An earlier blog regarding Bill O'Reilly's show comments on belly dance really got me thinking about the issue of the representation of dance in the media. The feedback I received from that blog sparked an interesting debate that I've been following since that day.
Let's just hit this topic head-on: oriental dancers are heavily stereotyped, especially in the U.S. We are often seen as purely sexual performers, only interested in grabbing men's attention with skimpy costumes and gyrating movements. We not participating in an ancient and beautiful form of art; we're just using our physique to earn a few bucks and maybe score a husband in the process.
This may sound like a harsh or pessimistic assertion, but there's abundant evidence to show that dancers are misunderstood the majority of the time. For example, a recent music video released by rap artists Avenue Ty and Breezo called "Snake Chama" showcased a group of dancers (two of them very well known within the industry) writhing and shaking their rumps to the amusement of the singers. Adding insult to injury, the deplorable notion of a harem as a group of sexually available women (which isn't the true definition as most of you know) was displayed for all the world to see.
Although the depiction was clearly a fantasy (many professions are "sexed up" for their music video debuts) it was also somewhat sad and poignant to watch...but why? If we're not threatened by this imagery then why do we waste so much time being offended by it?
I would propose - and this is just an idea here - that the stereotype hits a little too close to home for some of us. As a community we all love and support one another, but do we also feel that edge of competition? Is that what compels some to be more revealing to get ahead?
We know that modern media is leaning more and more into sexuality as a driving force, and I think we're all a bit scared of what that means for us.
Who's going to be the first one to "push the envelope" and thus enrapture the masses? Who's going to be the one who sells out and gives a bad name to us all? What we are most afraid of is the same thing that we KNOW will make the most money in the end. That adds an element of tension to the community that is extremely palpable everywhere from live performances to message boards and social profiles.
So as dance artists, we work hard: learning and exploring different genres within oriental dance. Seeking to understand the sounds and the little movements that can help define a dance into a specific category. As a community, we lift up and encourage each other to continue, excel and grow in the art.
It's no surprise that when one art form is passed off as another, noses get bent out of joint. When the infraction happens by notable artists in the industry... well, it's irresponsible and damn disappointing.
