last night

[languorouslove]

I ate at Caspian with Sasha, Anupama, and Lisa. We were celebrating the visit of Sasha (and her belated birthday). I felt embarassed when I saw the belly dancers. I guess I found it degrading and immodest.

Then we went to Newport Pier, and talked. Once again I have vacillated on the subject of men visiting strippers. I just think I'm really

Comments

[rotting_orange]

aww, but Bellydancing is so much fun! and it tones your abs and is a great work out. i hear there is this troupe of bellydancers who dances to heavy metal music.

[catbiscuit]

It's never struck me that bellydancing could be akin to stripping in any way.. interesting. My mother in law takes classes and a few of my friends perform - none of whom I'd consider to be doing it for anybody but themselves, or meeting the general stereotypes of what we assume men look for physically in a stripper.

There's a sensual element for sure.. and sometimes bellydancing is a little cheapened, but for the most part, I've always thought of it more as a celebration of having a female shaped body and enjoying it. Which I've seen be fairly liberating for a few women I know.

That said (and to play devil's advocate against myself), there's currently a fad where women are taking up pole dancing as excersise, stating the same reasons.

There's an odd thing happening here - I know a few goths/rockabilly types who bellydance. One has a routine set to industrial music. Seems fairly adaptable. :)

[languorouslove]

that's pretty cool.

i'm not sure why i felt so uncomfortable in the restaurant. i just said that it seemed like they were being exploited even though i wasnt really sure of that. i think i'm uncomfortable seeing exposed flesh.

i did realize that i disliked how they looked. they were conventionally beautiful... tall and skinny with barely and fat on their hips/bellys, and with perky breasts and highlighted blonde hair. they were barely wearing anything (the amount of covered skin was like that of a bikini.. most bellydancers i've seen and met in the past wore more traditional clothing that exposed the belly but covered the legs). and it just seems like the restaurant wouldnt hire normal looking dancers, just super thin, model-like ones. so it's like they are just paid for being beautiful. i guess a lot of people do that... like everyone on tv and in magazines. i dont like how people make money off of their looks.

[catbiscuit]

They sound a little more like strippers dressed vaguely as bellydancers, perhaps

[languorouslove]

i'm going to join =)
thanks!