BRAVO !!!!!!

----- Original Message -----
From: Morocco <[address removed]>
Date: Wednesday, October 17,[masked]:34 am
Subject: [bellydance-11] "exotic"? NO WAY!
To: [address removed]

> Dear Lynn & Shimmie Sisters & Brothers,
>
> I speak from over 47 years of *on-site & in culture* experience
> &
> research (longer than most of you have been alive!). It's not
> for
> nothing that I'm called "Aunt Rocky".
>
> In fact, the book I'm trying to work on right now is called "Ask
> Aunt Rocky"
>
> There is a reading list on my website that has been there since
> 1997,
> when I first went on the web. Go to: http://www.casbahdance.org
> then
> mouse on "Recommended Books"
>
> I *very* politely asked you for more information & now I'm about
> to
> give you some, since you are a "newbie" & your answers show me
> that
> you are operating under some very erroneous impressions.
>
> "Exotic dance" is a euphemism for stripping. It is NOT EVER to
> be
> used in reference to Oriental dance.
>
> ("Belly" dance is NOT the correct "name in English" either, I
> don't
> care how many use it - it is a deliberately & cynically coined
> MISnomer from 1893 that the uninformed innocently continue to
> perpetrate. It is equivalent to calling Flamenco "cockroach
> killing"
> ...)
>
> I have nothing against sex & if I get a headache, it's not
> because my
> halo is on too tightly, BUT Oriental dance is a *social & folk
> dance*
> of a large portion of the world's population. It is a racist,
> colonialist & yes, Orientalist (in the Edward Said sense of the
> word)
> to assume/ presume it is a hotsie-totsie harem honey come-on.
>
> ANY dance - including the waltz & minuet, fer chrissakes - can
> be
> used as a "come-on". (Then there are those plies in 2nd position
> &
> crotch lifts in ballet...)
>
> That is NOT the purpose of this dance *&* the same mistake was
> made
> about the Hula, till Hawaiians decided they'd had enough of
> *that*
> racist/ sexist crud & reclaimed their dance heritage.
>
> To do Oriental dance well & correctly is VERY difficult &
> requires a
> lot of real study.
>
> To learn a little bit to have fun with is lots easier/ shorter -
> not
> everyone wants or needs the equivalent of a double PhD in Raks
> Sharki
> ... 8-)
>
> However, if it's a hotsy-totsy come-on to hubby (or hiney) you
> want,
> take up stripping - that IS exotic dancing & is what it's all about.
>
> On the other hand, IF you want a dance form that is fun,
> challenging
> & better for you than Yoga & yogurt put together, my classes are
> listed at: http://www.casbahdance.org/Class1.htm
>
> For who I am, go to: http://www.casbahdance.org/MOROCCOSBIO.htm
> & http://www.casbahdance.org/AlAhramReview.htm
>
> Morocco
>
> P.S. I'm not insulted - I became a teacher to educate.
>
> >From: Lynn
> >
> >Date: October 16,[masked]:15 AM
> >
> >Reply
> >to sender
> >> [address removed]?subject=Re%3A%20Re%3A%20%5Bbellydance-11%5D%20TWO%20TOPICS%2F%20QUESTIONS%3A>Reply
> >to group
> >
> >I'm just now checking my e-mails. Wow! Didn't mean to stir up
> such
> >a controversy.
> >First off, I'm not sure if any of you ladies caught it but I
> >specifically said in the opening paragraph of my e-mail "I am
> new to
> >the group". That being said, I know very little about the
> world of
> >"Belly Dancing". Yes, I am sure there is much for me to learn
> about
> >the culture which is one of the reasons I joined the club in
> the
> >first place. My reference to "exotic" dance is really what a
> lot of
> >us who are unfamiliar view it as. Again, as I go along I'm
> sure my
> >view of the dance will be a lot different with education,
> however,
> >it is what it is to me. Exotic dance.
> >As I mentioned earlier I host passion parties with a partner.
> I
> >realize there are many in the business who give it a bad name,
> but
> >the one thing that my partner Cynthia and I insist on in our
> >business is professionalism. We are not a team who show dirty
> toys
> >to sleezy, horny women, we expose and educate mature women from
> all
> >walks of life, how to enhance relationships. We believe that
> ppart
> >of relationship enhancement is creating an atmosphere for our
> >partners. Ladies, although I'm finding out that there is much
> more
> >than just performing to arouse/stimulate our men, let's face
> >it...that is exactly what it does when the dance is performed
> in
> >front of them.
