Being Part of the Solution
5/16/2016
Updated 4/22/19 Lets start with a little bit of negativity for a change : belly dancers moan. They moan about the lack of good teachers, the lack of good students, about gigs, no gigs, cheap gigs, they moan about changing rooms, running orders, costume prices, musicians and dirty floors. I am pretty sure its not a belly dancer thing - everyone moans. I bet the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker all do just as much moaning. Belly dancers want to see better belly dance, done to a professional level at professional venues for professional pay - but most don't know how to make that dream a reality. We have some other issues in the belly dance "industry" that we struggle to deal with that increase the problem:
When I first heard about the Belly Dance Business Academy I saw a parallel in our aims. The BDBA wants to provide tools for those in the business of belly dance to help them make the most of their skills and talents. They want to take the best practice and share it with others, provide motivation, support and practical advice to help teachers, event organizers and touring artists. I was hugely honored to be asked to join their teaching team. The first class I produced for them is already live ' Event Hosts: Setting up expectations of changing room ethics" - its a free class and includes the flyer that I put up at events to explain the "rules" that I expect. Something as simple as putting up changing room rules can help prevent event drama and elevate the standards of expected behavior in a community. I see The Belly Dance Business Academy as the perfect way for me to reach a wider world of belly dancers and continue with my passion - helping others to enjoy belly dance ! Finally, here are a few ideas on how to be a positive force in the belly dance industry:
Thank you for listening to my "moan". With a little positivity and a whole lot of working together we can enjoy watching our industry continue to go from strength to strength. Full disclosure - since writing this blog post Sara has become a co-owner of the Belly Dance Business Academy. If you like this blog, go back to the blog page, for others you might like including:
Being Part of the Solution I'm Perfect for Belly Dance (and so are you) Sara Shrapnell is a belly dance writer, teacher and performer. She has taught more than 5,000 belly dance classes, both in the UK and US. She now teaches in Pleasanton, Dublin and Livermore in the SF bay area, as well as workshops world wide and on-line via the Belly Dance Business Academy. Her classes are known for their humor, detailed breakdowns and cultural context. Students who have studied with Sara have gone on to teach and perform in all styles of belly dance and many have made their living through performance or teaching. Sara has written two books: “Teaching Belly Dance” "Becoming a Belly Dancer: From Student to Stage", co- written with Dawn Devine, Alisha Westerfeld and Poppy Maya. Both are available through Amazon.
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