[Synnen]

i can't imagine a belly dancer thinking their body is bad. most use their body for personal gain by performing dances. so something is just not adding up here. get on top and ride.

Actually, a lot of women join belly dancing to help themselves esteem, especially in the US. I know that's one of the reasons *I* started. And a lot of us never perform. Belly dance is a GREAT form of exercise, it uses many of the same muscles as Yoga, and is really a great way to spend a couple hours every week.

Your post is part of the misconception that many belly dancers have to overcome. You must be used to the kinds of thin women that you see on Belly Dance Superstars, which is an American model of the dancer. True Raks Sharki, Egyptian belly dance, is a FOLK dance, much the same way a Polka is a folk dance of Germany. You would never say a polka dancer 'uses their body for personal gain by performing dances', even a professional one. And dance is an art--you'd NEVER say that a ballerina uses her body for personal gain!

A belly dancer has the same hangups as any other kind of dancer or performer. The ONLY kind of dancer I would say uses their body for personal gain by performing dances is a stripper.