A Common Misconception... but a Misconception Nonetheless

I always strive to begin things on a positive note. So, I'll find a way to make things positive from this event...

Last night, I made it back home from D.C. where I attended the General Skills Course through Fat Chance Belly Dance and received my GS certification (can I get a woo hoo?). This morning, I returned back to the not so glamorous corporate life that I lead in order to fulfill my family's needs and keep my dance on going. Having been gone for a few days, it was natural to field a lot of 'So, how was your weekend?' type questions.

I had told a few people that I was going to a belly dance workshop, but not that many. So, imagine my surprise when I was asked how the 'pole dancing conference' went. I wasn't really prepared for that, but I did my best to explain that it was a belly dance workshop and that it was instructed by a world renowned instructor... to which I received a sarcastic laced 'belly dance- I couldn't possibly see how I could have confused that for pole dancing (with laughter)?!'

Now, we all know in the belly dance community that there are people who compare us to 'adult entertainers.' However, I had never had such an open display of this from anyone and most especially another woman. Being an ambassador of my craft, I attempted to explain that ATS is merely one style of belly dance that blends folkloric and world dances and that there are many more facets to belly dance in general that goes so far beyond the Vegas stereotype.

I was met with the response of... 'oh, you really take that seriously. I guess I shouldn't joke about it-so, do you wear one of those crystals in your belly, too?' I never felt so defeated in my life and it took every ounce of power in me not to cry. I was crushed to see the ignorance that people have towards dance and wished for a moment that I could take all of the hours of practice, thrill of my performances, love from my sister dancers... just everything and place it in a ball and have her experience it all at once.

Our art is so often overlooked, misconstrued, and apparently laughed at. I really would love if every woman in the world could experience a true (non-Hollywood) live performance just once. Even better, I would love for everyone in the world to have been able to gaze upon Carolena as her zils fluttered through the air as she stood in the corner just jamming to music or slithering through the air to Al Green.