Thread: Sensual Motion: The Response

I did get a reply from sensual motion, which in my book is a positive reflection on the character of the company. I think Kim's response is intelligent, thoughtful, and courteous. I'm still not interested in advertising with them, but I do have a more favorable impression.




Hi Jessica,

I believe that we are being discussed, quite fine by me:) As we have
listed the two under separate categories ie: the belly dancers in one and
the hostesses/bar maids etc under another I would expect people to use
their intelligence when shopping on the site and select the appropriate
performer/person for their function. It also clearly states that the belly
dancers do not do men only functions for example. I of course agree that
belly dancers are trained professionals; while I used to dance and am not
nearly as good as a lot of the dancers out there, I know the work,
dedication and art involved.

Warm regards
Kim

> Kim,
> Several belly dancers on a popular networking site have been discussing
> the invitations from sensualmotion.net.
> Belly dancers have worked very hard to legitimize the art of belly dance
> and remove it from the hyper-sexualized context that used to exist & that
> many media outlets continue to portray. What exactly do you envision your
> clients to be shopping for when they look for a belly dancer on your site:
> a highly qualified, trained artist or an exotically costumed sexy dancer?
> Many dancers on the site believe that associating with your business will
> undermine the professionalism & respect we have worked so hard to earn.
> How
> would you respond to this?
> Jessica

Bravo... I have to say I respect her response and my impression has bettered quite a bit as well.

Nice response! Is this going to change anyone's opinion? I may have to revisit the site and see what I think....

It's a fine response, but we can still disagree with her viewpoint.

This is sort of a moot issue, though, unless her site starts getting major google rankings, like Partypop and Gigmasters.

Am going to jump in on this one too and share a reply I sent Kim- and her reply to mine- when I was invited to advertise with them.

Again, she scores points for replying at all, and it was a polite and reasoned response too. Still won't be advertising with them, however, and I was a little suprised that someone who claims to have been a dancer herself didn't stop and think for a moment about the setup a little more.

Hi Amira,

Thank you for your reply. As I used to be a belly dancer myself I do understand the frustration of having the two confused. We have done our best to try and separate the two on the site but maybe it doesn't quite illustrate how separate they are in society!

We will take a look at the layout again but I thank you very much for your input!

Kind regards
Kim

> Hi Kim
>
> Thank you for extending this marketing opportunity our way. However, I notice that you serve as a platform for the
> promotion of Erotic dance also.

> The public image of belly dance has suffered a lot from the constant association of the art- which, evolving as it did in primarily Muslim countries, had very little to do with men at all- with sex, titilation and erotica. I guess we have the hollywood machine to thank for that!
>
> I am as big a supporter as any of a person's right to individual expression. However, as a performer and teacher
> who is doing my utmost to re-educate and enlighten the public as to the true nature of MY art- and to strip away
> the sleazy, derogartory overtones it has been so unfortunate as to have inflicted on it in the name of a cheap thrill and a couple of bucks- I am afraid I cannot choose an advertising option which places that art 'on a
> level', as it were, with any other artform or media which requires an 'R' or PG 18 rating for its audience.
>
> Sad as people's snap judgments can be, it runs the risk of fostering futher impressions that my art, too, is not
> family friendly- and I am of the very firm opinion it is far from that.
>
> As such, I unfortunatly am not able to make use of the advertising opportunity you offer.
>
> I know I am not the only teacher in SA who is forced to consider such points in their advertising choices.
> Thank you, anyway, for your time and effort.
>
> I hope you have a good day.
>
> Amira S.

Im not understanding WHY if this woman is/used to be a Bally dancer herself she would continue to suggest to other dancers to advertise on her site... ..c::

Originally Posted by Amber_moon

Im not understanding WHY if this woman is/used to be a Bally dancer herself she would continue to suggest to other dancers to advertise on her site...

Probably for the same reason some belly dancers think it's appropriate to mix burlesque and belly dance and advertise both on the same web site.