"Vagina (The Dance!)," posted in Honor of Lisa Brown

I'm more than a few news cycles behind on getting this posted here, but, as a result of reading about the controversy surrounding Michigan State Representative Lisa Brown's use of the word "vagina," I came across a lovely piece of dance from Boston's Snappy Dance Theater.  Delicate souls, rest easy: there is no nudity in the video.

Embedding is Disabled:  Click on this video still to open YouTube in a new window.

For those as behind on the news as I am, or who are reading this post in the future, read up on the backstory here:  www.cnn.com/2012/06/21/opinion/brown-kicked-out-for-saying-vagina/index.html.

Gymnastics Fusion

It seems to be fashionable to complain about how there is "too much gymnastics" in contemporary nightclub style belly dance, particularly in regard to influence from the former Soviet Union. I have mixed feelings -- I appreciate athleticism, but generally don't like aggressive styling in the context of traditional belly dance. But anyway, here's an fSU example of belly dance in gymnastics that I think is wonderfully successful fusion. The dancer/athlete is Russian rhythmic gymnast Yulia Sinitsina. Look at the beautiful lyrical lines of her arms and feet.



Here's another clip of the same piece.  The video quality is not as good, but this one has no sports commentator talking over the music, and without the cuts between cameras it's a little easier to both see the composition and appreciate the enormous floor space she covers. 

Charming Dance from China

All I know about this dance is what Google's translator tells me:  "Sixth CCTV Dance Competition Awards "Small Town Rainy"



(Stating the obvious, but to avoid confusion: this is not belly dance.)

Fluid Fabric

What belly dancers call "veil dancing," was quaintly called "manipulation of draperies" by turn-of-the-century modern dancers.   Here's a lovely use of fabric in contemporary modern dance.