I think too many people are sober in this world. hooray for going a little nuts.

why does it matter what they think, anyways? sometimes people criticize when they are frightened, or even JEALOUS!!!

:)

Sometimes those close to us have the hardest time when we are trying something new, especially something that may have never appealed to them. Just hang in there. But you are probably right about your ex.

I stayed with at my ex's house once while dropping my daughter off (we got in at 2 am, so I stayed the night in my daughter's room before heading off to spend time with my friends). We crossed paths in the hallway, he was on his way out the door to go fly (air time for his pilot's license). He told me he was going and then he bent down and kissed, then looked up to see his new wife standing at the other end of the hallway.

I think I should get brownie points for waiting until I was in the bathroom before I cracked up!

Because I don't speak to or acknowledge a majority of my family, they don't know about my dancing. But my aunt (who is in a nursing home) knows. I was having problems with my neck due to carrying tension in my neck and shoulders and she said it was probably because of all the "stupid stuff" I do......specifically, the bellydancing. I refused to be baited and just don't tell her anything about it anymore. If she brings it up, I just change the subject.

Of course, she also refers to my snake as my "stupid snake" and my cats as my "bratty cats" that I should throw out of the house. And always makes a point of informing me that my "a** is getting HUGE" and points out every zit or blemish. Really.....just a JOY to be around.

On the positive side, my friends have all been very supportive and positive about it. And my boyfriend is 100% supportive....(even impressed the girls in my class with how supportive he is when he came to my first public performance last month - he took pictures, held my hand when I wasn't dancing.....and was just completely wonderful. Sheesh! Did that sounds as sappy as I think it did?).

Anyway, despite my negative aunt, I think I've been pretty lucky as far as things go.

I"ve been dancing for 10 years now and I get "are you still into that dancing thing?" and "aren't you a little old for that?" from my in-laws alot! I like to think that in the past couple years, I've reached a point where I just smile, say yes and shimmy my way to the other room...*L* While I love being on stage, I dance for me and as long as my husband likes what I do, all is good.

You have stepped out of the cube, they will get used to it...they now have to have a new perception of the dimensions of your life.
I was Mortified years ago when my Home Grown Texan dad did his parady on the side show carnival hawker...."Fatim, Fatim, she wiggles and rolls and crawls across the floor like a snake on her BELLY!" Later after he realized how much work,effort and serious thought I was putting into it....later he bragged to all his friends about my wonderful ability and talent ( blush) My brothers, are great fans of the side effects of Belly dance such as improved self esteem and confidence ( i used to be painfully shy Belly dance has improved that and My BIg brother see that and remarks on it often, proudly smiling) My sons were pre teen when I started...then it was fun, then in thier teen years it was bit embarrassing for them (teens have thier own challenges) Now it is just part of being mom. My husband is special (LOL) he thinks I am sexy whether I am sweaty and dirty digging in the yard or I am decked out to dance...BUT when I am dancing and IN the dance he knows it is art and it is serious. So you see They will become accustomed to your additonal self. Do what makes you feel good, and let the feel good overflow onto them.

my teen sons, 16 and 19 are very proud of me, although they do get bored watching every show I do, they've seen the same routines over and over. but I can count on them for lots of moral support. I know it sounds wierd but my oldest son even helps pin me in my costumes! crazy but he does a better job than some of my fellow dancers!

my family is confused, only mother and 1 of my sisters have ever seen me dance, but only as a beginner, no one has ever seen me at the professional level. Oh well, that's their loss.

My son was initially mortified, but now he's gotten used to it. (He's 19) He'll critique costumes and doesn't bat an eye at walking in and seeing me practicing in full costume, with bared midriff--he just figures that I'm giving a new costume a test run, which is usually the case. His friends have also gotten used to it, thoough one looked rather nervous when I answered the door with a scimitar on my head, and another was also rather discomfited when the door opened and there was a group of women in my rather small kitchen practicing one of our troupe choreos. My daughters do support me, but have zero interest in dancing themselves. Despite that, many of the female friends of all of the kids have joined in the fun and are now taking classes from me.

The rest of my family thinks its a bit odd, but are supportive. My mother would have loved it since she was the one who first started to teach me dance as a young child, but she died about a year before I got back into it seriously. If someone doesn't approve and makes negative comments, I just let it slide like water off a duck's back. This makes me happy and whole as a person, and if they don't like it, so be it, but its not stopping me from pursuing my joy. As for exes, my eldest daughter's father saw some of the holiday photos I had taken in the snow and was practically threatening to drag me off to bed right then and there, despite being happily remarried. *lol* I never would have done that of course, but it was rather flattering, though its not the sort of comment I encourage.

Hmmm - sounds vaguely familiar, but I've been pretty lucky. The sig other I was with when I first started bellydancing was very right wing conservative, and he said " Why would you be interested in dancing like a country we're at war with"------- Huh ? He showed little interest in my dancing and when he did go to a little hafla, he fell asleep ! So, needless to say THAT didn't last long. I came back here to Calif. and a year later, met my soulmate and we married last May. He totally appreciates bellydancing, my dancing and the whole scene.( I intro'd him to it). And by the way, I'm 63 now !!!!

I just started dancing last October and I have gotten some weird responses too. Most people kind of giggle and ask if I am a pole dancer or something?!?! UM what!?!? I explain a little bit about Bellydance history and how beautiful and feminine it is and they beginto smile in a nice way. My female friends all love to hear what I am doing and see what new costumes I have come up with. My husband thought I was having a mid-life crisis at first but now he loves it and is very supportive.

Don't let the nay-sayers get you down!!

Thank you everyone for your wonderful feedback. I had a little bit of a set back. I started working so much .. I havent been able to keep up with dancing. I had a doctors visit .. and oh... I gained almost 40 pounds in 12 months. From constant sitting and working.. then I just sleep. So now I am starting all over again. Gggrrrr.. I will be 43 in Nov. and by gone it I will be dancing..LOL

I know there will be aches and pains at first but I can do it. I need to get all sexy again..lol
I really missed it.

It's the sane ones what have problems m'dear
keeping everything tightly bottled up - those are the ones what eventually go postal...

And hell yeah you're sexy!
The not doing things that are "age appropriate" comments are made by those who wish they could just allow themselves the freedom to do so.

Raq on sistah!

hi Rosalie,
I looked at your photos - you make some really lovely nice tribal stuff!!! You seem very talented. Tell your friends & family it's just another expression of your artistic talent, your creativity. Maybe it would help to put up some nice photos of other dancers you resonate with, or who inspire you, so your family can see you're not just being weird & that other women do this too!
You coudl also get a couple of the belly dance books that are out now, they may pick them up & learn something new!