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This
is an opinion piece.
Every belly dancer I know is tired of the question, "Belly
dance -- isn't that something like stripping?" This dance
form, more correctly known as Oriental dance, was introduced
to the United States in the 1890's as part of the midway at the
world's fair to titillate a society that was so sexually repressed
they even put lace coverings over table legs for modesty. The
promoter, Sol Bloom, encouraged controversy because he knew it
would stimulate ticket sales. It was Bloom who first called this
art form "belly dance". The public was fascinated,
and soon nearly every vaudeville and burlesque stage featured
a sleazy "hoochy koochy" act that bore little resemblance
to the real thing.
Over a century later, Oriental dance artists are still battling
the scandalous reputation that Bloom attached to the dance. No
matter how hard we work to present the dance as a beautiful art
form, members of The General Public still wrinkle their noses
and ask, "Belly dancing -- isn't that something like stripping?"
Even today, belly dancers are still blocked from some performance
opportunities because narrow-minded bigots who know nothing about
Oriental dance don't want "that kind of thing" in their
events.
That Double Standard
Nearly every professional belly dancer I know in my community
is careful to choose costumes that don't show too much leg or
too much cleavage. Some require their troupe costumes to include
pantaloons, especially for raised stages or outdoor performances
where the wind might catch the skirts. Some teachers insist on
inspecting student costumes before recitals to ensure that they
cover everything the teachers feel they should cover.
So why is it that ice skaters, cheerleaders, ballet dancers,
baton twirlers, and dancers in Broadway musicals are all viewed
as presenting wholesome entertainment in their costumes that
provide a full view of their panties and often their cleavage
too, while belly dancers are viewed as sleazy? Why is it okay
for us to see the panties when one of the dancers on old Lawrence
Welk reruns does rapid twirls, but it's not okay when we glimpse
the panties of a belly dancer doing rapid spins?
Within the course of a 2-week period, I went to see two musicals
performed by professional traveling tours: Cabaret and Chicago.
In both cases, the female dancers cavorted around stage in skimpy
lingerie that showcased their jiggling cleavage and butt cheeks.
In both shows, they frequently sat on chairs and spread their
legs wide open, inviting the audience to be their gynecologist.
Now, I'm not complaining about the artistic decision to use
such an openly sexual style of costuming and choreography. It
was certainly appropriate to the "bad girl" image of
the characters and the seamy world in which the story took place
-- in one case, a decadent cabaret; in the other case, a jail.
I actually enjoyed both shows very much. The music, story lines,
costuming, and choreography all worked together very well.
My complaint is with the theater-going public: Why is it considered
"good entertainment" and "artistic" when
a woman clad in black leather bra, black French-cut briefs, and
fishnet stockings straddles a chair and spreads her legs wide
apart, but it's "poor taste" and "inappropriate"
when the audience catches an oh-so-brief glimpse of a belly dancer's
trunks during a spin?
Where Did It Come From?
I think there are several reasons for this:
Taint of Scandal
Many people's opinions are still influenced by the scandal
that tainted this dance form's reputation in the early 20th century.
Any time we use Sol Bloom's term "belly dance" to refer
to it, we conjure up all the baggage that goes with it. That's
why many modern-day American dancers now prefer the terms "Oriental
dance" or "Middle Eastern dance".
Harem Fantasies
Thanks to Orientalists and early Hollywood "harem"
movies, the public links belly dancing with sensuous fantasies
involving diaphanous fabric, naked women lolling around Turkish
baths, skimpy clothing, seducing the Sultan, and sexual slavery.
The public doesn't know and doesn't care that these images were
largely created by Europeans and Americans.
So they start with the "knowledge", however wrong,
that harems were gardens of earthly sexual delight. Then they
add to that the belief that anyone representing "Middle
Eastern dance" must be re-enacting the efforts of concubines
to seduce the Sultan.
Salomé
Most of the "general public" don't realize that
the notion of the "dance of the seven veils" was invented
by 19th-century Europeans (Oscar Wilde and Richard Strauss).
They think the notion of stripping one veil at a time until the
dancer is nude is a "real" portrayal of Middle Eastern
dance. The truth is that this was done for the first time in
Strauss's opera "Salomé", which made its debut
in the 19th century.
If you read the Biblical account of John the Baptist's death,
you'll notice several interesting facts:
- The woman who danced is not identified by name.
- The account does not describe the kind of dance she did.
It does not tell us whether the dance was sexual, acrobatic,
spiritual, or just plain exciting choreography.
- There is no discussion of what she wore or used as props.
So, if the Bible doesn't mention the name Salomé, veils,
or seduction, where did these notions come from? The fertile
minds of the European Orientalist art and literature movement
in the 19th century, that's where.
Up Close and Personal
The "theatrical" dance forms such as ballet, tap,
and Broadway musicals are often performed on a stage that is
somewhat remote from the audience. There is no up-close-and-personal
interaction between the audience and the performers.
In contrast, belly dancers often perform in restaurants, people's
living rooms, and other settings where the audience can see them
up close. It's one thing to view a skimpy costume and sensuous
body movement from the balcony when it is presented within a
"show" because there's a certain remoteness involved.
It's much more threatening when an Oriental dance artist or stripper
approaches close enough to be touched.
Collecting Tips
People often tuck tips into belly dancers' costumes, and many
dancers encourage that. People also tuck tips into strippers'
costumes. When was the last time you saw a ballet dancer with
money sticking out of her bodice?
Poll reflects votes since October 26, 2002.
Amateurish Productions
Even amateur performances of ballet and Broadway musicals
are typically performed in a theatrical setting with some attempt
at professional spotlights and sound systems. In contrast, most
public experience with Oriental dance falls in low-budget settings
without the trappings of a professional production--often the
same sort of environment in which strippers work.
