Thread: So is belly dancing just plain boring?

Originally Posted by _Maeva_

You know, I read this thread and it's making me happy.

I've only been dancing for like, what, 3 years... but I'm already worried I should be doing more... more pops & locks, but shimmies, all the time, more layers, more this, more that...

But, from your answer, it seems like the movements aren't actually what matters the most (well, of course they're important, but I don't have to be doing the most complicated things, all the time).

Anyways, it just makes me want to get back to the essence of Middle Eastern dance and forget about all the pop, locks and crazy movements taken from every other dance in the world.

Not sure if that makes sense, but to me, it does.

It reminds me of the thread "less is more". Sometimes, complicated is boring, because the dancer shows no soul... Movements are just this, movements.

Thanks for this beautiful thread. Maybe some people find it depressing (bellydance, boring?!); not me :)

Well, I'm glad if this thread inspires you to be real and true. That doesn't mean lazy but just real and true and feel the music and the moves in your soul. Eventually, the body will follow.

i'm glad i'm reading this because---i teach improv and zills, i dance well to live music cause i have lots of experience w/ it. I'm learning some Egyptian now (for the past 5 years) but before i was Turkish. so what i get from most of this is----be myself in how i respond to music, do zills if i can do them to the music i'm dancing to, study technique from good teachers but make the steps my own when i do them. Keep the passion of the Turkish and some technique from the Egyptian. Try to be original in performance, staging and costume. The contest i won quite a few years ago has finals to live music that you don't hear till you go on the stage--done w/ zills, this is the Universal category of the Bellydancer of the Universe. The dancers that have been competing in this category for the last few years are amazing, so glad they weren't there the year i was. Norma----i think you would like that part of the contest. The music for the finals is mostly Turkish, w/ 6/8 and 9/8 also.

Originally Posted by yameyameyame

Without getting into the debate of old school vs. new school, where belly dance is heading, etc, etc, I will say that I think belly dance IS boring to most of the general public, as is dance in general.

Between this and the dwindling class threads, I'm feeling in a funk.

No one wants to learn it. No one wants to watch it.

I know. A great dancer dances for herself not other people...

Originally Posted by ssipes

Between this and the dwindling class threads, I'm feeling in a funk.

No one wants to learn it. No one wants to watch it.

I know. A great dancer dances for herself not other people...

Oh BIG HUGS. It will get better, things go in cycles.

Hang in there!

PS you can always come see me.

I can kvetch better than anybody in the universe. It puts things into perspective. Things are so bad they are funny.

Plus, even my cat has angst...l;,..l;,..l;,

My problem is that Belly Dance is now morphing so much as to NOT be recognizable as Belly Dance..Sorry if this offends pop,hop, lock, Michael Jackson wannabes. But when I remind these dancers, that they are doing jazz or modern dance theatre and NOT belly dance, (tee shirts, shreded jazz pants, biker jewelry); They respond by going for my throat! Like what the hades do I know?
Well, I have studied this dance for 30 years and when I was in Cairo, Nagwa Fouad seemed happy with what I was doing.
(Not bragging ladies, it was a part of my dancers life, that is all).

Originally Posted by MOLARMAMA

Well, I have studied this dance for 30 years and when I was in Cairo, Nagwa Fouad seemed happy with what I was doing.
(Not bragging ladies, it was a part of my dancers life, that is all).

You are now officially required to post cool and fun stories about your adventures. ..g.:

Originally Posted by ssipes

Between this and the dwindling class threads, I'm feeling in a funk.

No one wants to learn it. No one wants to watch it.

I know. A great dancer dances for herself not other people...

Oh, cheer up! You've got Sarah Saeeda this weekend!! :)

Bellydance should take a hint from ballet. Most adults don't REALLY want to see ballet. They don't get it. And no little kid REALLY wants to be in a structured ballet class. But we hook 'em with the tutus and fairy princess costumes. Grab a 4-year-old and give her a tutu and a crown and she's motivated to spend the next 8 years of her life working towards the next goal -- the pointe shoe. By then, the family adults are contractually obligated to attend all the performances.

We need to pass out finger cymbals and veils to preteens. Get 'em hooked early. Start a Bling for Babies movement, and in 15 years, classes will be packed :)

Originally Posted by aziyade

Oh, cheer up! You've got Sarah Saeeda this weekend!! :)

Bellydance should take a hint from ballet. Most adults don't REALLY want to see ballet. They don't get it. And no little kid REALLY wants to be in a structured ballet class. But we hook 'em with the tutus and fairy princess costumes. Grab a 4-year-old and give her a tutu and a crown and she's motivated to spend the next 8 years of her life working towards the next goal -- the pointe shoe. By then, the family adults are contractually obligated to attend all the performances.

