staticfax

hi totally new and just want to go to as a spectator. I'm part cherokee tho I know very little of the culture as the only one that might in my family know more to tell me is my grandmother whos schizophrenic and only native thing I've seen about her is she wears moccasins while washing the front yard with tide. I've always wanted to learn more and I was sort of reminded of today. I'm into belly dancing and on one e group I'm in someone suggested using native bead rossettes in place of the middle eastern fare they usually use their so close in appearance. anyways I got to thinking. theres chinese fusion and african fusion belly dance why not native fusion. I wouldn't want to attempt anything silly or disrepectful and still like to learn things I've always wanted to learn about my heritage, I'd like to go and learn and maybe find a way to blend it. I know it might be off the wall but it seemed neat.
Taby

OLChemist

Welcome.

I would suggest you take some time to learn more about what our dance clothes and art forms mean, before attempting to mix them with other cultures.

Beadwork is often full of meaning. It may incorporate religious symbols or family/clan designs. The artist puts their intentions and prayers as well as creativity into a piece. As a beadworker and totally ignorant of belly dancing (beyond the stereotypical association with eroticism), I would have serious reservations about such a use and would decline such a request if it where brought to me.

staticfax

well theres a lot more to belly dance than that, it is an art form there are many different styles and dress. alot even involve lots of clothing, layers of skirts and cholis. most are based on tradition middle eastern dance. I know the the rom or gypsy styles who are believed to originate in India usually are very clothed except for shoes with long sleeved tops vests skirts and pantaloons under. many of the jewelry used in tribal fusion comes from India made by the tribal people there with a similar intent. I admit there are some scantily clad out there and with all the muscle work you build doing it can't blame some of the gals for wanting to feel sexy. its a modern world out there and I've seen less on gals that go clubbing. like I said its a good work out too so much of it is drills and isolating the muscles. also its almost a sub culture with tribes forming and since it predominantly woman lots of sisterhood going on. there are even women only retreats for dancers. I also think my cousin who's Cherokee and Armenian might like to explore something she is both apart of. so she's pretty much a living fusion of middle east and native American. I said I wouldn't do anything with out learning about something first. I'm the kinda person that when I'm curious about something I look it up. its the best thing the internet is for is learning.

Kamama

Its kindof funny you mentioned this, I know a girl who teaches belly dancing, and she too is of Native decent. She recently approached me and asked if I would teach her Fancy Shawl (i teach some of the young ladies during the winter-our off season). She too is wanting to find a way to blend the two dances, but, I am thinking that blending the 2 while out in the dance circle, is a no-no. Us women are suppose to be graceful and modest. Sure, belly dancing can be graceful.... but, modest??? I think (and this is my opinion) mixing the belly with whatever style of Native dance should not be done. Jus' cause I think its a bit to *suggestive* for being in the circle.... Now, if you want to learn the 2 together to use at home or what have you, fine.... but, not at a Native function. I think alot of people would see it as being disrepectful, not only to the culture, but, also to yourself. Please dont take this the wrong way. Just trying to help you.
I will be teaching this other woman Fancy Shawl, but, will also be explaining to her what I explained here. In return, she will teach me belly LOL.... and no, I wont be mixing the two.

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wolfhawaii

Hi Taby, glad you found this forum, it is an opportunity for you to learn more about that part of your heritage which you are not connected with. I am a Cherokee descendent, meaning I have Cherokee heritage and blood, but am not enrolled. I AM culturally connected and a student of traditional spirituality. I can tell you that Cherokee people as a whole tend to be rather conservative and also quite protective of their public image; therefore the idea of incorporating designs from CHerokee culture into a belly dance outfit or routine is probably not going to make you very popular and may hinder your ability to learn about Cherokee culture. I encourage you to learn more about Cherokee culture from reputable websites such as cherokee.org and perhaps make some trips to OK and NC. I think you will find that my advice is on the milder side from some of what you might find. wishes on your cultural journey. Steve

wolfhawaii

PS sent you a Myspace request, maybe I can answer some questions for you.

