Francesca ([info]dancing_darkly) wrote in [info]bellydancing,
@ 2005-05-15 01:18:00
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Current mood: irate
Current music:The sound of steam coming out of my ears....................

Gutter Press
I am bloody furious, but not surprised. David Thomas, a journalist from the Daily Telegraph (a UK broadsheet newspaper and should therefore know better), wrote the following article, following a Bellydance Superstars workshop and show in Salisbury, UK:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2005/05/09/bftbellydance09.xml#1

He interviewed Issam, the dancers, Miles Copeland and myself intensely and then just ignored just about everything we said and filled the article full of his own pre-conceptions, cliches and prejudices, nearly all sleazy.

And as for calling Wessex Arabic Dance Association like a "Women's Institute but with Shererazade costumes" (W.I. is a social club mainly attended by over 60's women, has a pretty frumpy image in the UK)- I am the chair of Wessex Arabic Dance Association, and, like all dancing organisations, we are women AND men of all ages and backgrounds. I regret having ever spoken to him, as I suspected I might.

I'm not surprised, I'm just disappointed that a respected broadsheet would employ and publish the words of such an oily creep.

David Thomas, I've got your home phone number. Quake in your boots!


(Post a new comment)

Oh my goodness!!!
[info]sara_wolfe
2005-05-15 12:55 am UTC (link)
I love how the entire show is being billed as "Miles Copeland's girls". Ugh!

Oh these are precious quotes:

"I should be choosing which of the girls will be wrapped and delivered to my tent. Sadly, however, I am shortly going to be delivered to them."

Gyrating girls??? Whoah!

"Copeland has convinced himself that "belly-dancing is a symbol of women's liberation".

"There are so many levels to belly-dance," Rachel says. "It's great if you're into performance, fitness, costume, make-up, anything."

"Or just if you're into good-looking women," I suggest.

"The girls line up on either side of me, in a glorious display of tummy, thigh and breast that makes me want to take Miles Copeland aside and tell him that if he thinks belly-dancing isn't all about sex, he must be either blind or mad."

"Miles Copeland's girls - sorry, ladies - will conclude their UK tour with an appearance on the main stage at the Glastonbury Festival."



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Re: Oh my goodness!!!
[info]trixieleitz
2005-05-15 02:19 am UTC (link)
"Or just if you're into good-looking women," I suggest.

Cringe-worthy article, but I loved Rachel's response to that :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: Oh my goodness!!! - [info]dancing_darkly, 2005-05-16 10:50 pm UTC
Re: Oh my goodness!!! - [info]dancing_darkly, 2005-05-16 10:45 pm UTC

[info]asim
2005-05-15 01:01 am UTC (link)
Yeah, I know...I posted about it in my journal, as well.
Bastard.

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[info]dancing_darkly
2005-05-16 11:05 pm UTC (link)
So Asim, can I count you as another male bellydancer?

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[info]caliginous
2005-05-15 02:15 am UTC (link)
I nearly puked at the second paragraph with the which would be delivered. Deliver me his head on a plate, thanks.

Glad Rachel snapped at him though.

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[info]dancing_darkly
2005-05-16 11:04 pm UTC (link)
I think that bit about choosing a girl to have delivered to his tent was the worst bit. I nearly did HEAVE. Especially if you saw what this journalist LOOKED like.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]trixieleitz
2005-05-15 02:21 am UTC (link)
"...Britain's first male belly-dancer..."

In his dreams! Did he do any research?

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[info]dancing_darkly
2005-05-16 11:02 pm UTC (link)
Well the funny thing is, is that the journalist, David Thomas spent a good 30 minutes or more interviewing Bellydance Superstars' drummer Issam, and myself, and we told him the name of every male bellydancer we knew (including four from the UK). He chose to ignore this because (and I felt while I was speaking to him) that he thought he had this really great "angle", and just because he was being told stuff that countered his cliched conceptions of the dance, he was not gonna let THAT get in the way of him portraying the dance he wanted.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
(no subject) - [info]trixieleitz, 2005-05-17 12:21 am UTC

[info]salanth
2005-05-15 02:36 am UTC (link)
God, yet another fool...

