offensive lyrics/offensive movements

[dancingleaf]

These questions have been rattling around in my brain for some time and I thought I'd post them here and see

Part 1) I'm currently enamored with a particular song. The problem... it uses the f-word, once- maybe twice. Which means no matter how much I love the song... I don't use it when teaching. I also have other favourites that deal with subjects... that ...while I might love the song - but I don't want to explain the lyrics and so it doesn't make it on to my playlist. ( I save it for myself & my own practice time ;-) )

I've been taught that ideally, bellydance music should be instrumental only with no lyrics at all - but I know that dancers frequently do disregard this convention and do dance to music with lyrics.

So... I suppose the answer is to know your audience, maybe try to see if you can edit the word out. Or just face facts some people will be offended no matter what.

Do you pay attention to the lyrics of a song? (assuming, of course, it is in a language with which you are conversant?)

Part 2) When I was a baby bellydancer, I had a teacher that was very ... emphatic about what was proper and what wasn't. Now she taught us that ommis, and hip circles and in general all round movements started at the side and went to the back first - because... to go to the front first was 'improper' and you did not want to thrust your pelvis at your audience. It is okay to finish the movement to the front but to start it to the front sends the wrong message. Since then I've encountered many instructors that not only do not hold with this convention but I've even met one that insisted that ommis should always start to the side, then front.

I've long since taught my body to do either direction, either start point without difficulty but... now and then... my mind cringes when I hear someone insist that an ommi or hip circle should be done to the front. I can hear the voice of that teacher in the back of my mind saying "no, no, no. always to the back."

I was also told that dancing with the arms open and palms turned up was ...an invitation to intimacy ...(basically, now accepting offers- see me after the show) so you should always dance with hands turned downwards or expect unwanted attention.

I'm wondering if I just had an ultra conservative first teacher or if this is something that we don't really pay attention to in our modern adaptation of middle eastern dance.

Are there movements that you were taught you should never do?

I'm just curious to see if my experience is unique or if there are others who have had similar taboos instilled in their brains.

cross posted to bellydancing community

Comments

offensive lyrics

[hennalounge.livejournal.com]

hiya! interesting questions...

there is a song by Eastenders that I really like but they say "mother f*ckers" in it, although it's kind of hard to understand. but it's such an awesome song. anyway, i have it in my henna mix, and i just hope no one notices!

and regarding dance, i took a just a dozen bellydance classes, and was a horrible horrible dancer, but my teachers (Fat Chance) always stressed that we should never put our hands in front of our faces and of course it's considered rude to ululate without covering your mouth. but unless you're dancing for a middle eastern audience i really doubt that anyone would find the things you mentioned offensive or a come-on. plus dance is ultimately about self expression and things change over the years and in different cultures they take on different significance.

ciao for now!

Re: offensive lyrics

[dancingleaf.livejournal.com]

I wonder if that isn't a reason why we like those songs. The unexpected use of a word, that some may find offensive.

Fat Chance! OMG! you're so lucky! Although California is a hot bed of bellydance opportunities. If I lived there - I probably wouldn't be able to teach though because there are so many awesome & talented instructors. Trade off.

:)

[tangyapple.livejournal.com]

Bellydance music should be instrumental only - really? I see so many performances with dancers utilizing songs with lyrics. It doesn't bother me generally, but sometimes the lyrics are a little distracting, whether they're sung in English or not. I find myself trying to listen to the words and figure them out. I prefer to dance to music without any lyrics. I don't think I'd want to use a song with obvious profanity if it'd be danced to publicly.

As to the postures, I haven't heard those, but I'm probably a little too new to the dance to know these things. I haven't seen anyone dance with their palms up (while arms are open). I think ... yes, I think I've just instinctively done the ommis starting at the side or the back, and then circling to the front. I don't remember where I learned it that way; it was years ago.

[dancingleaf.livejournal.com]

I guess the idea of the instrumentals only starts with - if you were dancing to live music/live singer... you wouldn't want to compete with the singer right?

I always try to know what the words are, granted I can fall in love with a song and then not care but...

Gravity by the Dresden Dolls - for instance... I love the song, love the chorus... and then looked up the lyrics to find it was actually kind of about suicide. I still love it - but I can't use it.

I've seen performers use songs with the odd F bomb. It doesn't offend me but... I do find it a little shocking, because I'm not used to it. Even if I do have a bit of a gutter mouth, personally. I can love a performance because of the music, especially if it appeals to me, but more so because I think the performer chose a song that suits them or that they obviously love.

If it is in another language I still try to know what the message behind the song is... don't want to have a happy face when the song is about heartbreak.
___________

I'm guilty of doing the postures that I have heard were improper but I figure that ... it doesn't really matter (in a modern North American audience) It just makes me cringe a little inside when I'm learning a choreography or something.- like - jeez - she should know better!

[ishtara.livejournal.com]

We were talking about this at dance class last night. The starting hip circles to the back was mentioned. My first instructor, had us tuck our pelvises under when doing them to the front so that it didn't look vulgar. Showing the left palm can also be offensive to some audiences. Then Ocean Fire mentioned that stealing moves from dances of other cultures and putting them into a fusion can be offensive if say the move came from an Indian dance and was a sacred posture.

[ata1anta.livejournal.com]

Our main concern (like Fat Chance's) is making sure you don't cover your face when dancing.

There's this move we do either "nice girl" or "naughty girl" depending on how we're facing - if right foot is forward and we're turned to the right, it's "nice girl" and if we're turned to the left it's "naughty girl"