Belly dancing & burlesque

I've always had a strong antipathy towards 'exotic' dancing, seeing it as an extension of the objectification of women's bodies.  And as someone not always comfortable with her body, I've been very aware of the fact that this objectification often distorts women's body shape or their sense of what's acceptable.

But in recent years, women have reclaimed some forms of dance, and it's become an area of discussion for feminists.

I'm stll not quite sure what I think about pole dancing, and burlesque, but on Friday night I belly danced, and also enjoyed watching a belly dancer in a Lebanese restaurant in Cardiff.  And I realised that she was enjoying dancing, that there can be female enjoyment in these activities for their own sake.

Not going to start bellydancing regularly mind you, far too energetic for me.  But glad that I've mellowed a bit in my old age.