Why, oh why...

Blah. I don't feel like going into it. Let's just say this is yet another disgusting sensational piece injected for a cheap exotic thrill.

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[info]dancing_darkly
2005-05-16 11:09 pm UTC (link)
Exactly.

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[info]anysia
2005-05-15 02:45 am UTC (link)
After reading the first few lines, I started fuming. I kept reading and tthen I started saying some very unladylike words, reminiscient of my days in the military.

How dare this drooling neanderthal write that psuedo-mental masturbation and call it 'an article'.

I did like some of the comments by By Jillina Carlano (no, haven't a clue as to who she is, but her head seems screwed on correctly).

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[info]dancing_darkly
2005-05-16 11:13 pm UTC (link)
I assume that Jillina Carlano IS THE Jillina in Bellydance Superstars.

Anysia, you win my imaginary award for my favourite comment on this topic so far (puts crown on your head, and hands you a bouquet of flowers, to rapturous applause as you take a bow)

It's was the "How dare this drooling neanderthal write that psuedo-mental masturbation and call it 'an article'" bit that did it for me!

XXXXX

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
(no subject) - [info]anysia, 2005-05-17 07:41 am UTC

[info]bellydancer620
2005-05-15 02:53 am UTC (link)
That article really disgusted me as well. I so wanted to kick that man square in the nuts then let out the 3 AM zill brigade.

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[info]dancing_darkly
2005-05-16 11:15 pm UTC (link)
Hee Hee!

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[info]thebratqueen
2005-05-15 03:22 am UTC (link)
I realize this is somewhat of a side issue, but I just love Miles's "Stung" crack. Yeah honey, the guy who's world-famous, a multi-millionaire, and responsible for what little fame and money you have is really hurt, I'm sure, that you don't think he's cool anymore.

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[info]dancing_darkly
2005-05-16 11:18 pm UTC (link)
Oh, I thought that Miles meant, it he should be called Stung because his association with him had ended, not because he thought that Sting's career is over...but that's my interpretation.

BTW, also off topic, Sting lives 3 miles away from my house. I drive past his mansion quite regularly, and one of my dancers' daughters used to play with Sting's daughter Coco when they were at school together.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
batons?!?!
[info]aislinggheal
2005-05-15 03:50 am UTC (link)
Okay, were they really twirling batons? Or was it a cabaret cane kind of thing? The mind boggles...

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Re: batons?!?!
[info]bronyaurstomp
2005-05-15 05:01 pm UTC (link)
From what I've heard it was a cabaret cane number.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: batons?!?! - [info]stellamaris, 2005-05-15 05:58 pm UTC

[info]prettypatil
2005-05-15 03:59 am UTC (link)
Damn that man and damn his article of misinformation.

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[info]dancing_darkly
2005-05-16 11:29 pm UTC (link)
Double-Damn him to Hades in a handcart thrice!

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[info]deadendkid
2005-05-15 04:20 am UTC (link)
He made them all sound like they were flirting with him. To quote an old movie, "AS IF!" He even sounds slimy and gross. *shudder* that was too horrible.

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[info]dancing_darkly
2005-05-16 11:32 pm UTC (link)
It's quite vomit-inducing, isn't it?

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[info]princessbatz
2005-05-15 04:28 am UTC (link)
Wow! I'm speechless. Share his phone number, I'm willing to call internationally to set this guy straight.

Wow!

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[info]uberkrist
2005-05-15 04:33 am UTC (link)
?!#@#@! what a moron. let's kick him.

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[info]retrospection_
2005-05-15 04:41 am UTC (link)
my favorite part was the "bellydancer shares her secrets" in which it is stated that bellydances come in all shapes and sizes... and then the picture directly following its all perfectly penthouse t&a

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[info]dancing_darkly
2005-05-16 11:38 pm UTC (link)
yeah, "no dancer is ever turned away for being too big", except by the British media photo editors.............

