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[sorcerer541]

Deleted

[Littawyn]

I love them.

[gothique]

They inspired me to get back into dancing again!
Love them!

[steffib]

There have been quite a few discussions on the topic in the past, a search in the archives will most likely retrieve pages over pages of arguments from very insightful to very heated.

Personally, I think it's a good show, but by the end of the day, it's just not what really moves me.

[Adishakti]

They're a group of talented ladies, but I get frustrated that more talented artists get left in the mass marketing dust. Newer dancers seem to think the BDSS are the epitome of MED.

Master Instructors who have made their livelihood from dance are suffering. You see it in the workshops... BDSS workshops are stuffed to the gills when too many others suffer from low attendance.

Even still, they're not as bad as some dancers make them out to be - while the BDSS haven't stayed true to the roots of BDSS, they've otherwise remained respectful of the dance.

On the other hand - there is some serious talent out there being undervalued...

[Linnyg]

I do love them. There shows can be a little over the top Vegas style but the quality of the dancing is great. I prefer to deal with them one-on-one so to speak with their individual DVD's. I decided that I wanted to be Sonia the first time I saw her dance.

[gretchendances]

Love, Hate, Love, Hate, Love, Hate. It goes on and on.

[Aisha_Raksii]

Perfect!!!

[ssipes]

Originally Posted by sorcerer541

What is the consensus on the Belly Dance Superstars Troupe?

Consensus?? Us???

[ssipes]

But I am curious, sorcerer541, why you seem to like clips of dancers that have been overdubbed with other music. I seem to recall that the last clip you posted about was also overdubbed.

This dance form is all about interpreting the music. When one takes away the music chosen by the dancer and danced to by the dancer, the soul of the dance is really gutted.

If I were one to overanalyze, I'd guess that the power that a dancer shows during her dancing doesn't sit well with the men who make and upload these overdubbed youtube clips, and taking away the music and overdubbing with something of their choice is a way of stripping away the dancers' power.

But really, I'm not one to overanalyze, so I just think they are annoying youtube clips.

[Elianae]

I LOVE them, though I understand why some people don't. But I think they're all gorgeous.

[Freddie]

I'm a big fan of showgirl style dancing anyway - lots of pizazz etc. So it's my cup of tea. Jillina moved me to tears with a drum solo at Fantasia a few years ago. And she was a great teacher too.

I think that the exposure they are getting is good for us all. It could have been so different had it been presented in a different way, with diferent dancers, from both the negative and positive points of view, but you can't please everyone and I think they do a great job. It must be gruelling. And imagine what it's like for them being together all the time?

But ... I have noticed a few people on the bhuz saying that their show is becoming a bit repetitive. And I have to agree on that. The first time I saw them was about 4 years ago in London. I saw them a year later in Preston. The first time I was really taken by the show and felt very wowed by it. Not so the second time. And I didn't like that act with the stilts very much. Or the hula stuff. But I do like the rest.

[blackcherry]

Originally Posted by Freddie

I'm a big fan of showgirl style dancing anyway - lots of pizazz etc. So it's my cup of tea. Jillina moved me to tears with a drum solo at Fantasia a few years ago. And she was a great teacher too.

I think that the exposure they are getting is good for us all. It could have been so different had it been presented in a different way, with diferent dancers, from both the negative and positive points of view, but you can't please everyone and I think they do a great job. It must be gruelling. And imagine what it's like for them being together all the time?

But ... I have noticed a few people on the bhuz saying that their show is becoming a bit repetitive. And I have to agree on that. The first time I saw them was about 4 years ago in London. I saw them a year later in Preston. The first time I was really taken by the show and felt very wowed by it. Not so the second time. And I didn't like that act with the stilts very much. Or the hula stuff. But I do like the rest.

Mmmmm. the Stilts were really odd, like circusy odd. I didn't like them. And the Hula was lame. the bes thing in their show is Petite Jamilla. She's a cool chick.

[Freddie]

Aaargh what's the name of that track in the clip - starts about 2 mins in. I love it but I can never remember who/what and as soon as soemone tells me I go "oh yeahhh of course". I'm off to a hafla tomorrow night and fancy a dance to it ....

[lizajuk]

What on earth is the point of a montage like that? Aren't we as dancers supposed to interpret the music so where's the interpretation in a collage of dancer overlaid with irrelevent music?
I quite like BDSS. I like the glitz and polish (although it wasn't as evident at Raqs B this time).
I LOVE Randa .
I love dancers whose polish is just thin enough to see their hearts .

[badriya_al_ahmar]

Originally Posted by lizajuk

I love dancers whose polish is just thin enough to see their hearts .

That is beautifully put

[SatinWorship19]

Originally Posted by Freddie

Aaargh what's the name of that track in the clip - starts about 2 mins in. I love it but I can never remember who/what and as soon as soemone tells me I go "oh yeahhh of course". I'm off to a hafla tomorrow night and fancy a dance to it ....

"Ellitmane Toh" by Nawal Al-Zoghbi. First track on her self-titled album.

One of my all-time favorite pop songs to dance to!

[SatinWorship19]

Originally Posted by lizajuk

I love dancers whose polish is just thin enough to see their hearts .

....but not so thin as to see their aortas and ventricles

Once you find that perfect 50/50 combo of style and soul, you've GOT it.

I, personally, adore BDSS. I don't see it as the be-all, end-all of great dancing, but I still love it for what it is: a glamorous, high-fashion, Vegas-style showcase for a dance that's always been regarded as lowbrow entertainment to be enjoyed over shawarma.

I do wish, however, that BDSS would fire Miles Copeland. He's essentially blown off the entire issue of healthcare and ensuring health-promoting working conditions for his dancers. That's an entirely different conversation, altogether.

[Midoria]

Originally Posted by Adishakti

They're a group of talented ladies, but I get frustrated that more talented artists get left in the mass marketing dust. Newer dancers seem to think the BDSS are the epitome of MED.

Isn't it always like that with new people?

Case in point: I wanted to vomit a few months ago when a new musical theatre fan on a Broadway forum I read claimed that "Wicked" is "one of the best musicls ever". Now the general understanding among long-time/21+ theatre goers is that "Wicked" is not a brilliant show at all, but it is popular. And in the minds of a lot of musical newbie's popular = better.* I bet they could quickly name all of the women who were associated with "Wicked", but couldn't name any of the classic musical actresses like Chita Rivera or Faith Prince.

I've learned that most people are not going to delve deeply into the art of which they partake. I've always loved dance, so I like learning about different people who have molded and epitomized the genre. But at the same time, I've learned not to get to obsessed with "names". I don't care much for name brand clothing, so why should name brand dancers flip my wig?

*No pun intended for those who have seen the show and realize the irony of this statement.

[Carissa]

[quote=SatinWorship19;195921

I do wish, however, that BDSS would fire Miles Copeland. He's essentially blown off the entire issue of healthcare and ensuring health-promoting working conditions for his dancers. That's an entirely different conversation, altogether.[/QUOTE]

I agree about firing Copeland for the above mentioned reasons. I remember when I watched the American Bellydancer movie I felt like he was running poor Jilllina into the ground. I don't really like how circusy the show has gotten and I agree it has gotten repetative in areas. I guess I have a bit of a love/hate opinion. There are certain dancers that are extremely talented and have been a good representation of the dance. That being said, I feel that alot of people whose first exposure to the dance is through the BDSS shows may be misled to think you have to be a size 2 with a rock hard body to be good at dancing. One of the most wonderful things about the dance is that it is something women of all backgrounds, shapes, and sizes can do and be accomplished at.