So, after reading much discussion on another forum, I've decided that I am NOT teaching a bellydance class this year, because I have nothing period to teach.

Now, before we get all "but you should" here, I make this decision not out of anger, but out of the realization that I can't be a hypocrite. I can't complain about the lack of period clothing, and the presence of melodia pants and "belly bunnies" at Pennsic, and then teach a class that teaches non-period dance moves, and encourages the burning man east mentality.

I love that so many folkloric classes are being taught, and "period-feeling" classes are being offered- it makes me excited to take them!

And I also would like to ask everyone teaching something "non-period" to think about why they are teaching it, and if it benefits the historical goals of the SCA. I don't want someone coming to Pennsic just to bellydance- I want someone to come to experience everything we love about it, and maybe learn a little bit more. And considering I can find bellydance classes anywhere but I cannot find "Ottoman line dances" anywhere, I'm glad that there's a distinction. :)

Note: I am not criticizing someone who chooses to teach a non-period class- dancing will happen, and I'd rather it be good dancing, rather than just a "whole lot of shakin'". But I do want to see some of the "belly bunnies" go away- and by limiting the amount of non-period classes, I feel that could help.

Note the second: I am NOT posting this to open a whole can of worms, although I certainly realize that could be a consequence of this post. I will willingly delete my initial post if it leads to any kind of flaming on this tribe.

And as my Baron has decreed that "bellydancing" needs to come back into our Barony, I look forward to obtaining all sorts of period info to bring home and share with my fellow dancers.

~Amy