Burlesque - what's your view?
Rachel Jones would like to open a debate about the growing popularity of burlesque, especially within the belly dance community:
"I and others have been thinking about this for a while in the light of recent trends. I thought it was time to open the debate and see what everyone else thinks.
"I feel a bit uncomfortable about the potential blurring of boundaries between our dance and burlesque, after we all have worked so hard to dispel the often sleazy misconceptions about belly dance we so often encounter.
"I have nothing against burlesque in itself and I'm sure it’s a bit of fun but I just feel uneasy that people could confuse the different genres and think that belly dance is something that it most definitely isn't!
"As you all know I am all for fusion and crossing musical/cultural boundaries (east/west and all that) but I think burlesque (which can be a form of stripping albeit artistically) is another matter.
"Your reactions and comments please???"
Click the Comments button just below the end of this paragraph to share your views - please include your name.
posted by Andy Roberts @ 5:19 PM
5 Comments:
At 4:17 PM,
Fiora said…
As far as I am concerned, Burlesque is an artistic modern cabaret lap dancing, whose inspiration came from the 19th century cabaret saloons of the West; it is an idealized image of a decadent situation where prostitutes had to entertain a male audience (which often included criminals). So, from this negative impression that I have from Burlesque, I don't understand why it should be mixed with bellydance, an ancient healing art which honours women and the female body.
At 10:56 AM,
Rachel Jones said…
Thanks for your comment Fiora, there is a large number of us who agrees. If people want to do burlesque, fine, but don't mix it up with belly dance. They are VERY different genres with very different origins. This potential blurring of the boundaries feels like stepping backwards.
At 9:56 PM,
Anonymous said…
I had to leave my comments to the suggested 'blurring of bellydance'. I just wanted to say there are was a very large number of dancers who attended & thoroughly enjoyed this 'one-off' fun day which was NEVER suggested to be anything to do with bellydance/middle eastern dance. Many dancers had in fact asked for this fun day and the Burlesque workshop which Ozygen excelled in presenting was merely just a day of fun experienced by a very large number of dancers who just wanted something different at this dull time of the year. There has been enourmous feedback as to how much these dancers really enjoy this day too. The teacher who arranged with workshop is a well respected National bellydance teacher who has never done anything but promote belly and middle eastern dance. She has never implied or mixed Burlesque with belly dancing and hence 'the blurring' of bellydance has no founding at all.
At 12:10 PM,
Andy Roberts said…
Thanks for your comments - for the record, I'm happy for people to use this noticeboard as a place for discussion of issues as well as adverts for classes and events.
Maybe there's a misunderstanding in some quarters that burlesque always involves nudity or removal of clothes? Perhaps those running such events and courses can clarify the situation.
At 4:02 PM,
Rachel Siluria Jones said…
Thanks Anonymous for your comments - I am relieved to hear that my fears are unfounded.
Its just that as we have ALL worked to hard to promote our dance as being suitable for a family audience I would hate anyone who may be new to belly dance for example to get the wrong idea and mix belly dance up with stripping.
Its great that you all had fun at the weekend and that everyone is clear that its a different form of enetertainment, quite apart from Mid Eastern Style Dance.
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