I tried to comment also Andrea and ran into the same problem. I agree that Empress Mo has some definite self-identity issues despite her assertion of being a proud Yoruban.

Normally I try to avoid controversy or getting into the typical arguments that come up in the belly dance community, but I found myself very upset and offended by many of the statements made in her article. For someone who seems very educated, it appears to me that she is playing into a lot of stereotypes created by the media:

"The dances I see that represent Black Africa are gawky, boisterous, large affairs; they lack the restrained sort of grace I
find in belly dance and flamenco. I have to face it, they don’t make it on the list of Exotic Sensuous & Graceful, the list
where we find the beautiful women of the Middle East, the Far East, Polynesia, and the Iberian Peninsula . The same
words that are used for many of these dances – elegant, sophisticated, erotic, mysterious, feminine, flowing – are not
often used to describe the dances of ‘my’ people. The Black African dances, earn words like “energetic”, said with a
shadow of a patronising tone..."

- WTF! First to compare the dances of what I am assuming is West African (I say West African, because that is the
streotypical dance that supposedly represents African dance even though there are hundreds of other ethic dances
performed in Sub-Saharan Africa) to belly dance as we know it today is completely ridiculous. Raks Sharqi even as it is
performed in Egypt is a dance that has evolved over time and is much more refined than its Beledi counterpart and other
regional folk dances found thoughout Egypt and even the rest of Northern Africa. Take Samia Gamal for instance, she
was sent to Europe to train in Ballet, because they thought her native dance style was not refined enough for the Golden
Cinema. The dances of the Bedouin who can be found in Egypt and the rest of North Africa look much more "raw" if
you were to compare them to a Raks Sharqi dance.

- Movements found in "Belly Dance" are African in origin. I knew that before I even took my first class. They have simply
been translated into the rest of the cultures in North Africa and beyond. I was reminded of this during a dance lesson
while I was in Egypt. During the lesson, I was doing the shimmy and my instructor, Nagua Sultan (a golden age era
Egyptian cinema star) wanted me to go faster. I was going as fast as I could, so in order to go even faster I shifted my
weight onto the balls of my feet. She stopped me and said "This is African what you are doing - not Raqs Sharqi! African
dance is one thing, Raks Sharqi another!" I immediately reshifted my weight back to my heels and she was happy again
kissing me on my cheek and proclaiming, "Now that is Raks Sharqi!"

- To say that "elegant, sophisticated, erotic, mysterious, feminine, flowing – are not often used to describe the dances of
‘my’ people" is a very misguided statement. I wouldn't say that about the dances of the Bedouin. I would use words like
soulful and emotional to descibe their dance. If you want to see elgance, sophistication, and eroticism in Western
standards, than look at the Alvin Ailey dance company, because at this point she's comparing apples and oranges here.
The Alvin Ailey dance company presents a modern interpretation of an indigenous dance just as Raks Sharqi is a
modern interpretation (when speaking in Ancient terms) of Egyptian indigenous dance.

"Where is our beautiful dance, I wonder, the one where we move like a serpent, a quiet flame, a lazy tiger?"

-These are western ideas and fantasies! Based on her statements regarding her interest in Tribal Fusion, I can tell that
this is an element of the dance that she likes. She should, however realize that this an element of the dance that was in
large part created in the USA! So to long for a dance over there that is similar to a style that was created over here is
insane. Furthermore, to insult a dance in Africa that is not like tribal fusion, for example is downright ignorant!

"I am ashamed of the “African Dance versus Belly Dance”, enraged at white women dressed like Clan of the Cave
leaping about in an almost mockery of ‘my’ people, then bowing to the serene and gossamer-clad belly dancer. I am
ashamed that I look to the dances of other lands and other people."

-I have not seen any of these images, but don't doubt they exist. I wouldn't say that I would be ashamed though, but rather
very angry, because these are ignorant stereotypes. An ignorant representation of my people would never make me
feel ashamed because I have enough sense to know that African culture is much more rich, diverse, beautiful, feminine,
expressive, sensual, powerful, and inspiring than that!

I apologize if I was all over the place, I could say so much more but I'm very interested in what everyone else thinks.