Thread: Things We Love About The Dance - And - Our Fellow Dancers!

This was inspired by the pet peeve thread(s).

Well, it's easy to ***** and nitpick and complain.

I'd like to start a positive thread.

OK, here's what I love about the dance:

It's challenging, beautiful, artistic and it engages the body, mind and soul. One never learns all there is to know and we can keep learning and growing and evolving with time, even as we age we may lose some physical ability and beauty - or a LOT of physical ability and beauty - and still keep improving as dancers and artists.

The dance gives us an opportunity to be creative on so many levels. We learn music from the inside out. We can learn so much music - the regions and timelines are huge - we don't have to go beyond traditional music to be totally engaged in a creative art. But, there is also a lot of great new music out there and while I love the traditional stuff and do worry about the ability of new forms to disappear the old, it would be a shame to ignore the wonderful modern stuff of high quality - there is a lot of "world music" out there that just cries out to the dancer.

Costuming - of course we should learn to make our own! That's part of the joy of being a dancer! Plus, it will fit! and - as you bead or stitch you think. You can listen to music, talk to your friends, meditate.

I was talking to a friend the other day about our culture which has started to move so damn fast. The dance slows time down, making a costume slows it down. Take the time to breathe, to think, to make, to create. Take time to sit and just play zills for fun, play your drum, your riq.

The dance gives us a chance to connect to people. Instead of hating on our fellow dancers, regard them in all their beauty and individuality. Let their goodness inspire you - we all have something to share.

Pet Peeve threads have value but they are also negative.

There's so much negativity in the world as it is.

The dance is about community. When we dance we build a community, we take a piece of music and make it visible to people, we open our hearts to the people in the audience and they respond and open to us and to each other.

We learn from our students, they teach us as we teach them.

If we are busy being negative about this and that - we don't see what's beautiful.

So - what do you love about the dance and your fellow dancers? Tell us!

Originally Posted by Elibelinde

This was inspired by the pet peeve thread(s).

Well, it's easy to ***** and nitpick and complain.

I'd like to start a positive thread.

OK, here's what I love about the dance:

It's challenging, beautiful, artistic and it engages the body, mind and soul. One never learns all there is to know and we can keep learning and growing and evolving with time, even as we age we may lose some physical ability and beauty - or a LOT of physical ability and beauty - and still keep improving as dancers and artists.

The dance gives us an opportunity to be creative on so many levels. We learn music from the inside out. We can learn so much music - the regions and timelines are huge - we don't have to go beyond traditional music to be totally engaged in a creative art. But, there is also a lot of great new music out there and while I love the traditional stuff and do worry about the ability of new forms to disappear the old, it would be a shame to ignore the wonderful modern stuff of high quality - there is a lot of "world music" out there that just cries out to the dancer.

Costuming - of course we should learn to make our own! That's part of the joy of being a dancer! Plus, it will fit! and - as you bead or stitch you think. You can listen to music, talk to your friends, meditate.

I was talking to a friend the other day about our culture which has started to move so damn fast. The dance slows time down, making a costume slows it down. Take the time to breathe, to think, to make, to create. Take time to sit and just play zills for fun, play your drum, your riq.

The dance gives us a chance to connect to people. Instead of hating on our fellow dancers, regard them in all their beauty and individuality. Let their goodness inspire you - we all have something to share.

Pet Peeve threads have value but they are also negative.

There's so much negativity in the world as it is.

The dance is about community. When we dance we build a community, we take a piece of music and make it visible to people, we open our hearts to the people in the audience and they respond and open to us and to each other.

We learn from our students, they teach us as we teach them.

If we are busy being negative about this and that - we don't see what's beautiful.

So - what do you love about the dance and your fellow dancers? Tell us!

u go girl !!!! amen !

Originally Posted by Elibelinde

This was inspired by the pet peeve thread(s).

Well, it's easy to ***** and nitpick and complain.

I'd like to start a positive thread.

OK, here's what I love about the dance:

It's challenging, beautiful, artistic and it engages the body, mind and soul. One never learns all there is to know and we can keep learning and growing and evolving with time, even as we age we may lose some physical ability and beauty - or a LOT of physical ability and beauty - and still keep improving as dancers and artists.

The dance gives us an opportunity to be creative on so many levels. We learn music from the inside out. We can learn so much music - the regions and timelines are huge - we don't have to go beyond traditional music to be totally engaged in a creative art. But, there is also a lot of great new music out there and while I love the traditional stuff and do worry about the ability of new forms to disappear the old, it would be a shame to ignore the wonderful modern stuff of high quality - there is a lot of "world music" out there that just cries out to the dancer.

