On Chunky Belly Dancers

[DimaRakesah]

AIWA!

[rosedagger267]

Thank you! I happen to be a 'chunky' belly dancer and I applaud your defense of all of us who are.

[chubbatheBOSS]

(I'm South Indian- go check out the "hot actresses" from South Indian movies, they are really curvy, and Americans would even consider some of them to be grossly overweight/obese). But anyways, you probably won't hear so much hate from the places where the dance originated. Much love from a fellow bellydancer.

[chubbatheBOSS]

Hi there! I love you!! Yes Bellydancing is for EVERYONE- it doesn't discriminate based on body type. I think in western society, they deal with a dilemma between accepting a "sexy oriental dance" and their own ideals of beauty (skinny, stick thin). And to be quite honest, bellydance looks better on women with curves, and that's how men like their women in places like the Middle East, and Southern India

[drecasjr]

and after having five kids I love myself the way I am and believe God made me the way that I am! I am healthy that is what is really important here.

[KCBellyDancer]

Tell em!Thanks for this vid!

[GamingQueen88]

The size of a woman should not matter. This dance is not about enticing sleezeball men. It is a cultural dance celebrating a woman's feminity, power, beauty, and self-love.

[seinitoasarahmila]

You are absolutely wonderful!!!! I have my daughter Sarah taking Bellydance lessons because any shape and size is okay! In other words--her ego and self esteem are going to stay intact and she won't feel the need to "starve" or "puke"!

I just have to say, I don't allow any rude comments about Sarah to stay posted on her videos--I delete them. She reads them and her self esteem and ego are more important than others right to free speech.

[SuckLead]

I'm glad you delete them. And I cannot believe anyone would post anything nasty to her. I went over and watched one of them, she's good! She's certainly better than I am at it! I hope she sticks with it. It's a wonderful dance and she really looks like she's loving it.

[seinitoasarahmila]

Thanks! I make her practice--which she hates, but she sure loves being the best in her class...LOL...

[SuckLead]

LOL! Yep, I was the same when I was little. Heck, I'm the same now! LOL! I love her little costume. Do you make them yourself?

[seinitoasarahmila]

It is actually the top to one of her salwar kameez outfits. She didn't want to wear the pants/salwars.

I can make her isis wings, but that's it. You know, serging the edges of circles and making a band....that's about it. I'm rotten at sewing.

[imlovingattention]

that girl Yas is gorgeous... everyone is just saying she is fat because we don't see her hip bones sticking out like elbows! she is beautiful. you are completely right! belly dancers need meat! it is beautiful for a full woman to belly dance. As for the girl, this is expression through dance for her. she is a darling who when she grows up will probably blow all the haters out of the water in a couple of years!

[MotherWifeandDancer]

i am a tribal belly dancer. and here are my comments....

where belly dance actually originated....their is a move that tells the other belly dancer "you are too skinny to dance" seriously. in belly dance you are NOT supposed to be rail thin...your supposed to have something to shake! i am a size 12, which means im not really overweight by any means but i am a curvy woman but you know what, i dont care. i got an ass to shake!!!

[Whatafreakinloser1]

I LOVE THE HELL OUT OF YOU!!!!!!! I'm not a heavy girl. I'm 113, but when I was 98 pounds, I looked horrible dancing! I gained weight on purpose to belly dance. Cause if you don't have meat, you can't see the moves!!! I watched videos on a girl called Didem and it seems that people either hate her or love her. I have to say that I'm in the middle. She is a wonderful dancer, but you can't see the moves cause she's rail thin. If anyone says anything bad about her...

[amiralatifa]

Amen sistah! I am with you 100% I do not understand how people waste precious moments of their life spreading stupid and senseless hatred. To me putting down other people for their looks never made sense and never will. Big Hugs to you and keep on dancing.

[lothsdrow]

Right on!!!!! Even the best known belly dance company "Fat Chance Belly Dance" has got beautiful full figured woman, I am a belly dancer too and i have some meat on my bones too and when i dance people complement me. Bellydance it about the celebration off being a strong woman ( or man in some cases)becoming one with the music and creating an atmosphere of togetherness for the audience. If the technique is good is doesn't matter what size you are!!

[starybkvp]

Hey! I have to say thanks! When i first looked into belly dancing i was like no way, it's not made for me, b/c i'm on the bigger side. But your rant here totally encouraged me to join. It's been a whole year! whoop!

Thanks again!

[SuckLead]

Good for you! I am so glad to hear you got into belly dancing! It's wonderful, isn't it? Stick to it, and don't ever let being "on the bigger side" stop you from doing anything! Show 'em how it's done, girl!

[1beelzebufo]

Smootch!

