Last Month's Question:
Do you feel you need to be a specific "body type" to perform professionally?

Here are some more of your answers:
Unfortunately the hiring of belly dancers is influenced by appearance because dance is a visual art form. I don't think it matters if performing non-professionally for fitness & enjoyment.
-Heather Lara

No, one does not need to be a specific body type. But I do believe that one's body should be in good health to perform its task. The question I ask is, “is my body size a health risk?" Do I carry excess weight that is tough on my heart, makes me short of breath or impacts my joints? An excellent explanation is given in National Geographic's August 2004 issue, pages 54 & 55. Will I ever be as thin as my dance partner? No, not without surgery. She inherited a long waist and short legs. Me, my ribcage is not too far from my hip bones... but I have real long legs. Does my body type limit me from the warm up routine or performing the dance moves of my thinner troupe members? No. But I do work daily on my dietary intake and exercise. You can't put sugar in the gas tank and expect the car to run.
-Roz Winters-Everett

I do believe you need a specific "body type" to perform professionally and that body type would be a human body! We are beautiful from the inside out not the other way around. As long as her body is in fit dance condition and she has mastery of the dance (so far as precision and accuracy in her execution of the moves), then actual body type should not be an issue.

It's sad but true that many people not involved/immersed in our beautiful form of dance are not comfortable with varying body types, but if they truly see a dancer (who loves this dance) perform, they will recognize the beauty of the heart's expression and see beyond a body and into her heart.

I have heard women with bodies other than the "Model Icon Type" say that they have greater audience ease when they wear a costume that covers more of their bodies. Besides earning a living, professional dance/entertainment is supposed to bring a feeling of joy to the audience, so doing what will keep 'em coming back would be a professional choice.

Bringing serious respect for, and appreciation of the skill and talent required for belly dancers should be the icon of professional dancers.
-Sabine

Tough question! Only a dancer can appreciate the hard work and confidence it takes to perform. However, I have had the opportunity to organize a few dance shows in my local town and I have heard the ugly comments made about the overweight women dancers. They mostly come from men. Also, when I have been asked to have a few girls perform (I am a petite person) I have been given specifics of the type of dancer or actually which dancers to bring - basically leaving out the heavier dancers. Ironically, a few of my favorite Rakkasah vendors always tell me I'm too skinny.

When we are getting ready to perform a choreography we try to do our lines by sizes, so a real small or petite person doesn't end up next to a big or tall person or vice versa. I have to agree that it looks better when the same shapes/sizes are all together, whether heavier or thinner; it’s the extreme contrasts that, in my opinion, don't look very good.
-Jo Campfield

Certainly not. Learning to costume for your body type is important when you perform of course, but not as important as attitude and style. Unfortunately some people will expect all dancers to be a size 4 with an ample bosom. Proving that we are performers not Barbie Dolls is every dancer's responsibility.
-Bashera

No? And why would anyone think so in the first place? Either you can dance, or you can't. As a fitness instructor I come across this question on a daily basis, not just with dancing, but many women feel they need to "look" a certain way before they even join a fitness class! It amazes me how easily "society" (or is it Hollywood?) can influence how we feel about ourselves. I have seen women with what "Hollywood" considers to be a perfect body, who are not very graceful and have virtually no rhythm whatsoever. And likewise, I know many women with what may not be considered the best body type, knock the socks off of their audience as they danced and moved their bodies in the most graceful, feminine way anyone has ever seen. Some of the best dancers don't necessarily "look" the part, according to Hollywood. But then, why should we listen to Hollywood? They are very rarely right, and like flowers, women come in all shapes, sizes, colors and have many beautiful things to offer to those who appreciate the beauty of a woman. Dance and be who you are. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and no one person, organization or society can be the judge on what anyone, including a dancer, should look like. As I said, either you can dance, or you can't. As a Personal Trainer, I say, be healthy, not a size 2, and dance from the heart!
-Juanita Smart

No, I don't think you need a specific body type to perform professionally. You need to know how to costume yourself to show off what you have and minimize what you don't like. If you have an "extreme" feature, such as being very large, it'll be harder, but some of the most gorgeous dancers onstage are surprisingly ordinary looking when they're in street clothes. It can be a blessing in disguise to have an average body, because you learn to rely on skill and personality to engage your audience and these are attributes that only get better with time.
-Rebecca Firestone

Unfortunately, I think that restaurant and club owners, or individuals hiring a dancer to perform at a party have an expectation of what a dancer should look like. They probably figure that the audience will be more receptive to a young, pretty, skinny dancer, and in turn give good tips, generate more money, and be repeat customers and tell their friends to come there. However, the dancer may not be any good, and depending on the audience's previous exposure to the dance, they may think that a young, pretty, skinny girl flailing about without a clue is just marvelous. It's sad that dancers who don't have those physical attributes may be more limited to performing at certain festivals and student recitals. I've been amazed by some male & female dancers who don't look like models, and just blow all the others right out of the water! I think what made them stand out is that they dressed tastefully to flatter their figures and connected well with the audience to express their passion for the dance.
-Magali

I have been dancing since I was 4 years old and involvement in oriental dance has taken up 31 years. For my personal best, I am always working on keeping a slim and fit figure. I feel better and I think I dance better when I am in an optimum weight range. Having birthed three daughters, I am quite familiar with weight fluctuations, pregnancy, nursing and the battle to lose weight. and believe me , it is a battle that never ends!!!! menopause can play havoc with your system and metabolism, so I am fighting a new battle now.

To be fair, I have to say that I enjoy watching a good dancer if she carries herself gracefully and costumes herself tastefully, whether she is thin or plus size. The restaurants in Los Angeles appear to like the younger and slimmer dancer for their customers. Fortunately, a few dancers and teachers set up 'showcase' nights on a once a month basis (and one teacher has a weekly showcase ongoing) where dancers of different skill levels, age and body shape can still perform (having done my share of dancing in clubs and restaurants over the years, I have to say that it is more enjoyable to be able to dance in a showcase and leave without having to deal with a testy club owner or a drunken customer).

The bottom line is that a perfect figure does not insure a perfect dance performance--nor does an expensive costume. On the reverse side, an imperfect figure and an inexpensive costume with a beautiful soul stirring performance will always please the audience.
-Meryem Vani

Being a dance performer and instructor myself for many years now, I have never felt that I had to be a certain body type to perform belly dance professionally. I am not skinny, I am not even the type to ever be very skinny, because of my bone structure. This dance style made me accept the body I have and I feel beautiful when I dance. I admire all dancers and I see many different body types perform professionally. I love them all when they put on a tasty and enjoyable show. I feel that as a professional, we have to be able to determine what kind of costumes go well with our body types and perform according to that. In the art of belly dance there is no limit to body types, but it is certainly very important to see what is right when we perform professionally and how we represent the dance community.
-Adry Svraka

No, talent and an appreciative audience is all you need!
-Linda Kovach

I don't think a dancer should have a certain body type to perform professionally. A person must be appealing to look at during a performance. This is essential. If a person doesn't have a perfect body (and what is a perfect body?) there are costuming options to make a body more appealing. It doesn't hurt to have talent either.
-Kristie Staton

This Month's Question:
Do you spend more money on classes/training or costumes? Why?

Send your answers or comments to:
bellydancesurvey@yahoo.com