Archive for June, 2009
Sahra Saeeda intensive workshop
WEEEE! I bought my ticket and paid for my course!!! I’m taking 20 hours of instruction with Sahar Saeeda! For those who don’t know anything about her, you can visit her online at http://www.sahrasaeeda.com/
She will be coming to Seattle, too, sponsored by MEAI. Check www.middleeastarts.org for more info
Comments: Sahra was an exceptional teacher, as I had expected based on her reputation! I bought her performance DVD #3 and can’t stop watching it. Pick one up! http://www.sahrasaeeda.com/layaliyasmine/Videos.html
So you want to be a professional belly dancer! (performing and teaching)
Written by Mellilah
PERFORMING
Belly dance is such a beautiful art form. People say that this is a “dance for everyone.” It is! Belly dance makes us feel sexy, feminine, and proud of our bodies. Without a lot of training or expertise, you can get instant gratification dancing through an entire song. Belly dancing does not require a particular body type. To do it for fun, you don’t have to have special shoes, you don’t have to be super fit, and you don’t have to have a whole lot of balance, like in so many other dance forms. You can’t fudge your way through tap dancing, etc… But in belly dance, you can dance, dance, dance, by yourself or with others, and feel good about it! It’s fun to watch people you know belly dance, as we can appreciate how hard it is to do some of the movements and isolations. It’s exciting just to see someone come close. We have student recitals just like all other dance forms; however, we also have big celebrations that you don’t see in other dance forms, haflas, belly dance festivals and retreats, etc… So, yes, belly dance is unique in these ways. Yes, it’s a dance for everyone to “enjoy”!
However, an art form would cease to exist if there weren’t some who excelled at it. Those that excel in art, music, sports, etc… are the ones that motivate others to learn it, patronize it, dabble in it, or aspire to be it. Without fine examples, the art form would die. Those that excel become the catalysts and teachers for the dancers of tomorrow.
So, what do I need to learn and how do I know when I’ve reached a professional level? Unfortunately, there’s no black and white answer. So then what? Here are a few things to keep in mind:
1. Just relax, learn, and enjoy the dance and everything will happen as it’s meant to be.
2. Don’t let people discourage you from trying. It’s your “right” to try. It’s this passion to “be,” to learn, that makes life worth living. Although everyone can enjoy the dance, not everyone is cut out to be a professional belly dancer. Just like any other art form, some people never get to the professional level no matter how hard they try. However, even if you remain a student, it’s usually the journey not the destination that matters. (Coming from a schoolteacher, I know that you should never get in the way of someone’s dreams. I’ve seen kids struggle for years and then suddenly blow everyone away. No one knows what another human is capable of and no one knows the true nature of another’s psyche, which plays a huge role in our success.) So, dance your heart away and give it all you’ve got.
3. Be selective and find a good teacher. Take group classes, private lessons, or both.
4. Take workshops but be selective about which ones you choose. If you don’t know, ask your teacher.
5. Get online and watch videos of exceptional belly dancers. Your teacher should be sharing these with you. Study what these dancers do. This is vital to your education as a dancer.
6. Read- Get online and read about the history, rhythms, costumes, traditions, etc… Your teacher should be sharing this with you.
7. Attend shows- See high-quality dancers perform live as much as possible. Ask your teacher which shows are the best. If you are fortunate to have live Middle Eastern bands in your area, attend as many of their shows as possible. Get up and dance when it’s an open dance. Watch any Middle Eastern patrons dance. Notice how they move.
8. Set goals- Plan when you will research/read (How many hours per week?). Decide when and how long you will study videos. Plan your practice time. Practice, practice, practice…
9. Save your money for the most important things. Spend your money on more classes instead of fancy make-up, jewelry or costumes. Ask your teacher before wasting your money on instructional videos, as there’s a lot of junk out there. You can’t learn everything from one person or source but you do want to be selective, so you’re not spinning your wheels. Do your homework and find out. Save your money for the best classes, best shows, best workshops, etc.
10. Help elevate the dance form you are in/joining by voting with your money. Support the shows that showcase only high-quality dancing and pay their artists well. Support your local Middle Eastern musicians. If you have limited funds, save your money for the best shows. The time you spend learning will help you develop a keen eye.
11. Dance Theatre/Fusion Dance- It’s fun but resist the urge to fuse or alter belly dance. First, you need to fully learn belly dance. Later, you can fuse it with other dance forms or use belly dance moves in dance theatre or alternative dance. And if you choose to branch out, label it as such.
