To me, it sounds as if the Bellydance V Burlesque argument/debate is becoming as much an argument over semantics as it is one of 'appropriate' behaviour.
It is important to keep on track with the issue in hand.
It is interesting to note that some opposing sides often seem to be defining 'burlesque' according to their argument. Thus in essence, they are not arguing over the same thing and (as usual) the word 'burlesque' is being misused over and over. This is really unhelpful and unfair to many burlesque acts who are being misrepresented.
Perhaps it would be helpful to decide on exactly what the issue is -
and name it appropriately. When saying 'Bellydance V Burlesque' - it seems that people could be referring to (or inferring from) many different issues:
- Bellydance V Burlesque (perhaps bellydancers do not like to be 'sent up'? perhaps they feel their craft should not be made light of?)
- Bellydance V Striptease (perhaps bellydancers do not like to be associated with a tradition of the adult/sex industry?)
- Bellydance V Burlesque-Striptease (perhaps bellydancers do not like to be made fun of in a sexually provocative way?)
It seems most likely that it is the issue of sexual/adult based association, rather than feeling peevish over being made fun of by satirists/comedians. If so, then this is an issue of Bellydance V Striptease. This is a much more clearly defined issue and actually, has nothing to do with burlesque.
It is important to consider that performers of
any tradition will always feel concern over a new hybrid form which involves their own craft - i.e. bellydance-striptease or bellydance-burlesque or burlesque-striptease and so on.
Traditionalist bellydancers will naturally be concerned about the loss of 'identity' when the defining characteristics of the two constituent parts of the new hybrid form, ultimately become blurred, over time.
This is essentially what has happened to 'burlesque' - and explains why there is a lot of confusion over it's meaning.
Burlesque had nothing to do with striptease until the early 20th century - when a hybrid form was created for the US adult market. Almost immediately, the lines were blurred - especially in America.
Fortunately for us in Britain, there are still plenty of traditional burlesquers to uphold the traditional form too, however, they are unfortunately having to battle to preserve the identity of 'burlesque' itself.
My suggestion for a possible solution:
Perhaps if the bellydancing pioneers of the new hybrid form in question, can coin an entirely new phrase of their own? If so, perhaps people will be more accepting to it as an entirely new thing - one to be judged on it's own merits?