Costuming - of course we should learn to make our own! That's part of the joy of being a dancer! Plus, it will fit! and - as you bead or stitch you think. You can listen to music, talk to your friends, meditate.

I was talking to a friend the other day about our culture which has started to move so damn fast. The dance slows time down, making a costume slows it down. Take the time to breathe, to think, to make, to create. Take time to sit and just play zills for fun, play your drum, your riq.

The dance gives us a chance to connect to people. Instead of hating on our fellow dancers, regard them in all their beauty and individuality. Let their goodness inspire you - we all have something to share.

Pet Peeve threads have value but they are also negative.

There's so much negativity in the world as it is.

The dance is about community. When we dance we build a community, we take a piece of music and make it visible to people, we open our hearts to the people in the audience and they respond and open to us and to each other.

We learn from our students, they teach us as we teach them.

If we are busy being negative about this and that - we don't see what's beautiful.

So - what do you love about the dance and your fellow dancers? Tell us!

Amen sister! This dance has become so WESTERNIZED, and while I believe in freedom of expression, let's not forget where this dance originated from.

I love how the dance makes me feel. Whenever I'm stressed, worried, anxious, etc... I can stop everything and just dance. It makes me feel soooooo much better! :)

And dito on the costumes. I love wearing pretty sparklies, I love dancing in them, I love making them, I love looking at all the different ones on other dancers at haflas, in videos, and on threads.

I also love how I can learn so much, yet there is still more for me to explore within this one dance form.

Thanks guys!

You know what else - as dance forms go - belly dance works for a lot of people regardless of shape, size, and we can keep doing it as we get older.

I think it helps keep us feeling young too.

Excellent words Elibelinde! I love all of those things about the dance!

I love seeing the sparkle and excitement in a beginner dancer's eyes....young or old, large or small....it connects us all on the same level.

I also love the joy the dance brings to audience members, especially those of arabic origins, it feels like I'm giving a small piece of their home culture back to them and sharing it with them, reminding them of "home" and making them happy. :-)

(And of course I love sparklies too ;-)

Lol... the sparklies drag us in and the dance hooks us.

LOLZ. Rhinestones-R-Us.

This was actually a topic of some debate back in the day. There was the Beaded Costume faction vs The Coin Costume faction.

I was like, what the heck. It is all shiny, there is a problem here?

I love that as competetive as industries are, even creative ones (creative industry=oxymoron) we're overall supportive of eachother's endeavors. Love of the art form surpasses the drive to walk all over eachother to be successful. In fact, it's largely self supporting IMO, especially here in the West. The GP pays just a small percentage into it that the community itself does. As much as it's westernized it's not early as commercialized as it could be.

I love what the dance has done for my body and mind. It's reshaped my body from blocky and athletic to more feminine and curvy. It's a hard work out though it's easy on my bad joints and in fact has helped heal old injuries (especially in my back). It increases flexibility and coordination too (ever seen an off duty bellydancer in a nightclub? Unmistakable, lol!) I agree with Lesedi that dancing helps with stress and anxiety and it's a wonderful expression for excitement and joy. Zhagareet, anyone?

The music, the movement, the fringe. In that order.

I love everything! The good and the bad!

I love how I've made some truly wonderful close friends in the belly dance community.

I love how women and of course men in all stages in their dance whether they are beginner, intermediate, professional, STILL inspire me.

I love seeing beauty.

I love seeing the genuine love on dancers faces when they're truly feeling the music.

I love the looks in womens eyes when you bring them up to dance with you and they realize they can do it too!

I love the smile on a childs face when they are completely in awe of what you're doing.

I love the music!

I love how I can truly express each and every emotion through this dance. The joy, the sadness, the anger, the excitement and everything else just flows through my toes and finger tips... and of course bounces straight off of my hips!

I love how I can be a woman with other women. I am proud to be a woman and a belly dancer.

Originally Posted by Elibelinde

I was like, what the heck. It is all shiny, there is a problem here?

amen!

Originally Posted by LeonineLotus

I love seeing the genuine love on dancers faces when they're truly feeling the music.

I love the smile on a childs face when they are completely in awe of what you're doing.

I love how I can truly express each and every emotion through this dance. The joy, the sadness, the anger, the excitement and everything else just flows through my toes and finger tips... and of course bounces straight off of my hips!