Which Means....
I think we dancers ourselves are part of the problem with
public perception of our dance. As long as we present the dance
primarily in nightclubs, with non-professional quality of lighting,
and as long as we wander close enough to the tables for patrons
to tuck money into our costumes, we'll continue the association
in people's minds with the other dance form that has similar
properties. We need to give careful thought to how we present
the dance and what impact that presentation will have on how
people respond to it.
But it's not entirely our own fault, either. Public opinion
is very slow to change, and people who have never, ever seen
it performed think they know what it is. Some of these people
are too narrow-minded to open themselves up to seeing an actual
show and learning a little about it.
It still annoys me that there's a double standard that says
it's okay to see a woman's underpants on cheerleaders, ice skaters,
ballet dancers, ballroom dancers, and even vintage 1940's Hollywood
movies and Lawrence Welk reruns, but it's not okay to see a flash
of bare leg on a belly dancer. It annoys me that lingerie commercials
on network television can show women modeling bras, but belly
dancers who spend hundreds of dollars for modestly-cut bras encrusted
with beads and sequins are sometimes viewed as unsavory.
What Can We Do to Change This?
It's not easy to change a century of misunderstanding, but
it can be done. Ballet was once viewed as scandalous, and now
it's a highly respected art form.
Here are some thoughts on how to overcome the public misconceptions
about Oriental dance:
Think carefully about which name you use for the dance when
talking to people. For example, if you are proposing that this
dance form be used for the "Arabian Coffee" section
of a local performance of the Nutcracker, you might use the term,
"Middle Eastern dance" when submitting your proposal
to the dance company who is planning the production.
Consider Your Audience When Planning Shows
Different audiences respond well to different types of productions.
Before making decisions about music, costume, and dance style
for a particular show, think about who your audience will be
and what type of performance will most likely lead them to react
the way you want.
If you live in a conservative rural Christian community, consider
producing "Dances Of The Holy Land" shows featuring
folkloric music, with the dancers garbed in Biblical costumes
instead of beads and sequins.
Similarly, if your community is more open-minded but still
not very well-informed about Middle Eastern dance, consider producing
"Middle Eastern Dance" shows, wearing pantaloons under
your skirt, and avoiding costumes that show too much cleavage.
Resist the temptation to be rebellious. It may be annoying
to wear pantaloons and modest necklines, but one act of rebellion
can destroy your chances of future performance opportunities
in future events sponsored by influential members of your community.
Even though national touring dance companies such as the Joffrey
ballet or Pilobolus have been known to present nude dances on
stage, remember that dancers performing mainstream dance styles
can get away with daring artistic statements because today's
society generally accepts what they do as "legitimate".
Because they're already "legitimate" they can push
the envelope and be daring. However, those of us engaged in Oriental
dance are still struggling to be viewed in an equal light, and
we don't have the freedom to do the same kinds of artistic experimentation
that they do.
When performing at a private party in someone's home, wear
slightly more modest clothes than what you might choose for a
nightclub show on a stage that's somewhat separated from the
audience. When you're close at hand, you may seem too "available",
especially if your costume is very revealing.
Educate, Educate, Educate!
Whenever possible, incorporate announcements into your show
that explain the family- and community-oriented history of Oriental
dance. Most audience members erroneously assume the dance started
as a tool for seducing the Sultan. If you're not familiar with
the story behind this dance form, please see A
Dance For The Whole Family elsewhere on this web site.
Admittedly, some people will continue believing whatever they
want to believe no matter how many times you tell them the truth
about the place this dance form holds in Middle Eastern society.
However, many people enjoy learning a little something new. Offer
them information about the story behind the dance, and you'll
soon build respect for the dance in your community, one person
at a time.
Emphasize Family Fun In Your Shows
If you like to recruit audience members to get up and dance
with you, focus your attention on the women and children in the
audience. It's okay, of course, to invite some men to dance with
you too, but emphasizing women and children will defuse the sexual
innuendo.
Is Tip Collecting Really A Good Idea?
Maybe the patrons where you perform stuff lots of money into
your costume that you desperately need to put food on your table
and clothing on your back. Or, maybe the best you can hope for
on a given night is $5 or $10.
If the place where you dance doesn't generate much tip money
anyway, then why even bother collecting tips? Why encourage strangers
to stick their fingers under your clothing?
And if the place where you dance does generate a lot
of income for you in tips, maybe you could re-think how you collect
them. What about carrying a basket with you to receive them?
I was recently watching a rerun from the second season of
the television show Sex and the City. There was a scene set in
a Moroccan restaurant. It showed just the waists and hips of
2 or 3 dancers clustered around Mr. Big, with disembodied hands
doing snake arms in front of his face as he crammed bill after
bill into the center front of their belts. Later, as he and Carrie
left the restaurant, he made a comment about stuffing all his
$20 bills into the belly dancer's crotch. Would you want one
of your audience members describing you that way?
Preserve Your Aura Of Mystery
Some dancers like to greet the patrons after their shows.
This can be charming, if you say things like, "Thank you
for coming tonight," or, "I hope you enjoyed the show."
But how you do this can make a big difference in the lasting
impression you leave with them, so please be careful.
Before you come out, either change into an ordinary but attractive
dress, or put on a lovely full-length caftan to cover your costume.
Be careful how you behave when you're around the people who
saw you dance. Even if wearing your everyday dress or caftan,
some people will think you look tacky and seamy if they see you
smoking a cigarette, drinking hard liquor, or indelicately scratching
yourself. Also, avoid using swear words where they can hear you.
Many of these behaviors are associated with low-class people.
Instead, behave as though you were an elegant movie star with
wonderful taste. |