It is true that fans that truly can appreciate your work is those who can accept you moving forward.

I myself have had an ongoing crisis in ” what am I”.

When dancing different styles people often ask you “and then, what cind of dancer are you exactly?”. That answer shouldnt have to be straight “bellydancer”, “Jazz dancer” or “ballroom”…

Today I am a dancer, and I coose to show it off with a variety of different dance styles. I dont want to be any cind of dancer first of all, just a dancer.

Its nice to know that there are other people thinking of these kind of things.

Hopefully your fans can appreciate the different layers you can put on, I think most of them will. I will be most deligthed to se what cind of “different” dancing you will create. It wont even have to be different at all.

The most exiting thing in this world is that we can choose to do exactly as we want, you dont have to do as others think, right?

Hugs and love from Gothenburg!

Putting oneself in a box might be helpful for some but I would rather not do so myself and it is always interesting to see that others feel that way too. I believe that honesty (this includes being true to oneself) is, or at least should be, the most important aspect of creating art no matter what field one works within. I might never become a pro dancer and I don’t really know whether I would want to either but this doesn’t mean that I’m willing to compromise my integrity. Growing (as an individual, as an artist, and so on) isn’t optional, and in that sense there is no room for listening to the voices that demand us to act in certain ways…

I have noticed that lately, as a trend, a lot of tribal fusion dancers are moving back to Oriental music or themes. Just sayin’, and I personally love the trend. Labels are sometimes useful, but mostly silly.

I agree with all said here. I think finding your own identity as an artist is a process that takes years. There’s just so much out there that influences our learning process and what we produce, that it would be nearly impossible to shove ourselves in a style box so early in the journey.

Last Sunday I went to a Dave Matthews Band concert for the second time. I am not familiar with ALL of their songs, but, they have this distinctive style that you can identify as soon as any of their song starts. With Rush, well it has been a 30+year journey together through fun and tragedy thick and thin that their sound and their identity is just unmistakeable.

Your article is inspiring because you’re so right, and saddening because being very new to bellydance, I didn’t realize so many fans might have this attitude. I suppose I should have known. :/ I started out loving Turkish Cabaret because of its passion and energy, and I still love it, even though it looks like I’m moving toward more of a Classic Tribal style for myself. I don’t feel like I have to stick to any style in particular though, and I wonder if it’s even a good idea to do so.

I think it’s easier to form style “cliques” when American dancers in general don’t know their roots, the history of bellydance in this country. I’m surprised at the number of people who don’t know who Jamila Salimpour is (it’s really just a fluke that I’m familiar with her this early on, I think). I think things might improve if more dancers really understood (I mean really understood) that the history of bellydance in America doesn’t begin with Fat Chance Bellydance (with no disrespect meant to Fat Chance or ATS.)

Anyway, just some thoughts from a newbie. Great post! (and yay Rush!!)

Bottom line? I would be disappointed if you stayed the same, m’dear. Being able to express who we are right now is part of what makes any art powerful.