It's 'fess up time

Body: 

Hi Christine

I have been rabbiting on for years about how you don't think bellydance is very good for prolapse. I think our recent emails have clarified that you never said that. I don't know where I got that idea from. I am sorry if I have misled anyone.

There is no doubt that bellydance is a challenge because correct technique dicatates that you tuck your butt slightly. As we all know that is not supportive of POP, and feels dreadful when you normally use WW posture. I could not physically use 'correct' posture for a two hour class, so I am trying to make bellydance work with WW posture. Fortunately I have a very understanding teacher who is very patient with me. Now the basic moves are becoming more intuitive for me it is getting much easier to make the necessary adjustments.

Now, please tell us what you really think about bellydance for women with POP!

Cheers

Louise

Hi Louise,

Other than your most recent post about belly dance (which I can't find atm) I don't remember you ever rabbiting on. Although I've raised questions about the anatomical issues of belly dancing with prolapse, I don't believe I've ever said it is patently risky, coz I don't know that. The only substantial concern would be moving around for long periods of time with a "zipped" belly. It sounds like you've modified that and I would love to see your technique!

Honestly, I haven't done enough belly dance to answer your question. So much of it looks great and I guess we will rely on you to tell us more about what you think on the matter.

Any chance of a video in the future?

Christine

Hi Christine

I didn't say you had been rabbiting on. It is *me* who has been blithely rabbiting on!!! ;-)

The technique I use is to only used zip n tuck posture when there has to be a straightening of the lumbar spine. As my upper and mid back become more flexible this is becoming less and less. If it means that I have to do part of a sequence less effectively, so be it. Turkish style is where there is a lot of upward hip thrusting. This hip thrusting is regarded as being 'not very nice' in Egyptian type dance. For the moves which involve a full body undulation it is possible to 're-jig' the shape of an undulation for a reasonably convincing effect. I just use WW posture all the time while dancing.

Modern bellydance is highly related to the fitness industry and its history is very foggy. Bellydance moves are also often used by 'exotic' dancers as part of sexual titillation in their act. The line between the two styles can be quite fine and serious bellydancers don't like to see exotic dancers promoting themselves as bellydancers because it gives bellydance a bad name. The bellydance technique of 'exotic' dancers is often very sloppy. 'Exotic' dance gives the wrong message to men who subsequently see a proper bellydance act, and think they can act in ways that are unpleasant for the bellydancer and put the dancer at risk either during or after the performance. Yes, that's right! It is mind-boggling!

I imagine that the dancers in the ancient world would have had posture that was unpolluted by the modern zip n tuck trend and would have resembled Wholewoman posture anyway.

Yes, I'll try and get some video organised. I have never done video so it will be yet another learning curve. I guess I will need a camera (DS2) and a means to transfer it to my computer. Then I just get someone to shoot some short sequences (not sure that DS2 would be the best choice!), put it through some editing software (that I don't have yet, or edit it on the camera) and put it up on Youtube for all to see. This is called outing my belly. Watch this space.

I would really like some input from other bellydancers on the Forums to test my theory. I know that some of you have had a lot more experience than I have had. What advice can you give me? Bellydancers, where are you? Am I totally off the planet thinking like this?

Cheers

Louise