12. When you feel ready, do get stage experience at haflas and student recitals and showcases. There are lots of events that are appropriate for gaining stage experience. Ask your teacher for a list.
13. Your responsibility: Do not dance for pay and do not pose as a professional dancer until you are ready. This includes dancing for the general public without announcing that you are a “beginning or intermediate performer.” When shows are presented to the general public by dancers who aren’t at a professional level, it can lead the general public to disrespect the dance form.
TEACHING
Too many dancers jump into teaching too soon and before they are qualified to teach. This comes from poor training, in my opinion. Teaching is a huge responsibility; so take it seriously. Here are some thoughts regarding teaching:
1. Why do you want to teach? Consider the other teachers in your area, the good ones. Are you able to offer the same instruction or better?
2. Be well learned and never stop learning. Take a “real” look at your credentials and your skill sets. What do you need to learn? What are your strengths and weaknessess? Especially if you’re not Middle Eastern, it can take a lifetime to come close to truly figuring out the mystery of the dance, the history, and other dance customs.
2. Be honest- Be ready to be a positive example for your students. Admit when you don’t have the answers, and don’t call yourself a professional anything unless you have truly excelled in that field. Dabbling in something does not make a person an expert. We may have expertise but there is always more to learn.
3. Excelling in your field is not the only prerequisite to teaching. “Teaching” requires more than just dance ability. An excellent dancer is not necessarily an excellent teacher.
4. Teaching belly dance is more than just teaching “moves.”
5. Have full knowledge/understanding of all aspects of belly dance
–Middle Eastern rhythms
–Music interpretation
–Stage presence
–Dancing with live band/musicians
–Body anatomy
–Body awareness and alignment
–Injury prevention
–Proper warm-ups and stretches
–How/when to dance to specific rhythms
–How to dance to different types of music; choosing appropriate movements for the music
–Culture/traditions/customs- What to do/not do in a plethora of environments
–Professionalism/ethics
–Costuming- Appropriate dress for different dances
–Choreography and improvisation
–Middle Eastern instruments
–Use of props
–How to teach music and dance appreciation
–Belly dance movements, isolations, variations, traveling moves
–Knowledge of creating a syllabus/class – Chronology, what’s important /not important
–Knowledge of how to teach- You don’t have to have a teaching degree but you do need to do some work before you start
6. Only start teaching when you can “honestly” say that you have reached a professional level in your field, have a wealth of knowledge to share, understand the responsibilities of teaching people, and have skill in teaching. Talk to your mentor or those you respect about your interest in teaching.
***Mellilah teaches and performs in Seattle, WA. For more info about the author, please visit www.mellilah.com.
PS- Hadia of Canada was asked this question in an interview: What advice do you have for the dancer, both new to the dance and those stepping out into the professional ranks? Here’s her reply, “I think that the first question that an upcoming dancer should ask herself is if she wants to be around for a long time or be a flash in the pan or the flavour of the week. Does she seek quality or quantity? Is she willing to work and work hard and go out of her way to be the very best that she can be? Does she want to touch people’s hearts when she dances or does she want them to see her technique? Is she in a hurry or is she prepared to let this luscious dance form slowly seep into her cells until it is time to unveil another secret and another perspective?” Excerpt taken from Hadia’s Articles. (I took the liberty of correcting a couple of typos from Hadia’s original post.)
What’s in a cover charge?
Sometimes we have a hard time paying the flat fee, cover charge, that is sometimes collected at restaurants and bars that have belly dancing and/or live bands. Especially when the cover charge is high, it’s easy to think that you don’t need to make a purchase of food/drink. However, the reality is that the restaurant and the entertainment need to succeed financially in order for both parties to continue, and it costs a lot of money to put on a show.
Here are some Q&A’s that will shed some light on cover charges:
Does the cover charge go directly to the entertainers? It depends. Ask when you enter.
How much does it cost to pay for a live Middle Eastern band and dancers? A live band can cost between $500-1000 if it’s a regular gig, much more if it’s a one-time event, depending on the number of band members and the type of gig. This money is usually divided equally among the members. A professional belly dancer in Seattle gets paid between $80-120 for regular shows and about double if it’s one-time event or private party. (Band and dancer fees listed are based on the standard for Seattle, WA in 2009.) Remember that this money covers the time spent getting ready, travel time, setting up, wait time, performing, promotional materials, practice time, instruments/props/costuming, etc… for both the musicians and the dancers. This money must come from a cover charge or the establishment must generate additional business to offset the costs.