[uTubeNoITube]

I enjoyed the last 30 seconds of your speech the most. I love it when people put things in terms that make sense! You made some very good points :)

[belisha007]

Thank you,thank you for drawing attention to the fact that people are all sizes & should celebrate not denigrate each other's skills!

[TheGhostfairy]

Have you gone to the Yahoo group:

BigBeautifulBellydancers? I'm in that group! I'm 25, 3 kids, I started bellydancing at almost 300lbs. I dropped to 250 lbs. when I started dancing. And I found out I was pregnant! I got ridiculed by common folk who are just narrow-minded. Now I'm no longer prego, & dropped to 230lbs. And I'm slowly getting in shape. Thankyou Bellydance! Just remember to tell them: "Ugly words make ugly people!" Dance on, your beautiful! I use DVDs to dance at home.

[SuckLead]

Haven't been, but I may check it out. Thanks for the heads up!

[TheGhostfairy]

No Prob! Thanks for standing up for us! Take care!

[SuckLead]

BTW, I did actually join up at that group. Haven't posted yet, but was approved today. See you there!

[xamordax]

Yes yes. :D Bellydance all the way. I have some bellydance videos too!

[Mrsjessie]

Wow! You're my new hero! As a 26 year old mother of one and an intermediate belly dancer, I appreciate that you are bringing to the attention of the masses the fact that belly dancing is an art form designed for "real" women's bodies. After a lifetime of battling body image issues, belly dance has empowered me to embrace the curves I have been given and has become my favorite form of exercise. Many Kudos to you!

[SuckLead]

I thought it was about time. Belly dance is cultural, not a sex game. Keep dancing, hun.

[Socialbutterfly3000]

you make a good point

[LadyValondra7]

3 words......I LOVE YOU!!!!!

I am a belly dancer and get tons of crap and awfull looks from people when they hear the words "belly dancer" come out of my mouth they automatically think its something dirty or whatever and its very insalting. They may not say it but you can just see it in the expression on their face what they are thinking.

Tons of BIG BIG HUGS to you for telling what Belly Dancing REALLY is.

Thank you.

[sepeku4u]

Thank You. Irregardless of belly dancing, our society is judgemental to heavier people. Good for you for calling them out.

niadhf

[bootycrewqueen]

As my first husband from Jordan would say, "Skinny bellydancer is no good. It is good woman has good stomach and curves."

[MiraDeRaven]

You Tell It Sistah..:-)

[peanutsmum]

I just have one thing to say...I love you! As a size 10 and a newbie bellydancer myself thank you so much for sticking up for us "bigger" girls in bellydance! Good luck in your own dancing! Zaghreets and many blessings darling!!!!

[devilkitten1]

Here Here! I couldn't have said it better myself. One of my major problems with the internet is people's ability to be jerks without actually looking the person they insult in the eye.

[JessieC777]

Very well said :-)

[seinitoasarahmila]

You are absolutely right. I really want to learn how to belly dance and I'm going to because I can MOVE! That said, I weight 205 pounds and am very comfortable with myself. My motto...love yourself and to hell with everyone else!!!

[1001Humayra]

You are so right! I always like to say: It's called BELLY dancing and not Bone shaking!

[D0LLYV0MIT]

thank you for making this!! =)

[SuckLead]

My pleasure!

[starybkvp]

thanks! i have been trying to find out of "bigger" women actually belly dance. I almost gave up looking, till i managed to bump into your info. I just want to thank you again!

[SuckLead]

Yes, they do, in large numbers. You'll find larger bellydancers in almost every class.

[starybkvp]

i'm really glad about that. I really want to take up on a class, but looking through the videos was horiable because there was hardly anybody that is "bigger" doing any of it. But i guess thats just how media potrays women. "Perfect"

[morberid]

You go girl!!! i'm not an overweight person but i'm so with you on this matter.... I've heard some disturbing coments wen my friends and i performe... and ofcourse about my friends that are not slim.

[MaleikaB]

Thanks for posting! I'm a proud 140 pounds, 36-28-42. Some of you may have seen some of my vid's. I'm considered fat in some arenas.

It easier to shimmy by having some "nice flesh" in the hip and belly regions & that real women have curves. People should lose weight for health, but in a shimmy-thon, I can definitely shimmy for at least 40 mins 'cause that's how long a dance routine can be. Any skinny girls want a challenge?

[MidnightFlameBelly]

I have to say that I totally agree on everything you said. Ok first I am a skinny belly dancer and I have to work so hard to make my movements look even close to my beloved sisters in dance. Belly dancers should have weight about them it makes everything about the dance even more beautiful. There are certain moves that just don't look right on me because I don't have to wieght to throw around. Gives me loads of homework in that area, LOL. Anyway Hoorah to you and your post.