We need to pass out finger cymbals and veils to preteens. Get 'em hooked early. Start a Bling for Babies movement, and in 15 years, classes will be packed :)

I second this!!!! Play the princess Jasmine card. Little girls eat that stuff up!

Originally Posted by Linnyg

I second this!!!! Play the princess Jasmine card. Little girls eat that stuff up!

..l;,..l;,..l;,..l;,

Originally Posted by MOLARMAMA

My problem is that Belly Dance is now morphing so much as to NOT be recognizable as Belly Dance..Sorry if this offends pop,hop, lock, Michael Jackson wannabes. But when I remind these dancers, that they are doing jazz or modern dance theatre and NOT belly dance, (tee shirts, shreded jazz pants, biker jewelry); They respond by going for my throat! Like what the hades do I know?
Well, I have studied this dance for 30 years and when I was in Cairo, Nagwa Fouad seemed happy with what I was doing.
(Not bragging ladies, it was a part of my dancers life, that is all).

That's happened to me too. I always say I've forgotten more things in my 30 years of dancing then you've learned in your 20 years on the planet, LOL!

I have been thinking about this thread as of late. My next performance is at the end of October in Denver and I am going to try out the less is more theory for this one (practicing the hell out of it of course for the next month). It eases my mind thinking that I won't have to be constantly thinking "what combo next?" and instead, do what I feel next instead.

Originally Posted by aziyade

Oh, cheer up! You've got Sarah Saeeda this weekend!! :)

Are you going to be there??

Originally Posted by ssipes

Are you going to be there??

Wouldn't miss it!!!!! I already had to miss 2 of her workshops because my family members were sick. Miss Scarlet and I are driving over Sat. morning. (oi!)

I am SOOOOOOOOOO wanting to do her JtE workshops too. I don't suppose you'd want to sponsor? :)

It gets boring REAL quick for those who don't love (or at least "get") the music - no matter how beautiful the dancer. Period, the end.

And for those of us who DO love the music, we still need some inspiration once in awhile. Like live musicians who aren't bored out of their gourds, or at least still play with soul, and don't act disgusted and read dancers the riot act if said dancers haven't filled the house with friends & relatives (not that I have experienced this, lol). Or workshops with teachers like Morocco of NYC who always go the extra mile to find at least one great piece of music to inspire.

-Devora

Yeah I totally agree with you. Morocco, "Rocky", is a "cool" gracious lady and a real gem to our business. Excellent dancer too(naturally) with a fantastic sense of humor.

Dear Devora:
My physician, Robin, wanted me to teach her how to belly dance or "let's have fun and take classes together". I stated that would be fun, but if the music is NOT here I pointed to my heart, then you will forget it. I told her the music has to speak to your soul.

i found a few places where she could get lessons for free as we are both over 55 (HA! life is cruel). She has yet to try , despite the fact that this dance is a great stress relief and low impact exercise, and most importantly FUN! I will keep trying
as my mom said many times try it once at least---it can't hurt!

To Devora:

Where is it written that the musicians expect the dancer to bring in ALL OF THE PAYING CUSTOMERS? Is that in some show biz holy text? Why can they not do the same intead of just sit there and play what they want, ( now I am not speaking for every musician).

To Devora:

Where is it written that the musicians expect the dancer to bring in ALL OF THE PAYING CUSTOMERS? Is that in some show biz holy text? Why can they not do the same intead of just sit there and play what they want, ( now I am not speaking for every musician).http://www.bhuz.com/forum/images/smi...smilies/no.gif

Dear Ladies How Does One Get The Smilet fave logos to post on your site? I am New To computers, prior to that all I had was a
slide ruler.

[QUOTE=MOLARMAMA;751169]Dear Ladies How Does One Get The Smilet face logos to post on your site? I am New To computers, prior to that all I had was a
slide ruler. Any Ideas Just Scroll on to the logo as in e-mail?http://www.bhuz.com/forum/images/smilies/wideeyed.gif

Originally Posted by MOLARMAMA

Dear Ladies How Does One Get The Smilet fave logos to post on your site? I am New To computers, prior to that all I had was a
slide ruler.

If you use the quote function then there will be a list of them next to the text box and a "more" button for, well, more.