Are there other expenses in running a show? Yes. Added security, special lighting, or sound equipment are sometimes needed. Some shows require a soundman. The person who works the door may need to get paid. Sometimes the performers pay for these things, sometimes the owner. Either way, the costs must be offset by an increase in patrons, customer purchases, and/or the cover charge.
If the owner allows the performers to collect and keep the cover charge themselves, how many people will be needed in order to pay the performers fairly? With a $10 cover charge, you’d need 70 people just to pay 7 performers $100 each. Look around next time you’re at an event and do the math. It’s super difficult to have a Middle Eastern band and dancer/s with anything less than a $15 cover charge.
If I’ve already paid the cover, then do I need to make a purchase, too? Yes, you should support the establishment, too. If the customers sip on one drink all night or ask for water, the owner will most likely be forced to discontinue the entertainment or find a band that attracts a larger or hungrier crowd. So, if you like the show, you should support it by making a purchase, returning, and spreading the word!
What if the owner is keeping the cover charge? Then, the owner is taking on the risk of losing money instead of the performers, in the event the night is a flop; or the owner may gain if it’s super successful. Hopefully the owner is paying the performers a fair price. If you’re not sure, ask. You’ll still need to support the venue by making purchases, otherwise where will the money come from to pay the performers? Again, the owner may cancel the entertainment if it’s a loss.
The price for drinks/food seems expensive! I’ve seen owners charge more for food/drink to help offset the cost of the entertainment, especially if the performers are keeping the revenue at the door. If the place is absolutely packed, then I would probably complain. Is there a large enough crowd to pay the performers? Are people eating and drinking to support the establishment, too?
(Cover charge multiplied by approximate # of peeps, divided by the # of performers.)
I hope this info sheds some light on why there’s a cover, in hopes that you’ll come out and support the shows that we all love so much without feeling like you’ve been “had.” Because the bottom line is: It costs a lot more than you realize to produce a show. Of course, remember that your money is a vote for the future. So, support the shows that you want to succeed.
Before you leave, don’t forget to tell the owner that you came to see the performers! This will help encourage the owner to support additional shows.
Mellilah has produced several shows, including Middle Eastern shows with belly dancing and live bands and a monthly variety show. For more info about the author, please visit www.mellilah.com
Sustainability and Community
With so many shows which ones should I attend?
My greatest hope is that we will support high-quality shows that showcase talented, high-quality (paid) dancing, from dancers who have “earned the right to dance,” as Hadia says. I think this is how we can elevate our dance form, including all it’s variations (tribal, etc.), and attract / sustain the general public.
Of course we also need to support beginning and intermediate dancers in student recitals, haflas, and other venues not designed for the general public. (And if novice performers dance for the general public, it’s important that the producer labels the performance as such.) Haflas and non-public student recitals provide dancers with lots stage experience and a chance to share with family/friends and fellow dancers. However, more important than performing is practice, practice, practice and taking as many classes as possible, hopefully from teachers who have earned the right to teach. And don’t forget that a huge part of a dancer’s education is seeing/hearing experienced, quality dancers and musicians perform live.
How do you grow to appreciate fine wine?…through education and sampling the best…not by drinking boxed wine! Appreciation of dance is no different.
As teachers, we can and should help our students focus primarily on skill, knowledge and appreciation of the dance and not performance. As students, we should fine tune our palettes and become responsible consumers when it comes to choosing which shows to attend, which classes to take, etc. Remember, that your money is a vote for the future!
Also noteworthy is the fact that we HAVE many musicians who are from the Middle East and several Middle Eastern bands! Everyone, whether or not you wish to perform Egyptian style, can learn from seeing a live Middle Eastern show. Additionally, most communities have a plethora of professional dancers with regular performances. Keep your eyes open for quality shows in your area.
You can only learn so much from classes, DVDs and CDs, and nothing beats seeing the real thing or as close to it as possible. For those who appreciate Egyptian style dancing, “come sip some fine wine” and see some of the best…or experience how to dance to a “real’ band and not just a CD? For other styles, wouldn’t it be awesome to hear the rhythms that are being used in your dance come to life? Wouldn’t it be awesome to keep connected to the roots of the dance so you can experiment / fuse with intention?
If you are looking for a teacher, be smart about it. And even if you like a teacher, look at the facility where he/she is teaching. Is it an organization that upholds your standards? Do you want to give them your money? Is it a school that is selective about who they hire? Have all their teachers earned the right to teach?