I love how I can be a woman with other women. I am proud to be a woman and a belly dancer.

these. i love how, despite the need to hide away any hint of having emotions in our regular culture, it's sortta the point here.

i love seeing things click for my students and how during the first class i practically have to move their hips for them during improv-time, but by the end of 8 weeks they are at least moving and trying things, it shows them getting more comfortable with themselves and confident in their own voice, even if it's only at a subconscious level and that is very inspiring, the way it can sneak up on us and we don't notice it happening until someone says something. ^_^

i love the way it gives me control of my body, in a healthy way, and how over the years im seeing myself be more confident (that might be just as much things from my every-day life like finishing my masters tho, or a combination ^_^)

i love being aware of my hips and their shape and their power and my center of gravity.
i love tarab. these are why i picked "Farha"(joy) for my dance name, even if i did spell it wrong when i signed up for bhuz ^_^

i love how talking about certain things in this dance make me so happy that i start to cry, like the presentation i gave where every quote i used had me choking up, or the time i was telling a student not to rush herself and just talking about a Nourhan Sharif performance i saw made my voice crack.
=

(also, i'm inspired by the fact that our posts on this thread are WAY longer than the pet-peve thread ^_~)

ETA: i also love how our art is here one second and gone the next, it's a series of fleeting moments and it helps me to understand and be aware of the impermanence of life. it's unsettling, and sometimes saddening, but in a good way. ^_^

Great vibes :)

I love watching my students transform and grow as they discover more about themselves and how beautiful they can be. I love seeing that glow of light when they "get it" - whether it's a move, a rhythm, or an aspect of performing they hadn't realized before.

I love it when my fellow dancers are respectful and supportive and can see value in things that are different from what they do, even if it's not their thing.

I love the diversity of the cultures found within and the borders that are broken through this dance.

Elibelinde, I love what you said about slowing down, and how some practices of this dance really create that (maybe force it at first), like making a costume or hanging out in a drum circle playing nicely with others.

I love how this dance makes me grow. The improvisational, solo aspects of this dance mean that I HAVE to grow as an artist, because I can't hide behind technical proficiency, memorization skills, or just literally in the back of a group.

This dance also makes me grow in acceptance of others. I am a young dancer, but already becoming a BD dinosaur in that I'm committed to cultural accuracy, sensitivity, and artistic excellence, and I firmly believe in serving one's time (particularly before performing pro). However, I'm finally starting to learn the balance between a commitment to excellence and a loving support of fellow dancers at whatever stage they are at, even if they don't know what stage they're at or have the same commitments that I do.

I love how a physical activity is also an emotional activity, and how both push me to the edge of my being... even when growth as a result of dance diffuses over into other parts of my life. I know growth in other areas has greatly influenced my dancing, and with this dance I see feedback the other way too.

I love the culture. I love the music. I love being part of a physical memory.

Anybody else tearing up while writing here? * sniff *

Yes, I'm tearing up reading these beautiful words! and the wonderful, rich, loving thoughts behind them.

Thank you guys - you give me faith!

Good topic E!

I would say what I love most is the complexity of the dance and the music; the subtle nuances of movement and the depth and layering of sound.

The icing on the cake is that sense of female community. There are so many times and places where women feel the need to compete with one another that I find it so encouraging to see women of all levels, shapes, colors, etc connect to each other as they connect to the dance. My experience has been very positive in this way. We have an 81 year old student whom everyone just adores! Not in a patronizing way at all but in a reverent way.

What I love most are my students... that moment when they "get it" or ask a question in a way that makes me really THINK about the answer. I love that they come to class with ideas that I can incorporate into the lesson. I love that their mistakes often turn into a springboard for creating a new move or variation together. I love that they get together outside of class to practice and that they're always hungry for a challenge. I love that they share their strengths with each other to bring the whole group up a level. I love that they have built a true community inside of my studio and that they all feel safe and supported there.

I do love performing, but if you had to take one away from me (either performing or teaching), I'd sell off my costumes, buy more yoga pants, and keep challenging and teaching these awesome ladies who have come into my life.

This is a great discussion! I love this art-form for so many reasons. Overall, I like learning, and I always have something new to learn. I enjoy the music and being able to interpret it visual as well as play some rhythms. I adore my classmates. I have fun performing, especially when I can tell the audience enjoys my performances.