If you just use the quick reply on the bottom of the page, click "go advanced" and you will get the same page with the smilies. oh yea, just click on the one you want and it will show up in your post.

Soooo, who wants to start the "Dance like nobodies watching video thread"?

We've had the "Bhuz Project" thread where dancers focus on certain songs for a month and post the resulting video before.

I was thinking about my own personal thoughts about why I wasn't even trying that on stage with an audience and it boils down to cowardice. It takes a lot of courage to even think about trying it. Maybe a video thread where you post videos of yourself, dancing for yourself, for other dancers to see will muster up that courage? After all, It's easier without a bunch of faces looking at you while your doing it, so maybe posting the video after the deed is done will help?

Is it worth a shot? Or is it just silly?

Also regarding stage energy, I think a lot of dancers dance "at" the audience and not "with" them, witch excludes the audience from from the feelings of the dancer.

Originally Posted by MOLARMAMA

To Devora:
Where is it written that the musicians expect the dancer to bring in ALL OF THE PAYING CUSTOMERS? Is that in some show biz holy text?

Hi MolarMama, to answer your question, I was actually making a tongue-in-cheek joke because I HAVE personally experienced this, where a regular gig was booked at a bar/restaurant in the boonies for mostly student dancers, and after a few weeks of skimpy attendance by small numbers of friends and family, the leader of the band sat all the dancers down before our show and read us the riot act because he was tired of coming and playing for such a small audience (plus, the bar wasn't thrilled with the skimpy alcohol sales as they'd been told a "show" would mean a large increase in business).

Needless to say, it was awkward performing that evening after being chastised, plus the band leader's attitude seemed to manifest itself among the other musicians as well, and the gig didn't last very long after that . . . I shouldn't have mentioned it here since it has nothing to do with the thread topic, except that it is sometimes difficult to get people to come see bellydance.

I did not mean to say this was a common thing and I am in no way down on musicians, though I figure there's nothing new, so if I had this experience, surely someone else out there has also.

I will say also that among my friends (all of whom know about my bellydance habit), none of them express any interest - at first I thought at least my close friends would have questions about it, or want to take a class or come see and support me, at least out of curiosity (about the costume if nothing else), but no.

-Devora

Originally Posted by Devora

Hi MolarMama, to answer your question, I was actually making a tongue-in-cheek joke because I HAVE personally experienced this, where a regular gig was booked at a bar/restaurant in the boonies for mostly student dancers, and after a few weeks of skimpy attendance by small numbers of friends and family, the leader of the band sat all the dancers down before our show and read us the riot act because he was tired of coming and playing for such a small audience (plus, the bar wasn't thrilled with the skimpy alcohol sales as they'd been told a "show" would mean a large increase in business).

Needless to say, it was awkward performing that evening after being chastised, plus the band leader's attitude seemed to manifest itself among the other musicians as well, and the gig didn't last very long after that . . . I shouldn't have mentioned it here since it has nothing to do with the thread topic, except that it is sometimes difficult to get people to come see bellydance.

I did not mean to say this was a common thing and I am in no way down on musicians, though I figure there's nothing new, so if I had this experience, surely someone else out there has also.

I will say also that among my friends (all of whom know about my bellydance habit), none of them express any interest - at first I thought at least my close friends would have questions about it, or want to take a class or come see and support me, at least out of curiosity (about the costume if nothing else), but no.

-Devora

I've experienced the same thing. Actually, in all the years I"ve been dancing, I can probably count on both hands people who weren't connected to the biz who actually came to see a show. They just plain aren't interested.

As far as the musician thing, once upon a time, in a land and time far far away, the house dancer, (translation: the dancer who had a long standing contract with a nightclub) did develop a following. People used to come to see certain dancers and certain singers. Dancers who didn't develop a following weren't in as high of demand.

Patrons used to spend a lot of money on dancers they liked. Money showers, bottles of champagne, flowers, etc.

It's a different world out there now.

Originally Posted by Devora

I will say also that among my friends (all of whom know about my bellydance habit), none of them express any interest - at first I thought at least my close friends would have questions about it, or want to take a class or come see and support me, at least out of curiosity (about the costume if nothing else), but no.

I've had the same experience.

Dear Ladies:
I have experienced the same problem also. Especially since my associates were Jewish and had a problem with the Turkish/Arabic music; The majority of the ladies in our amateur troup were Jewish and planned a very nice number to Klezmer music. Did not matter no one from the office showed up.. The affair was well done tastefully in a very good restaurant. No one cared to show?