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What an outageous comment but it's nothing new, unfortunately people use it as a nasty put down over the years and I agree that it's mostly jealousy! The most recent was from a dancer who knows I'm not a regular "working" club dancer now but who has herself NEVER had a paid gig in any club, said to me sneeringly, "well, you are just a costume ho, aren't you". My reply, delivered with a wicked smile was: "Yes, I am, and this is a problem for you --- because why..........?". She fell all over herself apologizing! She has since come to me with questions about costuming and I was only too happy to advise her...heh, heh.
Then there are dancers in troupe who wistfully mention that they'd "love to have a costume" but won't buy one because they "aren't a professional" and I say, well, you are performing with troupe and at staged shows and concerts that earn money for the troupe for props and costuming items. To do this, you commit to a rehearsal schedule and have to present a polished appearance and demeanor, on time and this is professional behavior. So, why not treat yourself to a nice costume as long as you can still pay your bills? There is a lot of gray area in the definition of "professional dancer" all the way from "troupe performances only" to "dance career as main source of income".
One of the ladies in our square dance club when she found out that I'd been bellydancing for 20 years, and asked me if I could recommend a good source for a "nice beaded costume". She'd been looking at stores that stock Halloween costumes but the belly dancer ones she thought were "awful", and she's right! I referred her to several websites that have attractive and relatively inexpensive bedlahs and off she went, happy as a clam. She'll probably spend at least $200 on bedlah and she has no intention of taking a single belly dance class, ever.
I just don't see any downside in someone wanting to live their dream - life is too short to pay attention to "Costume Police" type put-downs.
--Nisima
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