On Current TV | August 19, 2008 | Comment on this video (28)

Male Belly Dancer

jensenjw
It's a taboo subject in many middle eastern countries, but we are going to profile the only professional male bellydancer in Egypt, Tito Seif.
  1. groups:
    On Current TV,   VC2 on TV,   Current Gigs,   Current Jobs,   1 more
  2. tags:
    On Current TV,  VC2 on TV,  Current Gigs,  Current Jobs,  1 more
  3.     
    |
    Embed video:
    |

28 comments // Male Belly Dancer // Video

  • Leslie_Tietjen
  • harkness
  • annwren
    • 0
      annwren  

    • This a result of orientalism. Men have been "belly dancing" along with women for centuries, it's not new! Sure, women used these movement during childbirth preparation and temple dances. But men danced too! It's because belly dance has been overly sexualized, that people don't think men can belly dance. It's not just a woman's dance, it's a folk dance. I can't believe that the people who made this video didn't bother to pick up a book! It's like saying "Now MEN, that's right MEN are starting to salsa dance! This taboo dance made just for women is being practiced by men!"

    • 3 years ago
  • maof4brats
    • 0
      maof4brats [removed]  

    • i think this guy is great and so is the other guy they move better than me. my husband is Iranian and my daughter is a professional belly dancer she dances for weddings and such it is a art form male or female keep going guys it's great.

    • 3 years ago
  • Cherish_Liberty4_All
    • 0
      Cherish_Liberty4_All  

    • Tito Seif you can dance for me anytime!

      I think dancing is a form of praise and worship if done with the right intention(s). I really love to dance, too. I didn't realize that men there are forbidden to dance. That is so sad to me. The thought makes me realize the different ways that the peoples of the earth are oppresed.

      Dancing can be so therauetic, too! It lightens the spirit when one is down-hearted. It is used in ceremonies like weddings.

      My little Cheweeni dog even dances...she gets little treats for dancing.

      I would bet any man that dances like Tito Seif for his wife will get treats of his own from her :)

      Dance Everybody!!!

      Dance With Enthusiasm!

      Be happy!!! Dance ON!

      Peace, light & love,

      Cherish

    • 3 years ago
  • J_Jammer
  • salvatoreditaranto
  • seanalyn
    • 0
      seanalyn  

    • lovely videos :)

      but what im trying to say is that there are multiple forms of belly dance that have existed in tribes all over the world since BC. There are cave paintings and carvings dating back to 15000 BC that depict women doing birthing dances with poses and movements like modern belly dancing. Romans, Egyptians, Greeks and Indians all have art depicting women belly dancing.

      Around 240 BC dancing with castanets (instrument similar to finger cymbals) becomes popular in Rome. In 60 AD Syrian dancers are brought to Rome. in 57 AD the Byzantine Emperor takes a famous oriental dancer as a wife.

      what im trying to say is that although many countries try to claim belly dancing as their own, truthfully it is a dance as old as womankind. its like saying one culture invented singing. In belly dance communities the world over (both Gypsy and non) it is generally accepted to have derived from birthing rituals. Gypsies did organize a specific style, that is true, and it spread and became the standard...but they are not the originators and there are multiple non gypsy styles of dance. many belly dancing styles practiced today are not Gypsy Cabaret dance but of ancient dances from India, Africa, South America, etc....all of which are considered belly dances.

    • 3 years ago
  • Vierotchka
    • 0
      Vierotchka  
    • seanalyn:

      Certainly seanalyn, but the basis and rhythmic structure of belly-dancing today has its principal roots in the Gypsy culture. This video is one of my favourites, this music carries me and moves me like no other... as a small child, when I first heard it, I instinctively belly-danced even though I had never seen it before; it came naturally and felt marrow-deep familiar, it's in the blood, my Gypsy lineage.

      Gypsies of Turkey, Istanbul.

      :)

    • 3 years ago
  • Vierotchka
  • PaliNadia
  • seanalyn
    • 0
      seanalyn  

    • Ive seen a few other male belly dancers, but this guy is definitely the best. although i dont know how comfortable I am calling what he does belly dancing...while its beautiful and amazing to watch its not quite belly dancing imo, i think he has spawned his on style of dance.

      Im not saying a man cant belly dance, but belly dancing originates from birthing rituals (ignore was frimer said) its origins are no where near sexual, in fact men were not allowed to watch women belly dance. To this day the movements still mimic the moves of birthing. so to me, its kind of funny to see a man belly dancing, but im all for breaking gender boundaries, so good on him! ive been tribal belly dancing for a while now and in my classes we have occasionally had men try and participate, although my teacher usually forbade it because she wanted the environment to be a sanctuary for women.

