I'm a newie teacher, and I have always taught women. But I wonder what would I do if a man came to my classes. So my question is:
Is there a "masculine" or "feminine" way to belly dance? If there is, what are the differences? I think that it's in the arms and hands posture.
Will he find his own way of bellydancing?
Now I don't nkow any other question, but I'll be thanked of the many information you could give
Thank you
Is there a "masculine" or "feminine" way to belly dance? If there is, what are the differences? I think that it's in the arms and hands posture.
Will he find his own way of bellydancing?
Now I don't nkow any other question, but I'll be thanked of the many information you could give
Thank you
-
Re: How to teach to men?
Tue, May 13, 2008 - 5:56 PMI would imagine that if he came to a female teacher to learn, then he wants to learn the women's style as opposed to the men's. Personally, I wouldn't treat him any differently than the women. -
-
Re: How to teach to men?
Wed, May 14, 2008 - 1:58 AM"I would imagine that if he came to a female teacher to learn, then he wants to learn the women's style as opposed to the men's."
Not necessarily- in the UK there are, I think, only 3 male teachers operating, only 2 of them offering regular classes, both of them in London. So it may not be a matter of personal choice.
That said..
"Personally, I wouldn't treat him any differently than the women."
Same here. On the rare occasions I've had men in my classes/workshops, they get taught the same material. The moves may end up looking different on them, because their bodies aren't the same as the women's bodies, or they may put a more masculine gloss on the moves, if they are so inclined, but that's their personal interpretation of the moves I'm teaching. So long as they're doing the moves safely and broadly correctly, I'm not going to complain.
-
-
Re: How to teach to men?
Tue, May 13, 2008 - 8:14 PMThere is a man who comes to one of my classes and I only adapt things that are truly "feminine" by offering tips on going for a more aggressive or stronger version and toning down the flirty elements. Hand and arms, definitely not quite the same.
Having seen a number of outstanding male belly dancers in my time, I know they do not do exactly what women do in exactly the same way, but it is all good! Think Bert Balladine, Bobby Farah, and Jim Boz.
-
Re: How to teach to men?
Wed, May 14, 2008 - 3:58 AMYou can't teach what you don't know so just teach him what you do. Otherwise you can take some classes/workshops with male instructors and pick up the more masculine techniques.
~*Spoonzi*~ -
-
Re: How to teach to men?
Fri, May 16, 2008 - 10:15 AMYou could also contact any of those male dancers mentioned above and ask them about some resources for teaching males. DVD recommendations, etc.
I swear there was a DVD on bellydance for men, but I can't find any links for the life of me.
-
-
Re: How to teach to men?
Fri, May 16, 2008 - 2:37 PMThere are a few physiological differences to take into consideration- men will have a wider stance, generally, because of the shape of the pelvis and the way weight is distributed.
but that's the biggest difference- there are a few minor things, & I'd recommend checking out some of the men's belly dance tribes here abouts, but for the most part, treat him like you would any other student!
-
Re: How to teach to men?
Fri, May 16, 2008 - 6:04 PMwww.doubleveil.net/ - This site has some resources for male dancers and teaching male students.
-
Re: How to teach to men?
Sat, May 17, 2008 - 6:29 PMActually, oddly enough, my very first student I ever taught was a male. It was really awkward since I didn't have a very good grasp on what I was doing yet. I mean I taught him the basics that I knew and it went fairly well but the way I always figured was that men learned the same things that the women did but since they were men and thus built differently then, not everything is going to come out looking the same way. Thank god my instructor was there to coach me along or I don't think he would've learned half as much half as well.
~Ash
-
Re: How to teach to men?
Tue, May 20, 2008 - 9:29 AMI've had men in my classes and I teach them exactly the same as the women.... in my classes, because they're so technique-based, there's no reason to teach the people with XY chromosomes any differently than the people with XX chromosomes.
-
Re: How to teach to men?
Tue, May 20, 2008 - 1:48 PMI've had one man at my studio for over a year now. When he first started coming to the classes, I really tried to demonstrate how he could make the moves more masculine (based soley on my observations of Arab me dancing at haflas, debkes, etc). But I soon realized that I was spending way more time on tailoring the class to him than on just teaching the majority of the class who were, of course, women. I quickly abandoned my "preferential treatment" and as a result, I think my male student has been greatly relieved of feeling like he had to dance a certain way. I still give him technique instruction but just let him figure out how to make it work on his body. He's been a great addition to my studio!
-
Re: How to teach to men?
Wed, May 21, 2008 - 7:49 AMTeach what you teach. If he'd like to get a butch-er flavor to the steps, let men develop the technique first & then either elaborate based on their own expression (as women would) or adapt by attending workshops with male instructors or in other styles.
There are some things that are often more challenging for men - either physiologically or because of cultural/training assumptions. Side-to-side hip movements, for instance, and any undulating side-to-side movements (torso, hips). There are also things men seem to grasp more quickly - like the bellyroll that so many people struggle with. But that'd be true for any student; each will have things that click & things that don't.