wolfhawaii

Hmmm, my previous answer got lost, I'll try again...I am a Cherokee descendant and am culturally connected (not enrolled). Most Cherokee people tend to be somewhat conservative, and I do not think they would endorse incorporating Cherokee cultural artifacts(clothing, beadwork, etc.) into a foreign matrix such as belly dancing. Cherokees tend to be sensitive as to how they are portrayed in public and the backlash could be uncomfortable. I do encourage you to learn more about the Cherokee part of your heritage and can help if asked. Aloha, Steve


Moderator's Note : The Spectator's forum is a moderated forum. As such messages don't appear instantly after being posted, but instead they are held until a moderator can review them. The Spectator's forum is the only such forum on PW.com. So it wasn't that the original message was lost but more that it was in holding waiting for me or Singing Eagle to read it. --- Hobbs49.

staticfax

I wasn't meaning I'd do it at a circle the blending idea is really just a fun experiment. never meant to bring it to a circle or native gathering. I've seen chinese and african blends that were neat. not to be offensive or anything like that. I still would like to learn more about cherokee traditions. My family was never registered, my mom said something about being to proud to be registered by the government. I even sort of agree with it. other than that all I know is my great great grandmother was all cherokee she had long black hair with a white streak from a birth mark and her family name was cloud. always seems closer since my great grandmother was really close to me growing up. everyone had their first daughter really young (cept me) so were a very female family.

wolfhawaii

I was just reading on the Buncombe Co. NC genealogical website and there was someone on there querying a Cherokee Cloud family in the area. Buncombe Co. in the old days covered a lot of western NC. I have done some research and may be able to point you in the right direction privately if you want help. Aloha, Steve

staticfax

I believe my family is from Tennessee, I know my great grandma was raise in the smokies, my mom said she was tow headed (I think she means white hair) and she had to dye her hair with tea bags so she wouldn't be called a witch at school. as far as I know thats where my family is from before that I don't know. I still have family there met some when I was 8 and I think great great aunt gladis is still alive I haven't heard different, my nanas younger sister. stories tend to get confusing, I often tease my mom I'll see her washing the yard with tide any day now.

wolfhawaii

A lot of folks from TN were originally from NC; it was a typical migration route. "Washing the yard with Tide" that is pretty unique in my experience but maybe she knows something we don't....maybe it keeps down the chiggers or ticks or something,,,,,:)

staticfax

well in quincy mass.mm shes just killing the grass. she's mentally ill for real. I have an aunt and an uncle that were put up for adoption. my uncle couldn't speak english at 4 yrs old. my mom says it was a language she just made up but uncle john said it was that stuff from the old show the electric company. I met the uncle hes a few years older than me and the aunt shes younger than me. he asked my mom if she knew his father (can't really get an answer from grandma she thinks ants have their own society and books) my mom thinks he was a stripper. I could tell you stories.

wolfhawaii

A lot of stuff can happen in families, Let me know if I can be of assistance. Aloha, Steve

RainbowSpiriDancer

Many blessings on your journey. I'm new here too. I'm learning more and more each day, just by reading the threads that others post. I've also asked a question or two. Again, many blessings to you.

staticfax

anyways don't think I'd be able to trace my family. the little I know of it and I hear cloud is like the smith of cherokee.

steelemagnolia63

I respect your desire to find your Cherokee roots with ypur other interests, but I have to agree that mixing Native American dance and belly dancing is not going to go over very well. The styles are at polar opposites of the map.

As was mentioned earlier we Cherokee tend to be very conservative. Most female Native dancers tend to move very little of their bodies when dancing, except Fancy Shawl Dancers, and they do not move in the provactive manner of belly dancing. I was taught that the only thing that you see moving on a female dancer are her feet and her fringe.

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Life should not be measured by the number of things that we aquire on our journey but by the number of lives that we touch along that road.

staticfax

I've not seen much native american dance tho obviously not the first to think about it.