But there are many who enjoy performance. I know a belly dancer in The Far East, she certainly doesn't do it for the money, but then I also wouldn't judge people who did. I heard that poll dancing was quite an accepted way to pay for college.
BTW - I have never been anywhere where women have been paid to remove any of their clothes.
I have.
I don't judge women who pole dance either. There's a vast difference between wanting to be a stripper and doing it to pay for college, and a friend of mine actually dated a woman who was doing just that. There are many jobs I hated that I did just for the money, and I don't feel that I can judge someone else for what they need to do to get by. A few months ago I joined a forum for "exotic dancers" out of curiosity. As I expected, few actually enjoyed performance. Most said that they thought about how much money they could make when they performed and that was their principle motivation. I recall no one expressing pure enjoyment of performing. Most expressed intense disdain for their customers and made it sound like it was a job that they endured instead of enjoyed.
I really don't think that pole dancing and belly dancing are comparable, though. Pole dancers usually strip and belly dancers do not. It's acceptable to belly dance in a restaurant, but not pole dance. I don't think your friend would be flattered by the comparison. I know many belly dancers who dance for money, and I believe that they would be offended by the comparison. The friends I have who grew up knowing how to belly dance from the time that they were small girls because it's a part of their culture would also be offended by the comparison. To them belly dancing is known as "dancing."
Regardless, I agree with your friend. Audience or not, belly dancing is a lot of fun.
Just gonna add I love Belly dancers... I know a few and I have been debating on taking lessons. It is such a lovely art of dancing.
It's great fun! I've always loved ladies who take belly dancing. They really know how to throw a hafla. The accoutrements can be costly, IME, but every dancer I've ever known has become skilled with a glue gun because of that very issue - no matter what kind of dance they do. You spend 20 hours a week practicing for a performance and then have to take extra time to make dance skirts.
Pole dancing classes are also fun, too, but quite like beating oneself with a metal pole when one is still learning to do the various tricks. It's not easy stuff. It takes real gymnastic talent. Seeing as how I have no plans to pole dance in public or install one in my home, my classes were rather pointless, but I did get stronger arms. :tongue:
I'd recommend belly dancing over pole dancing any day.
