Male belly dancers break taboos in Egypt
While being shunned by conservative Egyptian society, male belly dancers are claiming their right to participate in the art form.
At a wedding party in one of Cairo’s hotels, a young man was encouraged to belly dance for the guests. His dancing astonished some of those present. A few of them applauded him, some laughed at him, while others rejected him.
Ramy, 23, who was born in a small village in Sharqeya governorate, traveled all the way to Cairo alone, after his father ejected him for insisting on practicing dancing.
“Being rejected by my society and family is very cruel. Some people cannot understand that Oriental dancing is an art form that can be practiced by men and women,” Ramy, who refused to reveal his full name, told Al-Monitor.
Although some Egyptian men have no problem shaking their hips and bodies while dancing in weddings or parties to have fun, the male belly dancing profession is regarded by many Egyptians as taboo. Performers are regarded as being gay, which faces widespread opposition in Egypt.
