DO MEN BELLY DANCE By Andrus Ramir, professional male Belly Dancer. Yes! Men Belly Dance! To the general audience, a man is usually not the image that comes to mind when they think of a Belly Dancer and is always something questioned. While Belly Dance is mainly practiced by women, in recent years there has been an increase in the number of men who are Belly Dancing all over the world. Men who are shifting changes in the dance from an artist level to a professional level. Long before I started dancing, I had this great fascination with Belly Dance. The music, the movements and the image of a Belly Dancer was so intriguing. And like most people, I thought that it was only for women and had no idea that men could also learn. But it was not until I decided to pursue it that I realized that men were dancing. For me, the beginning was challenging because I started from scratch. With no dance experience, I made the decision that I wanted to become a professional Belly Dancer. And after making the decision and facing the challenges, I found myself, found answers, found friends, mentors and inspirations. Belly Motions has played a big role in my career – helping me in my experience, from birth and growth of becoming a male dancer. It is believed that what we call “Belly Dance” originated as a birthing ritual and has more of a connection to women than men. But that does not dismiss the fact that since the beginning, women as well as men have danced in the Middle East. Even to the extent like in the Ottoman Empire where young men played the role of women. Young men called “Rakkas” or “koceks”, performed for other men in women’s clothing since women were forbidden to do so, impersonating a female sensuality. We must also remember that what we call Belly Dance has become a western theatrical interpretation of the social dance of people in the Arab world. In gatherings and celebrations, you can find men doing basic movements like that of women. But they don’t call it Belly Dance; it’s just “dancing”. So although Belly Dance may have began as a “woman’s dance”, men have interpreted it with their own style. Women have done the same by mimicking the Egyptian men’s dance style with Saidi – putting a playful, sassy spin on it. Yes, Belly Dance is a sensual dance but I believe that men can also have their interpretation of sensuality. While it is of great importance to understand and learn the root of the dance, the dance itself is in a constant change. It is in a constant transformations, growth and essential for its survival. It has surpassed its origins and can be said that it is not only from the Middle East but from the world. That constant change brings us to the present, in which men are dancing. Some of the greatest Belly Dance artists, choreographers and leading examples are men. More than ever some of the most sought after performers are men. Having several years of experience, I constantly push myself to learn and grow as a dancer; allowing the dance to take me to the next level and vice versa. Andrus Ramir brining inspiration, to the and as a professional male dancer I can say: “Yes, men do dance!”
Posted on: Sun, 21 Jul 2013 15:17:03 +0000
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