Nicole Whitney was waiting to find out her audition time for 91原创 Has Talent 2014.
The local bellydancer had filled out her application and been accepted. She said the orgnizers had asked for and were satisfied with her explanation about her double sword dance. They are decorative (not sharpened) and balanced on her during the dance.
芒鈧揟his is something I芒鈧劉m proud of,芒鈧� she said of her dancing.
Instead of an audition time, 51-year-old mother received an email saying she could not be part of the amateur talent contest hosted by the Rotary Club.
芒鈧揂ll the other dancers can come, just not me,芒鈧� she commented.
Whitney said her style of bellydance reveals little and noted that other forms of dance, such as modern dance, have much skimpier costumes.
芒鈧揥here are they going to draw the line?芒鈧� she wondered.
Rotary has use of the Christian Life Assembly church which said it would not allow bellydancing.
芒鈧揑 guess my act isn芒鈧劉t good enough for God,芒鈧� Whitney said of her disappointing news. 芒鈧揟hey assume I芒鈧劉m doing something seedy.芒鈧�
91原创 Has Talent, now in its fourth year, is a vehicle to raise funds to construct a performing arts venue in 91原创.
芒鈧揟he fact is the church gets to make the final call and the perception is that belly dancing would be questionable among their membership because it shows more skin than they are OK with,芒鈧� organizer Lisa Luongo-Smoth wrote in her email to Whitney. 芒鈧揥e have to respect the rules of the church as we are guests there.芒鈧�
Peter Luongo is chairman of the show芒鈧劉s committee and said the 1,500-seat Christian Life Assembly church is the only facility in 91原创 big enough to host the contest.
芒鈧揟he church has stipulations on what can go on inside (the building),芒鈧� he said of the rental deal. 芒鈧漌e have been asked by the church to please honour this sanctuary. I芒鈧劉m in a position where I want to make sure we don芒鈧劉t offend our hosts芒鈧� We are not trying to censor anyone, it is honouring our hosts芒鈧劉 wishes.芒鈧�
The rental of the Christian Life Assembly will cost $2,000 to $3,000, said Luongo.
Both an administrator with the Christian Life Assembly and pastor Brent Cantelon didn芒鈧劉t respond to repeated Province calls for an interview.
Whitney said she was shocked about the assumptions made about this ancient form of dance and said people need to be educated about the true nature and history of bellydance. It celebrates and honours womanhood and dance, she said.
芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s the most family friendly thing I芒鈧劉ve probably been involved in,芒鈧� Whitney said.
She admits she knew little about it when she started about eight years ago.
芒鈧揑 started with my daughter on a dare,芒鈧� she noted.
They signed up at a recreation centre. Whitney said in addition to helping her lose weight, it芒鈧劉s improved her health and fitness. The troupe she dances with performs at events such as Canada Day, charity fundraisers, and the occasional wedding. She teaches informally and has students ranging from children to seniors.
芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s literally all ages and backgrounds,芒鈧� she said.
芒鈧�� With files from the Vancouver Province
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