There are a few things I really miss about living in a big city. I miss the noise, the life, the bustle and energy of it all. But what I really miss is having options. I miss being able to do things, go places, and try different things.
When I lived in Chicago I was able to do and try lots of things. It was a virtual cornucopia of experiences. If you wanted to try it, I promise there was someplace in Chicago you could. And even better is NYC. Anything you can dream of exists in NYC.
So imagine my disappointment of being in a small city, one with virtually no culture. A dry and deserted rust belt of a city. Filled with nothing but poor jobs, hopeless people, and a lot of arrogant attitude that we are somehow better than our neighboring cities.
So why hip scarves and shimmy belts?
Well before I left Chicago I took up both Turkish and Egyptian belly dance. And I loved it.
I would never be a performer, nor did I ever think about doing the dreaded dance recitals, but I loved the movement, I loved the freedom and expression.
This is a dance that celebrates femininity. It is about being sexy and strong, using your curves in ways that modern culture considers taboo.
Women are either expected to be strippers of ballroom dancers, the idea of using slow beautiful movements is just too much.
Where I am living now, there is only one class in the entire city that offers Belly Dance, and it isn’t even traditional. It’s some fusion nonsense trying to make this into some form of aerobics workout like bastardize Jazzercise of the 80s.
It’s one of the reasons I am considering leaving this place.
It’s a hard decision to make.
But I miss having the option to do things, to enjoy, to be alive.
I miss my hip scarves and shimmy belts.