> >Cynthia and I host with professionalism and expect nothing less
> from
> >those we partner with. Whether we enlist the help of exotic
> >dancers, servers, massage technicians, or yes, belly dancers,
> we
> >never lose sight of professionalism coming first and foremost.
> >Nothing vulgar is expected or tolerated at our parties. There
> are
> >only mature women present and our parties, guests are only
> >interested in learning new techniques and getting new ideas to
> >enhance relationships.
> >If I have insulted any of you by my ignorance of the art and
> >referring to belly dancing in an offensive way, you have my
> humble
> >apologies. However, keep in mind that I am a newbie. There
> are
> >plenty of us who are blind to this new hobby. Have a little
> more
> >patience with us.
> >If any of you after reading this are interested teaching basic
> >techniques and possibly clearing up some misconceptions about
> this
> >unique dance form, please contact me.
> >
> >
> >"NEVER GIVE UP!"
> >
> >
> >From: MARCEL <[address removed]>Reply-To:
> >[address removed]: [address removed]:
> Re:
> >[bellydance-11] TWO TOPICS/ QUESTIONS:Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2007
> >20:47:19 -0400 (EDT)
> >My fellow Shimmie Sisters,
> >What a lot of people don't understand is that knowledge is
> power.
> >Most people refer to Oriental danse or Raks Sharki as belly
> dance. A
> >lay person with no knowledge of the culture may go to a
> performance
> >and see Oriental danse and call it belly dancing. It is not
> usually
> >meant to be offensive.
> >
> >I think that we, as more advance students and ANY one that
> teaches
> >any type of middle eastern dance has a duty to clarify what the
> >sterotypes are and what is and is not proper conduct and
> language
> >relating to this dance. The giving of this knowledge is the
> first
> >step in ensuring respect for this precious artform. If we fail
> to
> >give this knowledge, the status quo will be maintained.
> >
> >Marcel
>
> TOTAL & COMPLETE AGREEMENT!
>
> That is exctly WHY I use the correct name & explain why/ what
> ... 8-)
>
> > 5.
> >
> >Subject: Re: [bellydance-11] TWO TOPICS/ QUESTIONS:
> >
> >From: Naiilah
> >
> >Date: October 16,[masked]:09 PM
> >
> >Reply
> >to sender
> >> [address removed]?subject=Re%3A%20Re%3A%20%5Bbellydance-11%5D%20TWO%20TOPICS%2F%20QUESTIONS%3A>Reply
> >to group
> >
> >
> >
> >Shimmy sisters (I like that, that's what we are trying to
> achieve here),
> >Sorry, Lynn if you felt that people were jumping down your
> throat. I
> >think the fact that you ARE new is what cast a lidded eye on
> your
> >request. Being both New Yorkers AND dancers, we're a little
> >skeptical, LOL.
> >
> >I don't think anyone was offended by the inital request, per
> se. It
> >was merely asked as to what the INTENTION of the request was.
> What
> >you need to understand is that there are MANY people that make
> >similar requests for the WRONG reasons. There are probably many
> >teachers here who would be glad to participate as long as it's
> given
> >the respect it's due and that it's not "how to strip for your
> >husband".
>
> Ditto here too!
>
> Aunt Rocky
>
> --
> e-mail: <[address removed]>
> web: http://www.casbahdance.org
> New York, NY
>
> Register NOW for an Exciting Winter Weeklong Seminar
> in my great BIG studio: January 5-11, 2008
> http://www.casbahdance.org/WEEKLONG.htm
> MAGICAL MIDEASTERN DANCING IN MID MANHATTAN!!!
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> "CAPTURE CAIRO" June 24-July 7 or 9, 2007!
> INCOMPARABLY FABULOUS CAIRO/GIZA!
> & the AHLAN WA SAHLAN FESTIVAL! &
> you can take an OPTIONAL NILE CRUISE!
> DANCE, DANCE, DANCE. DANCE, DANCE!
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> Emma Goldman
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> We should consider every day lost on which we have
> not danced at least once. Friedrich Nietzsche
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>