[SuckLead]

Thanks for your comment! It's good to hear from a skinny belly dancer on the topic, too. And hun, I am sure the moves you think don't look good look wonderful to anyone watching you dance.

[MidnightFlameBelly]

I dance very well I know that but if I had more weight to throw around it would look that much more beautiful. The very fast inner hip circle's in a circle itself is very hard for me and doesn't look as good as they do on Hespera another woman in my troupe. I envy her and her movements and how fluid they look. Sometimes mine just look a little choppy, LOL.

[SuckLead]

Some of my moves come out looking like I'm about to drop over. That move you mentioned, I cannot do it to save my soul!

[Jodethan]

Amen!! You rock. People come in all different shapes and sizes and people should accept that. :/

[KittenKisses3]

Great video. More women need to be concerned about their own opinion about themselves then other peoples opinions. I'm a size 10 and proud of it. Also a newbie at bd.

[lilvoyce]

This video was great. It is wonderful though to see woman/girls comfortable in there own bodies no matter what size they are. I think those haters are just jealous. I wish I could be that comfortable with myself.

[dezidesert]

WOW!!! Amen to that. I am sooo glad you defended us "Big girls"  but more so that you stood up for that cute girl. I saw her video as well.. How dare they say anything about her. It takes a lot of courage to get up and perform in front of people. She has more courage than those shit talkers on line. I'm persuing belly dance mysself and I'm big but I feel beautiful... screw THEM!!!

[SuckLead]

I agree. It isn't easy, for me, my first class was torture and I haven't even attempted a public performance yet. I had a few people ask to see the one routine I know and to put it up here, but I haven't the guts! LOL!

[JadedIllusions27]

I have seen the 9 yr old girl dancing as well and its really sad people make fun of a little girl. I myself am trying to get into shape lose a little weight and belly dance and I love it. So anyhow I loved this vid and I subbed because I agree with so much of what you said in here. Have a good on --Jaded

[JadedIllusions27]

I am a beginner belly dancer myself. It just seems a lot of people have this idea that its more of a sexy/stripper style dance...while it may be seductive or provactive but it isn't meant as a stripper you know? I know you know this but red blood American's think that "real" belly dancers are like on Aikon or booty dancers...I think curvier gals look much better doing this type of dance.

[VOJISLAVzvaniGAVRA]

you are soooo right about all that.Vive la rubenesque!

[saechalyn]

You are very right. Skinny belly dancers are not nearly as interesting to look at.

[nailbunnygirl]

you are not fat you are fluffy! hehehe I am fluffy too.

[SuckLead]

LOL! I like that one! Gonna have to use that one!

[clarence3600]

You're a very nice person,so right and clear.

I could spend hours just listning to You.

Clarence

[lafemmedancer]

I think people are threatened by a real womans body, especially if that woman is comfortable with her curves. Belly dance is a dance that celebrates a womans body, no matter what its shape.

[wingsoffae]

Huzzah! I completely agree with you. Belly dancing was a tradition (specifically with Arabic women) practiced behind closed doors, no men, no revealing costumes. Just dancing for themselves. Bellydancing was made for REAL WOMEN, who have REAL CURVES. I am myself, a larger woman, and fuckin proud of it! I don't let that stop me from my passion, or living my life.

Raq on my fellow bd lover!

-Zaida

Daugher of the Desert Wind Bellydane Tribe, Tulsa,OK

[Karisma7788]

I agree. One of the greatest appeals for belly dance is the fact that it's ok to have a belly, it is a good thing!! yay! I don't like seeing rail-thin belly dancers, if they are thin, then they should at least have hips, or something...just my opinion..not that there aren't good thin bd's

[Joachimxyuri]

I liked what you were talking about. I'm a beginner, too, und I'm a little chucky. I keep seeing all of these skinny little no hipped women. There ain't nothin' wrong with a little chunk! ^_^

[SuckLead]

Exactly! We both need to make videos of us dancing. :) Do check around YouTube, though, because you will find women of various body sizes belly dancing and it is superb.

[SaraLW]

I think you have made an excellent point, which needed saying!

[SuckLead]

Thank you!

[itsnow2001]

could you do a dance video for us?

[itsnow2001]

i agree yas is very attractive...not at all fat. i'm not sure the 9 year old's parents should allow her to dance like that on youtube. i'd love to see you dance on youtube though.

[SuckLead]

Maybe one of these days. I'm still real basic. And my costume really consists of my PJs and a hip scarf. :) Once I get a real costume and maybe perfect the basic dance routine I have... I'll think about it. :)

[itsnow2001]

enough talk. bare your belly and show us a dance.

[MariaAya]

and very well said !!!!!!!!

[SuckLead]

I appreciate it! And thanks for sharing the video at your forum, too. :)