Being Part of the Solution

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:

• We have the "nice factor", where most of us believe that everyone should be allowed to belly dance and that all art is valuable.  No one wants the be the one who spoils the enjoyment of the majority of belly dancers who are hobbyists looking for something fun to do at the weekend.
• We have a respect for our elders, even when they are not our betters.  In fact we tend to have a seesaw of skills in our industry - young dancers have the energy, then they develop skills..... as they hit their 30's and 40's their stagecraft improves but their energy drops.... and then the 50's and 60's is a time when the passion, storytelling and emotion is growing, but the technique and skills are fading.... Of course not everyone follows this seesaw, but many of us wish we could have the energy of a 19 year old and the wisdom of someone in their 70's.  Every "age" of belly dancer values a slightly different set of skills, and can become jealous of the skills they see in others. Older dancers, and those who have been in the industry for many years, set the tone and expected norms for younger dancers coming in.  If they have always eaten fried chicken in the changing rooms, new dancers are expected to accept grease stains on their costumes as a badge of honor.
• We are a young industry.  While there have been belly dancers in the USA since the days of Vaudeville, it is still a "Clan" society.  Many dancers only mix with dancers within their own city or dance style and will exclude and undervalue "outsiders" from discussions.  If we want to raise the standards within the belly dance world, we have to pull everyone together and learn to work towards common aims.
• We have a money loop.  There is very little money coming into our industry, but plenty moving around in the loop.  What is the money loop ? - Dancer A buys a lesson from Dancer B, who buys a costume from Dancer C, who pays to see a show by Dancer D, who goes to a workshop by Dancer E, who buys a CD from Dancer A - and so the same $20 travels around the business of belly dance and everyone gets what they want, as long as they don't want to get rich.

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​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 !

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​And how do we solve these problems ?  I think that simply being aware of the problems would be a good start.  Somethings we have to accept, and others we can help to change.  No one wants to put a stop to the fun, but we are looking to the teachers, event organizers, workshop hosts and industry influencers to set a tone, promote positivity and encourage others to raise the standards of both behavior and performance.

One of the reasons that I wanted to write our book "Becoming a Belly Dancer", was that I was tired of hearing the same "moan" in one form or another.  The statement that starts with: "Someone should tell her...(not to wear socks on stage/that her underwear is showing/that her teacher is a fake/not to flirt with that drummer.....)

I kept asking myself why everyone thought it was someone else's job - and I guess the answer is that it is HARD to have those conversations with other dancers.  Its hard not to seem snobby, or interfering or having a hidden agenda.  Its hard to ask the older lady to remove her fried chicken from your changing area, or to lend an underskirt to the performer who shows too much.

"Becoming a Belly Dancer" has been written from a place of love, with a positive tone and an honest hope of helping to raise the industry to the point where there is more work for the professionals and more fun for everyone. I really hope that it will be a conversation starter for other belly dancers.

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​Finally, here are a few ideas on how to be a positive force in the belly dance industry:

• Be upbeat, friendly and positive in all that you do.  Smile at everyone, thank everyone, support everyone. Remember that there is a difference between being a nice person and being part of the "nice factor" problem. If you build a reputation as a person who is invested in the business of belly dance, others will take your suggestions about improvements as helpful hints.
• When you wear a "leader" badge, do so with pride.  If you are a teacher, event host, blogger or touring artist, step up to that leadership role and don't be afraid to set up expectations and boundaries.
• Mix with dancers who are outside your "clan".  Even if you can't attend the big events, follow the blogs, webinars, podcasts, buy books and magazines.  Make friends with strangers and be open to new ideas.
• Promote others to help them make money.  Even if you can't go to an event or afford the class/DVD/book... promote it to your class mates and social media contacts.  If there is a fun show happening, ask around to see if any of your friends and family would like to join you.  You don't have to be a full time sales person for belly dance Inc - but be aware of the money loop and help support your local and not so local community.
• Finally, every time you feel that moan coming on, be that in person or on social media, think about how you can turn it around into a positive call to action.  Not enough students in your class? - Can you do a promotion, post a cool photo, ask your students to hand out flyers ?   Whatever your problem, there is always a solution, we just have to look for them.

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. 

Belly Dance Business Academy

If you like this blog, go back to the blog page, for others you might like including: 

• 10 Simple Steps to Writing a Choreography
  
  
• The History of Belly Dance - Where to Start


• Preparing a Bio Ahead of Time​

​​Being Part of the Solution

I'm Perfect for Belly Dance (and so are you)

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​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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Amazon

Teaching Belly Dance

Becoming a Belly Dancer