    • 3 years ago
  • Vierotchka
  • seanalyn
  • Vierotchka
  • Vierotchka
  • Vierotchka
  • Vierotchka
  • frimer
    • 0
      frimer  
    • seanalyn:

      No my darling Vierotchka you said it yourself..THEY BROUGHT IT FROM INDIA (and you are right about this)..They copied the form from the temple dances Originaly danced by MAN for MAN at banquets and imitated by Concubines in the harems then yes it was taken to the streets and spread across europe by the gypsies in various forms as you so well posted here :) and for those who are not paying attention just look at the clothes you use on belly dancing..Now look at the Indus..see the relation? ;-)

    • 3 months ago
  • maof4brats
    • 0
      maof4brats [removed]  
    • seanalyn:

      Men in history have been the belly dancers. If you think this is not belly dancing your wrong they just move like a woman anitomacley they are not built like us.This is true belly dancing like they had 100's of years ago.

    • 2 years ago
  • frimer
    • 0
      frimer  

    • OMG i cant believe you post something like this without proper research! BELLY DANCING WAS ORIGINALLY DANCED ONLY BY MAN (In the palaces) simply because women were not allowed to be in the presence of man! THESE WERE PROSTITUTES and were not allowed to be in the presence of Kings/Sultans much less dancing for them at parties..occasionally the best prostitute would preform a dance behind a screen for a male audience.Hollywood created that myth with Ali Baba and Arabian nights.Women(prostitutes) started belly dancing among themselves in harems as copy of the male dance that was preformed as entertainment at parties for MAN by MAN.These women were considered impure there for unsuitable to be in the presence of royalty.There was no dancing between man and women.They did not mix!Prostitutes took it to the streets..the rest is what you have today..
      Look it up...you are misinformed!

    • 3 years ago
  • seanalyn
    • 0
      seanalyn  
    • frimer:

      Ummm I think you have been misinformed. First of all no one knows exactly where or when belly dancing originated, but it is generally agreed that it was spawn from birthing rituals amongst tribal women.

      Get your facts straight, belly dancing is not about prostitution...it was slandered and became that over time as patriarchy took over and the goddess worship which revolved around belly dancing was seen as a threat.

      Do some research yourself before you start slandering one of the oldest and most beautiful forms of dance.

    • 3 years ago
  • frimer
    • 0
      frimer  
    • frimer:

      Slandered?? I think you missed the point when you read the word PROSTITUTION. Belly dancing WAS A DANCE pure and simple.My point was that the general assumption that belly dancing is a woman's dance was totally wrong.Originally in the arab/muslim countries WOMEN that danced these kinds of dances were looked down because it was the dance of prostitutes/concubines it was the equivalent to pole dancing of modern days.(strippers) in fact you can say they were the primal version of strip dancing. WOMEN were not allowed in the palaces among man so when they had parties MAN would entertain MAN and their dance would be BELLY DANCING as an art form.Occasionally behind a screen there would be a dancer (concubine) Like a chinese shadow like show. As for gipsies...well need i say more about what people thought about their ways? (not that i agree in any way with that) To sum up..THE ACCEPTED FORM OF BELLY DANCING WAS IN FACT THE MALE FORM PREFORMED IN PALACES all others were trash.But sex sells so eventually women took over the roll and tried to make it accepted which they did eventually ..Kinda like what's happening now with these "Poll dancing classes for NORMAL women" lol But if i would tell you i love to watch TRUE strippers because they are truly amazing in what they do (if you ever took the time to actually watch what a pro can do on a pole) you would probably look down on me like some kind Pervert..well it was same thing in those days with belly dancing :)

    • 3 years ago
  • Vierotchka
  • Nettle
    • 0
      Nettle  

    • Finally, proof that Muslims aren't just a bunch of suicidal bombers (HA take that you ignorant conservatives).

      On another note, good for him for standing up for what he believes in despite the taboo.

    • 3 years ago
  • J_Jammer
  • Cherish_Liberty4_All
    • 0
      Cherish_Liberty4_All  
    • Nettle:

      I would love for Tito Seif to dance for me.

      Let's make a sweeping statement and say that not all muslims are suicidal bombers because IT IS THE TRUTH!

      Peace, Love & Light,

      Cherish

      ps: j Jammer...no more emails, please!!!

    • 3 years ago
  • badfoxyjones
more from On Current TV:
from the community

top videos