On Portraying Bellydance within Subculture

In the past few years, goth-inspired bellydance and other bellydance fusions have gained notoriety. Different fusions have come and gone within the relatively small sphere of the bellydance scene. Several bands associated with the goth, deathrock and punk aesthetic have chosen to invite bellydancers to perform live with them, providing wonderful new opportunities for both groups. With this increase in profile has come a greater exposure to the general public.

As part and parcel of subcultural scenes that have customarily embraced discussions of death, sexuality and the macabre, a bellydancer performing in this kind of context may experience a dilemma in how to present themself. How much eroticism should one responsibly portray when performing in a subcultural nightclub setting? What about disturbing psychological themes? Many dancers have embraced the opportunity to explore creative avenues seemingly only open previously to more modern and contemporary Western dance forms.

I believe that it's important to remember that a subcultural audience is still a "general public" dance audience. While repeated exposure to the bellydance community may have familiarized such a population more closely with bellydance tropes and traditions, it is important to continue to exercise care in self-presentation. A dancer may feel inclined or be encouraged to show more skin than usual when dancing at a subcultural or American-style nightclub, wanting to ignore the fact that not all members of the general public may know the difference between burlesque, pole dancing and bellydance! I believe that it is also important to consider other ideas like "Is my costume upstaging my technique?" "Do I look professional and polished in all aspects of my dance?" "Am I incorporating enough technical dance into my performance? Am I relying too much on a prop to garner attention for my dancing?" One may also even want to consider their alcohol and tobacco consumption at such venues, for the sake of professional interactions. I myself have had some immense screw-ups in many of these contexts!

The bellydancer continues to be the ambassador of bellydance culture, within a subcultural context or otherwise. Please consider what you are portraying, and do your best to portray it with dignity and an educated mindset. Recognize that it is still the case that when you perform in a venue, the average person watching you there may assume that all or most bellydancers do what you do! There are many local resources available to educate oneself in Middle Eastern-based bellydance traditions, fusion dance and beyond. The responsible dancer may revel in the more artistically relaxed environment that a subcultural club or venue affords, but it is important to consider that a more "experimentally inclined" audience is still often ignorant regarding our dance form and what we intend to present through it in terms of eroticism and artistic expression. Experiment, play and have fun, but know that a subculture's potential for openmindedness may evolve into negative stereotypes if bellydancers do not remain vigilant about what lines to cross within a subcultural context.