used to wear MESH pants like this. Yes, you can tell his religion and all that b/c they were nice and tight but no one seemed to have a problem with it (we're talking early 70s) and he is just as respected and revered now; albeit a tad more modestly costumed these days but loved nevertheless.

We have a male dancer here in LA named Mas. His target audience is the Gay community. I have no problem with that. The only problem I have is when he dances in a highly provocative manner which breaks most of the decency rules ever laid down by any belly dance teacher in front of GP audiences.

Mike - Not saying that this is what you are doing. There is definitely an audience for for that. I do understand that you meant this video to be taken very tongue in cheek, which is fine, as long as you also understand the lines.

Oh, and I also was very distracted by the visible jock strap. But I have also been known to tell Vegas showgirls to put full butt underwear on.

{{{HUGS}}}

A few technical things which might help for the future (and I realize you weren't asking):

Watch your hands and arms. Your hands tend to be either very busy or they are a little limp. Make sure your arms have a nice shape to them at all times.

It took me a few mins to figure out where your audience was. With your camera in the off stage position, it looked like you were dancing to the side of the room. Film from the audiences POV.

I watched this a second time with the sound off. You have a solid basic technique going on. My suggestion now is to work on accents. I am sure that, even dancing to Lady Gaga, you can find places to use them. This will give more texture and depth to your piece.

Ignore if you'd like. . .

{{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by ababalond

i completely see where you are coming from, and believe or not, i do sympathise and respect your view.

the whole thing was actually a push at the snobbery that one can come across, that i've coming across posting more serious uploads of my youtube video journal. the dance was purposefully tongue in cheek and with humour.

i don't think at one point i'd given the impression that i feel i don't have alot to learn yet, and i'm making a point of working with good teachers.

It takes a whooole lot of skill and very sharp technique to be able to do "tongue-in-cheek" dance satire well. It is a very difficult task, and even when done well (so that it clearly, smoothly reads as what it is) it is still hard to balance the line between having fun within the dance community vs mocking the dance.

While you are becoming more a part of your local and the on-line scene It might be wise to keep your on-line video/community introductions away from the humor for a while as you ease your way into the community. I don't mean not being playful, but avoiding satire and mentally thought out jokes and reserving them for dancer halfas appropriate to such things. It doesn't make for the best first impression, as it is easily misunderstood as mockery or ignorance.

Men doing any part of the dance often get a lot of on-line encouragement (inversely proportionate to the GP censure they get) , but they also have to really prove themselves in order to be taken really seriously and not viewed as cute token guys. Going to the dance satire first isn't going to help down the road.

Love it! Love it! Love it!!!