-
Archives
- August 2007
- June 2007
- March 2007
- January 2007
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
- January 2005
- December 2004
- November 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
- August 2004
- July 2004
- June 2004
- May 2004
- April 2004
- March 2004
- February 2004
- January 2004
- December 2003
- November 2003
- October 2003
- September 2003
-
Meta
Category Archives: Politics of Dancing
An appeal
with the new year, i’ve done some reflecting, and i’ve come to some unpleasant conclusions…. so i’m going to make an oblique, broad request to the dance “community.” stop finding reasons and excuses not to do something, and do something. … Continue reading
Posted in Politics of Dancing
Leave a comment
American Dance Slam Alert
from the better business bureau, American Dance Slam (ADS) Event in Atlanta, GA a Sham.
The organizer behind ADS is Todd Fischer who, operating under the name American Dance Force, has already been known for booking dance events that never occurred and then failing to make restitution to those who had paid to attend. Where his previous forays were relatively small it’s possible that the impact from ADS could be substantial.
The Indiana Attorney General’s Office would appreciate knowing Mr. Fischer’s whereabouts. If you or anyone you know has been a victim of this scam, please contact the Indiana AG’s office by calling: (317) 232-6201 or going to: http://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/
Posted in Business, Politics of Dancing
Leave a comment
Bellydance sportsmanship?
an interesting idea…
Nadiyah’s presents The Sportsmanship Awards
other than kitiera appearing decidedly sportswomanly, i think it’s a great idea…
I am a serious artist and athlete. I don’t have time for petty dramas and nasty politics.
Posted in Belly Dance, Politics of Dancing
Leave a comment
najla goes underground to film second video
having faced a “wave of criticism” and having her singing license revoked by the egyptian musicians union, najla has resorted to secrecy to film her second video.
Posted in Art, Law, Politics of Dancing
1 Comment
the value of community
this deserves a tip-o-the-blog…
I don’t know if you are aware, but I am organizing a contingent of belly dancers to attend and dance in the April 25th March for Choice in Washington DC. More info about our delegation can be found here: Belly Bus
As part of encouraging people to show up to the march and dance with us, Simoon and I have had to contact (read as spam) about 1000 dancers in all 50 states.
Without exception, every dancer, regardless of their views on the abortion issue, have responded positively and with an outpouring of support. We have had several women tell us that they would not be attending because they do not agree with our cause, but in each case the women have wished us love, luck and good dancing. We have not had one flame. Not one.
I am so humbled by the professional, respectful response of the belly dance community that I am near tears as I write this. I don’t know of another group of people who would have responded as politely as you have all done to a subject that has been so divisive to the rest of the country. It makes me believe that dance and art truly can heal the world.
I feel honored to be a member of this community and of the greater belly dance community.
Happy Hips to you all
~Dervishspin
dervishspin is one of the prime movers behind the bellybus (previously mentioned here).
one of the things that makes this community of dancers such a pleasure to spend time with… is their amazing sense of support for each other. Continue reading
Posted in Belly Dance, Politics of Dancing
Leave a comment
another forbidden dance
shan brought this to my attention a while ago….
if you’re dancing and someone decides that it’s “repulsive to public taste and morality and likely to cause fear and annoyance” you, too, might be banned…
of course, if you are, you’re all welcome to come dance in my seekrit, secure, undisclosed location. i’ll make crepes. Continue reading
Posted in Law, Politics of Dancing
Leave a comment
Introducing the Bellybus
(finally, serious politics and dancing :) )
One of the most wonderful things about being a belly dancer in the United States today is meeting the many different people who dance. As a group we are practically a study in diversity. We are white, black, Middle Eastern, Asian, and Indian. We are Muslim, Christian, Pagan, Jewish and Buddhist. We dance tribal, ethnic, cabaret, raks sharki, gypsy and as yet unnamed modern forms of belly dance. We are single, we are parents, we are widows, we are married. We are straight, bi, lesbian, gay and transgendered. We bust stereotypes for breakfast. Our diversity unites us because the dance binds us all together. Belly dance and one other thing: When we dance we have perfect control over our own bodies.
Off the dance floor, slowly but surely, that control is being taken back by the federal government.
There is a Pro-choice march in Washington DC on April 25th. Info and directions can be found at marchforchoice.org. The women of the Bad Raqsan’e Sahra dance troupe of Massachusetts will be there. We are planning on dancing, as our way of marching, in this protest. We don’t want to do it alone. We know there are thousands of dancers out there who are also concerned about the eroding right to control our own bodies in this country. We feel it is time for our community to find our voice and speak, through dance, of what is important to us.
Besides, the image of a thousand belly dancers shaking their hips at the White House to protest their control of our bodies is just too awesome for words.
Please bring: Your troupe, your dance friends, yourself. A hip scarf, the jinglier the better. This is how we will know you want to dance with us. Any drummer who wants to come along and set the beat. Proper footwear and warm clothing. (It’s April… who knows how warm it will be?)
Please leave behind: Your ego. Whether you have been dancing for 20 years or 20 days, the point is to dance together, as equals, with one vibe, one voice of protest, one collective no.
Meet us on the Mall in Washington DC between 3rd and 14th street starting anytime after 10:00 am on Sunday April 25th. Look for the jingly belts or ask the volunteers for our delegation, the “Belly Bus”. The March starts at 12:00 noon. We hope to see you there!
With much love and shimmies,
Dervishspin, Simoon, and the ladies of Bad Raqsan’e Sahra
for more information, bellybus Continue reading
Posted in Belly Dance, Politics of Dancing
Leave a comment
holy breakdancing, batman
“In an unusual spectacle at the Vatican, Pope John Paul II presided over a performance of break-dancers who leaped, flipped and spun their bodies to beats from a tinny boom box.”
— ap via cnn. Continue reading
Posted in Art, Fusion and Experimental, Politics of Dancing
Leave a comment
Exploring the attitudes in Egypt
Symphony in Motion? Ancient Tradition? Or Just Tacky? (new york times, registration requested)
this article becomes news as the Egyptian court rejects an appeal from foreign dancers to lift the January 1 ban (mentioned here in September). Continue reading
Posted in Belly Dance, Law, Politics of Dancing
Leave a comment
Copeland playing fast with the media
I don’t often make public statements about specific players in this business of dance, but this time I felt compelled to put it on the record. Before I do, let me say that I don’t have any problem with the Bellydance Superstars or their approach to business or dance. What I have a problem with is something a bit more subtle.
Circulated to their promotional email list and also found on this page [if you jump over the registration hurdles] you will find the following set of quotes from the media, posted by Stipko, “website admin” for the Bellydance Superstars: