One night, years and years ago, a tribe of belly dancers were moving all succubus-like across the floor in the room of portraits. The movements of serpents and ferrets under a Lennon Moon. There was something about it that almost bordered upon obscene, and not that happy sort of obscenity, which one finds amusing to watch.
No, this was a bit vulgar...
It's a sad thing to say. Generally, I enjoy the sight of a good belly dancer. Even a few bad ones. Women I know lust after rockstars and film actors, I appreciate belly dancers. It's like that.
It wasn't the case that go around. I was queerly offended, even a little traumatized, but I was not sure why. For some reason, it seemed cheap and dirty. That was how I felt watching it.
I hid myself in alcove, with decent lighting, to transcribe what I saw on to bamboo paper. An artifact from an exotic land, wrapped in a leaf, which I'd gotten from some random shop along the way, so I could purge just that much more, when the muse grabbed me.
The first thing I spewed out was about the belly dancers, and how they seemed rather unlady-like. I had to get the words out. Try to make sense of it, though that moment of understanding has not yet come. I was offended by a tribe of belly dancers.
I don't think I've ever quite recovered...
I have a friend, Holly, who is a belly-dancer. She says most people don't appreciate the art. She says most people equate belly-dancing with stripping.
ReplyDeleteBelly-dancers, the good ones, seem so untouchable and confident with their Mona Lisa smiles, usually making no eye contact with their audience. They know they're beautiful. They don't need to convince you, and that is probably part of the allure.
Strippers, however, are only in it for the attention (and the cash). And that, somehow, seems vulgar to me.
I've never really been into strippers. A girl takes her clothes off in front of me and I'd like to a little more than just watch. Maybe that's just me, and I'm a different breed of cat.
ReplyDeleteEarly on in Sabina and I's romantic acquaintance, we went and saw a belly dance performance, and there was a Moroccan place we'd go to that belly dancers were part of the dinner entertainment. Even now, she says that's an example of what an awesome partner she is. Of course, it works out...I have to deal with her reactions to Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean drag and Type O Negative songs.
I've always wanted to see a belly dance performancebut but I haven't so far. I hope I will some day :)
ReplyDeleteWhen it's done right, it's quite spectacular.
ReplyDeleteCertainly something to ponder. I'm like Starlight, I've never seen it other than on TV and I'm sure it's very different in real life. I do particularly like the idea of a tribe of belly dancers - you could lose whole worlds to that.
ReplyDeleteYes, in the flesh in a different experience. You can smell their perfumes.
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