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[info]sarcasm_hime
2005-05-15 05:48 am UTC (link)
OMGWTF.

This guy is a grade-A retard. Of course, because HE is a sex-obsessed asshole, bellydance MUST only be about sex. GAWD. Can I stab him with rusty spoons? Please?

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[info]dancing_darkly
2005-05-16 11:46 pm UTC (link)
Yes, of course EVERY man MUST think like him. NOT.

Male friends I have had may have been attracted to dancers that they've seen, but they do at least notice good technique and say "That zaar dance at the end was really powerful", and not just "Phwooooargh!" They usually keep the "phwoar" bits to themselves.

I would expect a man to notice how beautiful these dancers are, but not to the exclusion of noticing the technique. If David Thomas had been reviewing a ballet or contemporary dance show, he'd have NEVER got away with this sleaze.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]evil_spice
2005-05-15 08:19 am UTC (link)
The guy is an idiot. As is Miles. I hate that "girls....oh no, I mean ladies!" attitude, it just sounds like "I'll pretend to be all respectful, but really I think you're slutty dancing girls" to me. I wish the dancers would rise up and overthrow him! I thought Jillina came across very well, and I loved Rachel cutting him down to size.

Be thankful he didn't quote you - who knows what he would have twisted your words into!

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[info]dancing_darkly
2005-05-16 11:51 pm UTC (link)
It's paying very poor lip service to the respect that they, and all dancers deserve. Hey, that all WOMEN deserve.

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[info]misspotsitt
2005-05-15 08:55 am UTC (link)
Excuse my french but, Fucking Hell!

It may be worth contacting some of the other ME dance organisations in the UK too. There's Mercin and it's asociated gubbins (I may actually print that article and take it to my class this morning for Kathryn and Nadeen to read) some universities have them, I know Oxfrod does. A coordinated response would be appropriate. I may go and post this link on Tribe actually (if nobody else has).

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[info]dancing_darkly
2005-05-16 11:54 pm UTC (link)
Please do. I now have the postal and email address of the Daily Telegraph, and as chair of Wessex Arabic Dance Association I shall write them a very stern letter. I shall share the article with MADN (Mosiac), NADA and every other major MED organisation I know.

And if that doesn't work I shall phone David Thomas up personally and give him an earful (not that it'll make any difference - we already know that the guy just doesn't listen).

(Reply to this) (Parent)
O.O;
[info]twilight_crux
2005-05-15 01:27 pm UTC (link)
Does he realize...that when he writes that article he's referring to underaged dancers like myself? What an effing pedophile (sp?). I mean...men like that make doubt ever dancing in public again..or at least with men in the audience. *shudder*

Apparently he hasn't seen a woman move like that in front of him for a while, whether it be for him or someone. A good while...but not a very long while if you catch my drift.

I say we cleave his supposed manliness off with a river rock.

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Re: O.O;
[info]dancing_darkly
2005-05-16 11:59 pm UTC (link)
Arf Arf! The man is obviously OBSSESSED, and thinks that every other man out there must be too, which means that his article is valid, in his mind.

But I've gone to loads of dance shows with men, and while they may be turned on by a dancer, they don't show it and always try to be respectful to her and take notice of the technique and stagecraft.

Men like this probably go to the ballet and stare at women's crotches under their tutus as well, but he'd never dare admit that, because ballet is ART, whereas bellydancing is not seen as an art in the UK.

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[info]odette_6
2005-05-15 02:50 pm UTC (link)
**ROARRRR**

Anyone else sense a whole lot of "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" between Miles and the "journalist"?

Please do whatever you need to rectify this! These typese of views need to be corrected and removed from the media! I am in the states, but if there's anything I can do, let me know!

And I agree with the one post, let's all get rusty spoons!

