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A German man came into my shop today and found a copy of my dance costuming book. He flipped through it and said, "Ah, that is very interesting. But of course, belly dancers don't wear costumes."
"Excuse me?" I asked.
"I said, belly dancers don't wear costumes."
"Well, if they're not wearing anything, I suspect what you're watching isn't belly dance."
"Of course it is."
I pressed on. "Strippers might dance naked, but not belly dancers."
"Oh, of course they wear clothing, but they only wear their head scarf pulled down around their hips."
"I'm talking about performance level dancers," I said.
"So am I," he answered. "Like in restaurants and hotels, and on river boats in Egypt and Turkey."
This boggled me. "Professional dancers wear expensive costumes. These cost about $500 US or so apiece."
"Anyway, there are no belly dancers outside of Egypt and Turkey."
"That's like saying there are no hockey players outside Canada, or actors outside Hollywood."
"Well, none that I would consider belly dancers."
"There are plenty of internationally-acclaimed Middle Eastern dancers in North America. One--Morocco-- will be coming to Moncton next month, if you care to see for yourself."
He changed the subject again, and before leaving, said something about how people throw little bones at dancers in Egypt and Turkey. I think this guy is totally on smack, but I still can't help but wonder what he was talking about. I'm picturing costumeless dancers being pelted with little animal bones while shimmying on a river boat. Any idea what the heck he was talking about?
"Excuse me?" I asked.
"I said, belly dancers don't wear costumes."
"Well, if they're not wearing anything, I suspect what you're watching isn't belly dance."
"Of course it is."
I pressed on. "Strippers might dance naked, but not belly dancers."
"Oh, of course they wear clothing, but they only wear their head scarf pulled down around their hips."
"I'm talking about performance level dancers," I said.
"So am I," he answered. "Like in restaurants and hotels, and on river boats in Egypt and Turkey."
This boggled me. "Professional dancers wear expensive costumes. These cost about $500 US or so apiece."
"Anyway, there are no belly dancers outside of Egypt and Turkey."
"That's like saying there are no hockey players outside Canada, or actors outside Hollywood."
"Well, none that I would consider belly dancers."
"There are plenty of internationally-acclaimed Middle Eastern dancers in North America. One--Morocco-- will be coming to Moncton next month, if you care to see for yourself."
He changed the subject again, and before leaving, said something about how people throw little bones at dancers in Egypt and Turkey. I think this guy is totally on smack, but I still can't help but wonder what he was talking about. I'm picturing costumeless dancers being pelted with little animal bones while shimmying on a river boat. Any idea what the heck he was talking about?
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no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 01:21 am (UTC)From:gosh golly, what kind of clubs is he going to?
(riverboats??)
no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 01:23 am (UTC)From:I would've had a hard time not glaring at him.
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Date: 2004-09-03 01:51 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 11:45 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 12:25 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 01:52 am (UTC)From:Wait...that's not what you do? Well, color me embarrassed.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 02:04 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 02:32 am (UTC)From:Oh! Almost forgot... and throw chicken bones at him.
*Sob!* I'm sorry!
Date: 2004-09-03 02:32 am (UTC)From:...and...
...did nothing! (Bizarro voice) Me am cowardly! Please forgive me!
I saw ya feed the pigeons while we waited for the Time Traveller's Tour. I even said to Terrianne that I should go over and say hi. Something witty, something cool that'll make ya think "Yeah! That's That Nick Guy!"
And didn't.
I'm such a mook.
Re: *Sob!* I'm sorry!
Date: 2004-09-03 11:07 am (UTC)From:Re: *Sob!* I'm sorry!
Date: 2004-09-03 12:34 pm (UTC)From:Re: *Sob!* I'm sorry!
Date: 2004-09-03 02:53 pm (UTC)From:Still, little bones?! Ummm.....*smile, nod, back away slowly*
Re: *Sob!* I'm sorry!
Date: 2004-09-03 08:40 pm (UTC)From: