My dudefriend liked my dancing skills so much he wanted to learn so he could keep up with me.

And he has quite a heaping mound of costuming opinions, dance style opinions and everything else. And he gets very irritated by bad costuming in almost an homosexual sense. He is far more vindictive of ill-fitted costumes or ones that are over-exposing or under done or cheap or . . .or . . . he is very picky, and outspoken about costumes.

And technique. He could complain about indigo belly dance!!

So on the whole, yes. Men are picky about the whole area of bellydance.

Hehehe, Kat, that was exactly what I was thinking.
If my fiance had a problem with my bellydance habit, I'd tell him not to let the door hit him on the way out.
srsly

My DH of 32 years has never begrudged me ONE PENNY OR ONE MOMENT I have spent in dance, even though at times I have gone overboard with time and money. He says it is because he sees the joy it brings me and that makes him happy. He enjoys watching the dance, socializing with the members of the troupe (spouses as well) and drumming with our drum circle, which includes several of the spouses.
I know my opinion doesn't really matter, but IMHO, if you aren't married to the guy, or if he is not your sole means of support, he doesn't really have the right to tell you if you can continue or not. Sends up a big red flag of a control issue.

mmmmmmmmm...sparkleys......mmmmmmm :D

No apologies necessary, Zina. It's interesting to see how everyone's partners feel about their dancing. There is probably a far greater and more positive range of reactions now compared to how it would have been just a few generations ago, when everyone generally assumed that if a woman was bellydancing for an audience then she was (to quote what I heard from an older gentleman) "ready to give it away".

"Please be assured everything is consensual. :) "

I think that's all the assurance folks need. :)

My husband is extremely supportive of my "habit" and he's told me on more than one occasion that he really likes what bellydance is doing for my spirit AND my body. As of yet, he hasn't decided which style he likes best since I'm a baby-dancer and haven't been doing it very long but whatever I choose to do, he's on board with me.

my huband loved tribal fusion from the get go. he loves the outfits, snakey moves, isolations, attitude,he has become a connoisseur.he tells me what he thinks of mine and others moves,outfits,etc. i value his opion but as i try to develop my own style, i dont think he appreciates that its good to step out of the box and try different things . like i would like to study a bit of cabaret, folk. appart from that he is a gem, drives me to workshops,puts up with me giggling in front of the mirror while he watches tv,bless all bellydancer`s partners!

I've been married for 40 years and dancing off and on for 35 of those years. Over the years I've studied and performed American Cabaret, Turkish, Rom, ATS, folkloric and dark fusion (my own personal fave). I've never heard one word of criticism from my husband about what I do or how much it costs. He does have some trouble understanding why I can no longer wear the costumes I aquired back in the '70's (duh, they're 3 sizes too small, hello!). I took him with me costume shopping about 3 months ago. He didn't ask how much, just grinned when I walked out in my new bedlah. I know he doesn't like dark fusion, but he still has an honest look of pride and admiration on his face when he watches me dance. He's my biggest fan and biggest critic. But, I don't dance for him or with his permission. I dance for me and me, alone. It's what I do. I am a dancer; a dancer dances... because she feels the rhythm in her soul. No man should ever tell a woman she can't dance or dictate to her which style to perform when she does dance. There's a word for men like that... they're called the Taliban.

Without getting into specifics about my relationship, I am allowed to continue belly dance (spending time & $$$ on lessons and costuming) as long as I show progress in a manner pleasing to my significant other

You're WHAT?? "ALLOWED" to take lessons, get costuming etc...?? Sister, that chit doesn't wash with me... If my man EVER stipulated 'conditions' concerning my personal activities, he'd be out the door so fast it would make his head spin!!!
Absolutely NO man has the right to put conditions on what you do with your life... You're right, I don't know anything about your relationship other than what you posted, and I should probably mind my own business, but I've been on this planet 59 hard years, and have had my share of controlling relationships. Well that chit don't fly no more.
I'm assuming (from the way you worded it) that he's paying all the expenses involved in your dancing interest. EVEN SO - IT SHOULD NOT COME TO CONDITIONS. HE DOESN'T OWN YOU. HE'S DOING IT OF HIS OWN FREE WILL, AND SHOULD BE DEMANDING NOTHING IN RETURN, even if it's 'only' "showing progress in a manner pleasing to".... PLEASE.
Get a job... pay for your own classes. That way you can tell him to take a hike the next time he has anything to say about it.
ALL THAT SAID... I support you in your endeavor, and hope you find dance as rewarding as I have.;-) (Hope you find it in your heart to forgive my rant)
BTW, my hubby completely, absolutely without a shadow of a doubt LOVES my dancing. He has developed a good eye for good dancing, too, and often offers critiques of dancers' performances (whether I wanna hear it or not, lol!) But the bottom line here is, I dance because I want to,... Not because I need to please someone else.
K, I'll STFU now....... peace to u ;-)