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[info]copper_pony
2005-05-15 11:11 pm UTC (link)
"Anyone else sense a whole lot of "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" between Miles and the "journalist"?" actually, no i didn't. / in fact i'm kinda surprised at how surprised/upset all of you are about the article. what do you expect from a small town/city reporter? insight and sophistication on a subject he's probably never been exposed to before? give me a break. bellydance is a world in a relatively small fish bowl. we all know how we perceive our world and how we want the outside world to perceive us. however i don't for a minute expect everybody in that outside world to see us the way we want to be seen. a unified positive perception can take a long time to build up. at one point in time the waltz was considered scandalous. the words ballet dancer and actress were considered interchangeable with the word whore. perceptions change but not over night. should you write and tell the journalist how disappointed you all are in his portrayal of bellydance in general and the superstars in particular. yes, definitely. however i'm a firm believer that you catch more flies with honey then you do with vinegar so i wouldn't threaten him with a rusty spoon.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
(no subject) - [info]evil_spice, 2005-05-16 07:22 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]dancing_darkly, 2005-05-17 12:10 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]odette_6, 2005-05-16 10:31 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]frightened, 2005-05-16 01:12 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]dancing_darkly, 2005-05-17 12:16 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]frightened, 2005-05-17 06:03 am UTC

[info]bluepatil
2005-05-15 03:04 pm UTC (link)
Haha, rusty spoons. Good idea.

What an asshat. I was disgusted with the article, and I hope someone talks to him about it. Aside from all the sexual misconceptions, there are male belly dancers in the UK! Wise up!

I like Jillina's advise though.

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Sorry its so long, I got creative
[info]princessbatz
2005-05-15 11:07 pm UTC (link)
I took down the address to contact the paper about this one, I dont see the journalists name but I have all the relevant info I need. The Telegraph will be hearing from me on this one, If you would like to do the same the adress is:
Editor of the Arts Department
Telegraph Group Limited
1 Canda Square
Canary Wharf, London E145 DT
UK

I haven't read much in British journalism, I did subscribe to Bazare at one time so I am aquainted with lude British Journalism. This article is the kind I would expect in Bazare. One question to the Brits in the group before writting my letter is: Is the Telegraph respectable? or is it what my mother would call a rag magazine (the ones with headlines like "Nessie to be ring bearer in Prince Williams wedding to Baby Spice." or " Lady DI rumored to have been abducted by aliens and is working to create peace between waring Venutians and the inhabitants of Zion III" these magazines also have pictures of the stars in bathing suits or on bad haridays at the market)

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: Sorry its so long, I got creative
[info]frightened
2005-05-16 01:08 pm UTC (link)
It considers itself respectable. It's a broadsheet ('serious') newspaper, and politically it's 'intelligent right' - supports the Conservative Party and generally right-wing values, but doesn't get down to the level of the Daily Mail.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Re: Sorry its so long, I got creative - [info]dancing_darkly, 2005-05-17 12:33 am UTC

[info]frightened
2005-05-16 01:07 pm UTC (link)
Although this is the Telegraph - called the Hurleygraph by Private Eye for its obsession with Liz Hurley, decided to have a big picture of Jamie Oliver's partner's cleavage on its front page the other day, etc. But yes. It's a crappy and disrespectful article.

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[info]lady_sakina
2005-05-16 03:51 pm UTC (link)
Wellll..even idiots need work..

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[info]iknowitsasong
2005-05-16 06:49 pm UTC (link)
One can always email the paper here for the "Letters to the Editor" section:

The Daily Telegraph:
dtletters@telegraph.co.uk

The Sunday Telegraph:
stletters@telegraph.co.uk

Sounds like a writing campaign might be in order??

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]dancing_darkly
2005-05-17 12:40 am UTC (link)
Thankyou SO much for finding the email address. Now, everyone, please get writing and emailing them! I have had over 100 responses to this article on various LJ communities; let pull it together and do something about it if you feel strongly about the article.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

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