Even though I complain a lot about sewing and decorating costumes, I enjoy wearing them!

I love how it's the perfect meld of individual creative expression with a sense of community!
I feel like that about most "ethnic" types of dance, but in particular the music of Bellydance strike a deep chord within me. I think it is due to the beautiful rhythms, the emotional quarter tones, the shockingly sharp fast dumbek; and also the nay, accordion, & kanoun I especially like. Brings me to a different place. Makes me sway, wiggle, and be percussive.
I love all the amazing people I have met all over the place, just because I am a Bellydance fanatic!
And may I say again right on sistah

Such great positive responses here!

For me this dance always comes back to the music. I tried a convenient class because I was curious, but luckily chose a local teacher with great taste in music -- and who would tell us who we were listening to! The music grabbed me, kept me, even when my back problems were horrid, even when I was off class for months with a bad foot. To move to middle eastern music is a true joy, even just listening can be a joy.

On a recent long car trip my teacher (same one, 8 years later) put in a tape and said, "you haven't heard this." Ahmed Adawaya, recorded in California while on tour -- from some 30 years ago -- with a long, drawn-out improvisation section... and when the turn came in the music and the drummers came in, I couldn't help but exclaim "Aaaah!" She gave me a look and said, "That's just what his Egyptian audience would say, in just that same spot." Even though I don't understand the lyrics, I can pick up the feeling -- it's that same feeling that pervades great American blues music. With that feeling of connection, how can I not love this art form?

Fabulous thread! Dance is balm to my body, mind, and soul. I love that dancers only grow better with age. Belly dance has taught me to trust my body and to trust other women. My closest friends are all women I met in dance class.

So many good answers to this thread!

I love seeing how belly dance encourages people to explore their own creativity and become more confident in their own abilities. There's a really strong tradition of making or at least combining your own costume in my scene, and it's lovely to see so many different women with their own slant on what makes them feel like a belly dancer.

It took me a while to learn how to enjoy ME music, and I'm still working on an understanding of more classical stuff rather than pop. I'm enjoying exploring music further- I have a real tin ear and two left feet, so I'm on a constant voyage of discovery when it comes to rhythm!

... I could go on and ON about this...

but I'm just going to give one dearly precious memory that always soothes my heart...


My teacher Latifa of MD ... dancing around her home studio doing khaleegy... the total relaxation and bliss on her face and in all her movement...


it's one of the most beautiful sights in the world... and I'm so blessed to have it in my dance-memory <3

I love how this dance has helped to open me up. I have been historically shy and not terribly fond of interacting with strangers, but when I'm dancing I feel like I could greet the entire world with a smile. I feel fearless and fantastic.

I've also been fiercely insecure about my body, but this dance has helped me to let go of a lot of that insecurity. There are some days where I feel more comfortable in my bedla than I do in jeans. lol

Originally Posted by lunascura

There are some days where I feel more comfortable in my bedla than I do in jeans. lol

amen ^_^

Great thread, dear Elibelinde!
If there was no Belly Dance, we didn't have this wonderful community and I wouldn't have found amazing people as I did!

Originally Posted by ANA_bellydancer

Great thread, dear Elibelinde!
If there was no Belly Dance, we didn't have this wonderful community and I wouldn't have found amazing people as I did!

Back at you! It's amazing really - people from all over the world meet through the dance - talk to each other here - some of us are becoming real friends.

I love it!

You know what I love? I can hear Aminti Billah 50 times and it never gets old. And I can see 50 different dancers dancing to Aminti Billah, and it's always different and always inspiring and it never gets old. And each time I hear it or see it danced, I feel like I'M not going to get old; like each performance somehow shaves a few years off my birth date.

I already wear purple. When I am old, I will dance beledi.

Originally Posted by aziyade

You know what I love? I can hear Aminti Billah 50 times and it never gets old. And I can see 50 different dancers dancing to Aminti Billah, and it's always different and always inspiring and it never gets old. And each time I hear it or see it danced, I feel like I'M not going to get old; like each performance somehow shaves a few years off my birth date.

I already wear purple. When I am old, I will dance beledi.

Dance is life!

Great thread! i just wanna say that i love this dance. I love learning, i love the progression. the folk, the modern, the new, the old, and the expression. I love learning how to express myself differently and how using movements and interpreting songs can be my own expressive outlet.

I love the physical challenge, I love technique. I love shows, and i love getting nervous, i love looking back at how i was and enjoying the ride to where i will be :)

I love movement!