Male dancers are breaking gender stereotypes and making Insta-waves doing voguing, belly dancing, and even pole dancing.
Some men love to dance, not because they are gay. They dance simply because they love dancing. Dance was never limited to one specific gender. Professional dancers know that being a graceful dancer does not mean that you are not strong. There are so many myths surrounding the dance profession, but every negative thought will vanish once you see the passion and energy the male dancers have, and they are breaking stereotypes by dancing the way they like.
In this post, I am going to talk about 3 of my favourite male dancers who I follow on Instagram. Their followers are constantly growing, they have performed at many prestigious venues, and they continue to spread the love of dance.
Eshan Hilal – Belly Dancer
As a boy discovering his true calling as a belly dancer, Eshan got a lot of beatings from his father. A Muslim boy dancing a seductive, feminine dance was going too far. As he now courageously tells about his struggle with bullying from family and friends, he knows he is on the right path when many male as well as female dancers want to dance just like him. From dancing to Bollywood songs to getting trained in Kathak (Indian classical dance) and jazz heels, he never stops learning and growing his passion for dance. As the distance from his family became farther, he gained more followers and fans after appearing in an Indian dance reality show. He has performed at corporate events, art festivals, and even got invited to perform at international art and dance festivals.
He is an amazing belly dancer because:
His facial expressions are as graceful as his moves. He understands that as a performer, his dance needs to connect with the audience, and he includes variety in his choreography. Each belly dance step has clarity and rhythm. His moves have charisma and boldness.
“For me, worshipping is my dance. I feel connected to God. My blood cells dance with me. When I dance I feel my existence on this planet. I feel like this is the purpose I’m here for”
“People assume that I am homosexual or a bisexual or a transgender, just because I am a male dancer. Dance is not about gender or sexuality, it is an expression of emotions.”
“I am a boy, but I can wear a skirt and rock it”
Cris Saez – Pole Dancer
Cris Saez is about breaking gender stereotypes with the help of his family and friends. He is from Chile, and he has studied industrial engineering. When one of his friends invited him to her pole dancing class, Cris was curious to find out about it. He converted from an adventure-sporty guy practising callisthenics to liking and then loving the bodyweight anti-gravity challenge on a pole. Learning to use a pole consistently in class as well as at home, he always made sure to start slow and use cushioned mats for safety from any falls. He soon got interested in pole dancing competitions, where he represented not just Chile but all of Latin America. He is aware of the financial struggles faced by most Latin Americans who do not get the opportunity to travel to foreign countries.
He is an amazing pole dancer because:
Cris has evolved from being a strong pole dancer to an artist. He experiments with music that may or may not be exotic but can be softly lyrical, industrial techno, and even spiritual. His approach to dancing is to explore movement as a gymnast, as if the pole were an extension of his body and mind. You will never find a copy anywhere like Cris’s in the way he translates movement into a symphony of expressions.
“I like acrobatic movements. I love turns and flips—dynamic movements. I find movements that require a lot of flexibility more difficult, because you are not as flexible if you are as muscular as I am.”
On people accepting pole sport for Olympics someday, Cris says
“That would be a huge step forward, because there are still so many people who don’t know this sport at all or have quite a bit of prejudice. But if they actually watch it – on YouTube or in real life – then they are usually totally thrilled. That’s why we need more publicity.”
Mark Kanemura – Contemporary/Jazz Dancer
When I saw Mark dancing in So You Think You Can Dance America, season 4, I fell in love with his quirky contemporary dance just like everyone else. He amazed the judges by emulating a deep understanding of a character sketch while dancing. Very soon he was seen performing with a Broadway ensemble and also appeared in many music videos for Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson, and Katy Perry, to name a few. His students love his choreography, which has his distinct style of flare and spark.
He’s been dancing actively on stage since he was a teenager. He has training in ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, funk, and hip-hop dance forms. During lockdown, he conducted live Instagram dance parties for his followers with easy-to-follow choreography and encouraged the audience to stay positive during tough times. He loves to create fab videos where he literally shakes off one awesome, colourful wig after another. He insists on taking the risk and being your unique, authentic self. Even when some people criticise you online, as a content creator, you have to know how to deal with it so it does not impact your mental health.
He is an amazing contemporary/jazz dancer because:
His years of training in different dance forms show in his techniques, yet he has been able to carve out his uniqueness. The way he portrays characters in his dances tells a story that is absolutely amazing.
“I love that it’s inspired people to take time for themselves to be silly, to dance, to express themselves. I think that’s so important, especially right now, when everything feels a bit heavy. As we grow up, we lose a sense of play that I think is so vital. Doing these videos, it’s been like a return to my childhood. I’m tapping into my inner child, instead of focusing on being perfect, or whatever my idea of perfection is. It’s been therapeutic for me, really.”
“As humans, we were born to connect with others, and there’s only so much we can do on our own. I wouldn’t be here today without my sisters and the friends I’ve gained along the way.”
Final Thoughts
Whatever your gender, everyone goes through moments of uncertainty in their professional and personal lives. Learning to dance is part of understanding your connection to your body, rhythm, and God. And real connection between a performer and an audience does not require stereotypes set by society. It’s risky to do something that has never been done before, but ultimately, your gift as an artist is the only thing that will bring you closer to yourself and to the world.
References
‘My parents beat me to stop me becoming a belly dancer’, by Geeta Pandey, 11 August 2018.
https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-45134758
“This is only for strong men”: Photos of the Pole Dance World Championship, by Sirin Kale and Alice Zoo.
How Mark Kanemura—Artist, Activist, and All-Around Icon—Became Our Internet Dance Mascot by Allison Feller on April 7, 2020.
strongfitnessmoves 
What a coincidence. We just ran an article about a male Odissi dancer (which is a predominantly female-based Indian dance) who hones his craft despite the cultural taboo. It’s lovely to see people pursue their dreams no matter the obstacles. Anyway, thanks for this post!
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Yes, there are very few but amazing male dancers who like to learn Indian classical dance. Even fewer who go on to pursue it as a profession. If anyone keeps watching any classical dance offline or online, they start understanding it’s depth. Then you can only see the dance and not the gender of a dancer. Thank you so much, Stuart, for liking this post. Have a cool Sunday. 😎
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Love your post Ranjana! I totally agree with you. What talent and expression through dance that always is a gift! 💞
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Thank you so much, Cindy. Really missed your blog posts and comments.
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Great post Ranjana! Thank you for introducing me to some very talented male dancers. It’s such a beautiful thing to express yourself through movement. Thanks for sharing!
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I am glad you liked this post, Winnie. Expressing yourself through movement is really an amazing feeling, and it should never be constrained by gender stereotypes.
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I love this! Glad we are in a time where people can explore their interests and hobbies regardless of gender – I hope things only continue to get better and these men keep making art!
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Thanks Carl. You are right, times are changing fast and for the better. Art and artists are not confined to gender stereotypes and families and friends support makes a lot of difference.
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Absolutely love this! It makes my dancer heart smile, thank you so much for this, it was a pleasure to read!
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In glad that you loved reading this post, Jackie. I love to connect to dancers and artists. Peace and love 🙏
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That’s awesome! I don’t know much about dancers’ names but this gives good insight. Thank you for sharing!
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Thank you so much for reading and liking this post, Fransic. Have a nice day 😊
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These men are doing a great job breaking down barriers and yes, dance is about your body not gender stereotypes.
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Thanks for reading and liking this post, Pooja. Courage comes from accepting yourself and investing time in self-care.
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My pleasure and yes I agree.
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