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I'm not sure how to answer that Angela. Much of oriental dancing is genderless. I suppose British soldiers were exposed to more male dancing than female dancing. If Egyptian men and women were socializing seperately at the time. then British soldiers may have seen only male dancing.<P>In regards to professional dancing, the British soldiers were mostly interested in female dancers. Muslims do not give themselves to such exploitation easily. So, the bulk of performances were done by Indians and Jews.<P>The films were made in order to bring tourists. These films seemed to have been targeted at a male audience. I'm sure you know the routine: harems filled with seductive women waiting to be ravished by their sultan.<BR>********************************<P>I talked to a friend from Lebanon last night. (He's Christian, not Muslim). I figured that if there is ballet in Cairo, there must surely be ballet in Beruit. (Cairo and Beruit are the arts capitals of the Arab world). So I asked him about ballet. He said ballet is quite common in Arab states; the most popular being ballet-jazz and eastern ballet.<P>I suppose he sees all professional dancing as "ballet". Eastern ballet, he explains is classical Indian dance. Western ballet, he says, is not very popular. But, he defends, how many Westerners actually watch western ballet? Still, art is very important to the Arab world. He says most Arabic states sponser annual arts festivals. This is mostly for the benefit of local artists; but there are also several large performances by Western artists which cover a range of Western performing arts. Western ballet is almost always included.<P>He also says that there are health clubs which offer classes in ballet (western, jazz, eastern).<P>As I was talking to him, a thought crossed my mind (It does happen on occassion). Ignoring for the moment Muslim sensibilities, having been raised in a culture (middle east) where people regularly break out into dance, how would you view the concept of dance as an art? I mean you watch, but don't participate? What's up with that?<P>Anyhow, I also had an interesting time yesterday exploring the thoughts of people in Egypt just after the British arrived. <P>British soldiers were shocked at the displays of local professional dancers. The loose circular motions of their bodies had a seductive quality to it. Most obvious was the movement of the belly and hips. This was not the sort of thing civilized people did, much less in public display. Yet, Egyptian dancers were seen, their bellies and hips moving energetically and often in unison. It was absolutely vulgar. And, they loved it. <P>Still, they also had more refined tastes, and so they brought with them ballet..<P>The Egyptians were shocked at the displays of professional ballet dancers. Silphish girls were seen to be prostituting themselves on stage. This was hardly suitable family entertainment. Laws were quickly passed to prevent young Muslim girls from being seduced into this unsavory activity.<P>OK. Men can be crude. But, that's not the point. What catches my eye is what I've mentioned earlier. The Western emphasis is on the body of the dancer. The Muslim emphasis is on the character of the dancer. Now, my sister likes oriental dancing. Often, it seems, when she mentions oriental dancing, the first thing people ask if is she is a stripper, a prostitute, or some such thing. This common misperception is the result of Western emphasis on the body of the dancer. This got me thinking (again) about the Eastern emphasis on the character of the dancer. Suppose you are a Muslim watching a ballet. You are judging the dancer based on character. What character(s) are commonly portrayed in traditional ballets? If a Muslim girl mentioned to you that she likes dancing ballet, what sorts of generalizations might you make?<P>BTW ... How is character portrayed in ballet? <P>I found this wonderful poem which seems to give insight into the role hands and eyes play in drawing attention to the character of the individual in classical Indian dancing. Focus on hands and eyes is what Muslim dress is about.<P>"Keeping the song in your throat<BR>Let your hands bring out the meaning<BR>Your glance should be full of expression<BR>While your feet maintain the rhythm<BR>Where the hand goes,<BR>there the eyes should follow<BR>Where the eyes are,<BR>the mind should follow<BR>Where the mind is,<BR>there the expression<BR>should be brought out<BR>Where the expression is,<BR>there the flavor<BR>will be experienced<BR>(by the audience)"<BR>Bijal Dwivedi (March 10, 2001)
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I must create a system or be enslaved by another mans; I will not reason and compare: my business is to create. (William Blake)
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.<P>A few days ago I watched a documentary about central asian countries on TV, and there was a part were we could see in a little Tadjik village, people meeting all in the same house at night, men, women, children, simply to have a nice time together (don't know the word in english, in french we would say that it was "la veillée"). A man was singing with his traditionnal guitar, an other one had a drum, and periodically a woman and a man stood up, came in the middle and danced - it was a somehow "still" dance, balancing a bit with a lot of very supple and graceful arm movements - beautiful. And the so colourful costums only added to the beauty.
<BR>This is some site!!!<BR>I'll get back to you if I have any questions or comments.
<BR><BR><FONT SIZE="-1">Tamara Khanum</FONT><p>[This message has been edited by Faith (edited March 21, 2002).]