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Post by corbie on Nov 22, 2013 3:52:50 GMT
When I was 16 or 17, I was watching my favorite show, Star Trek. This was back in the 60's and it was a brand new episode. The captain took Scotty down to a hedonsistic planet and they went to a nightclub to watch a dancer.
I was riveted by the dance. I stared withmy mouth open. I screamed "I want to learn how to do that!!!" I was told only prostitutes did things like that.
Time marched on and anytime there was dancing of any kind, I watched. When I was in my 20's, I ran across a real live bellydancer at a Renaissance Fair. Once again I was riveted. I went back to watch over and over. Finally I got my courage up and asked about classes.
For 10 years I danced, learned, made costumes, choreographed dances and had a wonderful time. I was semi professional, doing things like dancing at parties. We did shows. I even met Tania Lemani, the dancer from Star Trek. But something always seemed missing. Where were the men dancers?
I was told it is a woman's dance by my teacher at the college where I took classes. She taught Egyptian dance, no Turkish, as it is vulgar, you know. Videos were hard to come by. It was the 80's and they were still fairly new.
One day I found a video with several dancers on it. It had a group of men doing a cane dance. I loved it.
I moved to Colroado and got out of the bellydancing scene and just danced at local events and drum parties. Even here, the women dance, the men drum.
One night last year, there was a special on Bollywood. I didn't see it as I was busy. I had seen Karma Sutra, Monsoon Wedding and Bend it like Beckam and still had no real clue Bollywood existed. But my wonderful husband watched it and wrote down the name of a movie they recommended and the proceded to find it during a Bollywood week and record it for me. It was not a good recording, it was cut and I went nuts. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge was the title.
I started surfing the net for information. I got some movies from Amazon. I found out our local library carried a lot of them. I got a list from an Indian friend who doesn't like Bollywood. I got obsessed about Shah Rukh Khan. He can DANCE! I cannot tell you how many times I have seen him dance in front of the elephants in Dil Se and wondered how they did not fall off the train. That is such an awesome choreography.
Now I watch a movie a week, two if I can sneak it in. I bought the more expensive phone so I can have a ring tone from Dil Se, the part where SRK is dancing in front of the elephants, of course. I love the love stories, I love the way the mix comedy, drama, eroticism with no sex or kissing the costumes, and of course the dancing. Corbie
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Post by corbie on Nov 22, 2013 5:34:23 GMT
I tried to edit but didn't work. I was on for 49 days and 9 hours of the other form, started in 2005 and have 4506 posts. Now to learn how this one works.
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Post by James on Nov 24, 2013 2:36:53 GMT
So when you're logged in and you press the edit button on the top right of the post, it isn't working? And what an interesting journey to BW, Corbie! I like how you mix Star Trek and BW- I'm a fan of both, too. So since DDLJ was your first BW movie, is it your favourite? Do you have favourites, or are there too many to choose from? I'm a fan of SRK, too, and usually like his movies. Dil Se has amazing music and I did like the movie though I don't re-watch it too often because it was quite heavy. I usually prefer stuff that's more commercial. I don't really have a single favourite movie myself, though I like a lot of Madhuri Dixit movies (Yaraana, Raja, something heavier like Mrityudand).
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Post by corbie on Nov 25, 2013 15:25:35 GMT
Dil Se and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge are my two favorite with Om Shanti Om and Salaam-E-Ishq running just behind. At about 1700 seen so far, there a lot that stand out and there are some seriously forgettable ones. I have seen everything Shah Rukh Khan has done. I have a tendency to see everything an actor or actress did once I get started on one. So Saif Ali Khan, Govinda, (I do love Govinda's old movies) Imran Khan etc. I do that with American actors too and the Desi ones also. Kal Penn, Naveen Andrews in particular.
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Post by jabimetbollywood on Nov 25, 2013 19:03:31 GMT
Great story, Corbie! I am a Star Trek fan, also (but my favorite is TNG).
I also have had a semi-secret little desire to learn bellydancing ever since seeing Aga Bai in Aiyyaa, so I loved hearing about your experience with that!
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Post by dancelover on Nov 25, 2013 23:00:36 GMT
Great story, Corbie! I am a Star Trek fan, also (but my favorite is TNG). I also have had a semi-secret little desire to learn bellydancing ever since seeing Aga Bai in Aiyyaa, so I loved hearing about your experience with that! Me, I never wanted to learn bellydancing (of course not!). I wanted to be the guy who danced opposite to the bellydancer! On several occasions, I got my wish, when a bellydancer invited guys in the audience onto the stage. They always said: I was the best partner they'd had that day. Dancelover, who is also a Science Fiction Fan. Favorite authors: Lois Bujold, David Weber PS Note to Corbie: try to find a copy of Courtship Rite, by Donald Kingsbury
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Post by corbie on Nov 26, 2013 0:21:41 GMT
When I was dancing in the 80's we always had guys in the classes. Men learning to dance is awesome. I always watch the male dancers if there is one rather than the female. I took classes in Southern California for 10 years. Angelika Nemuth, my teacher still teaches there.
You should both go for it!!!!It was a wonderful part of my life.
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John3b
Junior artiste
Just waiting for the next music item to start.....
Posts: 59
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Post by John3b on Dec 12, 2013 2:26:49 GMT
Good to see you again, Corbie, hope all is well in your part of the world!
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