creepy........ yes........

but I'm wondering if this isn't one of those too proud parents getting the kid do their thing at the family gathering???? I've been dragged into that my self when I was little. <shruggs> ""Dances for the Aunties, sweetie!"" <shutter!><smile!>

And you have to remember that way back than people had a whole different attitude about such things? Go figure?

safe journeys

There is a constant nagging question of whether you should rejoice in the child's love of the dance or be concerned about luring pedophiles. It's a difficult call.

As far as the context of the clip, well it's not altogether clear what's going on. It seems like a family having a evening of home-based fun. But then why is the little girl dressed in a costume? Why did she faint? The fact that we are only getting a bit of the story since its a clip and (for me) the language barrier makes it difficult to call. Generally speaking, yeah, I was a bit creeped out about it.

I thought it was cute :)

that was adorable! I don't like the top on her but her little belly and dancing is so freaking cute. I don't see anything wrong with her dancing. She danced sweetly, not sexual or grown up.

Are we concerned about what is appropriate behavior for children, or that the child is being asked to perform in a way that is inappropriate? I don't see anything to be concerned about in the clip. The family is happy and proud of her, the child is happy, and the scene has every element of a home hafla (presentationalized for film). I think we've been hyper-conditioned to be vigilant in terms of how little girls are viewed, but I think that in the context of the Egyptian culture, it doesn't seem creepy. In middle America, it would be creepy because our culture doesn't have a place for this type of activity among families and little girls. I'm a little disturbed at the videos that it is partnered with on youtube - those seem to show that whoever posted it sees something sexual in the video, which I do not see. Also, as someone mentioned earlier, we don't know the scene within the context of the film. There's obviously something more that happens after she faints. Plus, the lyrics to the song might give insight to the story. So no, I'm not creeped out by it because I don't have enough information on it. If the little girl ends up getting married off to a 44-year-old prince, then I'll be creeped out, but all I can say from the clip is that I enjoyed the characters and the dancing!

I think she's adorable...and quite talented for one so small...but did anyone else get a terminal case of the giggles over the obvious fact that those people were in no way playing the instruments they each had? And when they got up to dance and the man shook his butt at the camera, I almost fell out of my chair!!!

I'm betting the fainting at the end might be a build-up to the whole story line...talented little girl with promise for the future has some terrible medical condition, maybe? The whole thing kind of reminded me of the old Shirley Temple movies...perhaps the little girl was the Egyptian equivalent.

I thought it was sweet, she's a lovely dancer. This is a style and time of Egyptian cinema. It's sad kids can't have fun nowadays without adults worrying if it's appropriate. There was nothing sexually suggestive about this clip.

Reminds me when I was that age and my folks would have me put on my ballet costume and do one of performances pieces. I started at 3 years and nothing has been suggested as it being sexual.

Wow! What a synchronicity...I Just posted that on my Blog a couple of days ago...The subject being
Children/little girls dancing! In the Middle East it is not uncommon for the young girls to dance in a family
party!
That is an old Egyptian Movie...obviously it had a story line we are not privy to...
Our society seems to have 'creeped out' anything with respect to children!
Remember, what we call' Belly Dance' is just the natural way of dancing in the
Middle East! Perfectly normal!

more Dancing darlings...
www.bellydance-adventures.com

Happy to be back on tribe!!!