“I don’t think belly dancing will ever be the same as it was before the films and ‘stage shows’ of modern times. Many people today don’t see it simply as a dance of joy and expression because of the style of many costumes and the media that portray it as a type of Middle-Eastern pole dance.”
“It’s a sexy dance, not that this is a bad thing.”
“It is a beautiful art and just like any other dance, you can express your emotions using a uniform of movements. Every dance has its own set of rules, but when they’re broken a little bit, it can be wonderful to watch and share the experience with the dancer.”
“All I know about belly dancing is ‘the shimmy’, isn’t that the move where they shake certain parts of the body to a strange drum?”
“It’s boring after about five minutes, nothing much happens. When they start putting fire on their head and stuff like that you think to yourself; if the dance is that great why do you need all these crazy props to make it look better?”
“Don’t know much about belly dancing at all but isn’t it Egyptian? Although, I don’t think they like it there that much anymore. That’s what I’ve read or heard anyway.”
“I love belly dancing! Can’t get enough of it. There isn’t enough belly dancing in the UK, we need more. It’s great fun and not seedy in any way, like some people seem to think.”
“Men can do it too, most people think belly dancing is about women. Men can celebrate their bodies and their lives through dance as well.”
“Belly dancing…It’s just a style of dance.”
“Have never really been interested in belly dancing and don’t think it’s really my thing. Don’t understand the music or words, and definitely don’t understand what that dancing is about.”
“I went to see a belly dancing show when I was in Egypt and it was a culture shock. These strange screams were coming from the audience and the band played to the dancer, or so it looked like. She was very good and some of her moves looked really hard.”
“Belly dancers make it look easy, but I’ve heard it’s really hard. I just don’t understand why lots of women who do this dance seem to be so fat?”
“My friend does belly dancing, she has all these great coin belts and made me put one on once. I had no idea what I was meant to be doing but just copied her. We giggled our way through a few songs. It’s great fun. She doesn’t take it too seriously but is still passionate about learning the dance. There’s something a little bit unique about it in this country I think.”
“Do u take plastic (chip n pin) the number of times I have been low on cash when there has been a belly dancer on is unreal!…Could do with a swipe slot.”
“Belly Dancing views before I saw it were that it’s a strip tease but now I have seen it I think it’s a very elegant style of dancing…And not as easy as it looks. Also I like that you don’t have to be the size of a nat like other dancing”
“So many old women seem to do belly dancing in the UK but you go anywhere else, especially America, and they’re young, gorgeous and fit. Over here it’s just a joke – Seems like a bunch of old women wanting attention for having wobbly bits.”
“We were introduced to ballet and figure skating, or hip hop and street dance. Belly dancing is yet to be introduced to young ones as a dance to watch and enjoy. That’s if it ever will. Saying that, we welcome everything under the sun so why the hell not! I mean that genuinely. It hasn’t died as a dance yet so there’s no reason to think it ever will.”
“Boobs come to mind when I think about belly dancing. That’s about it.”
“It’s really graceful but some of the dancing can be folk-style which isn’t so graceful but very cultural and not as easy to understand or interpret as most styles of dancing.”
“Belly dancing, people dance with their belly. Right?”
“The dance of the Middle-East and indeed the dance of many places further afield. It can be enjoyed my man, woman and child from anywhere in the world and by anyone who has the desire to share such a joyous experience.”
“Didn’t belly dancing go out of fashion years ago but people are trying to revive it? If they are, then they’re not doing a very good job of it. I don’t see or hear of it anywhere.”
“To some people belly dancing is offensive, to others it’s just a dance and to a select few it’s a cult! (OK, maybe not) But it seems to bring people closer together, belly dancers act like they’ve got something the rest of the world hasn’t.”
“I’ve seen belly dancing on TV and in some restaurants. It’s interesting and different. We should embrace all cultures and that goes for all styles of dance. We can choose to like a certain painting or film and we can choose to like or dislike a type of dance. I don’t mind it at all.”
“The costumes are so nice! They’re colourful, glitzy and most of the time, they accentuate the moves too. I would love to wear a belly dance outfit just to see what it looks like on and if I’d look as good as they do!”
“No idea. Belly dancing has never crossed my mind until now. What can I say, it’s dancing. I guess it has a point to it.”
“I just love belly dancing. The freedom of expression.”