Additionally, stand by your principals. Simply stop attending the shows that are allowing non-experienced, beginning or intermediate dancers to perform for the public. (Of course, I am not referring to shows that are produced for a belly dance audience but to those that are open to the public at large.) There are a lot of them! If you stopped attending them, you wouldn’t have the problem of choosing which show to attend. Shows that deserve the attention would be sold out. Other shows would go under. The tides would turn. We aren’t overly saturated with high quality shows! I also recommend supporting the shows that pay their dancers well, a minimum fee that most professional dancers uphold as the current standard. It should be noted that there are a few professionals out there who will dance for less, deliberately undercutting their collegues in order to get more gigs. We can’t stop progress…stop growth, just because we don’t have everyone on our side. Be brave and step up for what you believe and if it’s right, more will follow, leaving the minority behind. These are the shows I will support. (Please note: Sometimes students and upcoming dancers are given a chance to open up a show; in these cases, it’s the producers responsibility to let the audience know that they are watching a beginning, intermediate or up and coming performer.)
Furthermore, ask questions and don’t assume that just because someone calls themselves a professional belly dancer, wears expensive costumes, and has even managed to find a way to perform for pay, that this person is worthy of your patronage and/or worthy of teaching you. There are horrible imposters in every field who injure people and poorly represent their field. Be weary of those self-proclaimed professionals, those hiding behind that next prop that gets attention, those focusing on being seen without honing in on the skill/knowledge, those who really don’t have the knowledge and skill to be performing, let alone teaching.
Keep talking, write, and most importantly vote with your money!
For more info about the author, please visit www.mellilah.com
Dance Flooring: Injury Prevention & Dancer Longevity
Importance of Proper Dance Flooring: Injury Prevention & Dancer Longevity
Written by Mellilah
Don’t forget to check out the dance flooring before taking dance classes or choosing a studio. Dancing on hard surfaces, like concrete, or dancing on flooring that is too soft, can lead to injury and can even end a dancer’s career.
Dancing on hard floors can produce serious return shock waves, causing premature wear on cartilage and damage to muscles and joints. Basically, there’s no decompression of the surface when your feet hit the floor, so all the force just pounds up into your legs, instead of having some of the force dissipating into a floor that moves a little. In contrast, dancing on a floor that is too soft can cause the muscles and tendons to work harder. A dance floor needs the right about of energy absorption and flexibility, which will differ slightly according to the type of dance/activity.
Educating yourself is the key to your safety. I was just in a gym and noticed that the floor in the aerobics room has a thin wood or faux wood surface directly over concrete. Keep in mind that just because the facility ’should’ be looking out for your safety, doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the case. Sometimes owners are more interested in saving a buck.
Guidelines and Suggestions for Safe Dancing:
~Look for sprung (or semi-sprung) sub-floors, also known as floating floors
~Find out what’s under the surface? Just because you see wood, doesn’t mean it’s safe.
~Avoid dancing on concrete!!
~Avoid squishy surfaces
~Avoid uneven surfaces
~Look for floors that are clean, unpolished, and not waxed
~Ask the teacher or a staff member about the floor
~Carpeted area? Pull up a corner of the carpet and visibly see what is underneath
~Test the floor. Knock on the floor with your knuckles to see how much give it has. Jump on the floor and see if it seems to absorb some of the shock
~Consider the type of dance/exercise you will be doing. The more jumping, bouncing and/or propelling into the air, the better the floor must be. Higher Impact = Better Flooring
~How often will you be dancing on the floor? Increased Frequency = Better Flooring
~If you will be dancing barefoot, you’ll need to avoid abrasive or slippery surfaces
~If you must dance on a hard surface, wear dance sneakers, use good technique, limit duration, and stick with low impact movements
Some Effects of Dancing on Poor Dance Flooring:
Shin splints
Stress fractures
Inflamed ligaments and joints
Joint damage to ankles, knees, and hips
Damage to the spinal vertebrae
Premature wear of cartilage
Damage to muscles
Achilles tendonitis
Articles for Further Reading:(Be sure to push the back button to return to my blog!)
Flooring it: one key to dancing well–and long–is right beneath your feet.
The Facts About Sprung Floors for Dance
Flooring Ergonomics
Flooring for Dance, Theatre and Performing Arts (Read: What You Need to Know)
National Floor Standard
Wikipedia: Sprung Floor
Harlequin Floors: Considerations for Choosing a Dance Floor
Dance Floor Expert Tips
Dancer’s Health A Medical Resource – Reflexology for Dancer’s Feet
How to Keep Feet From Hurting When Dancing
ANS E1 .26-2006 (Scroll down to find floor standard)
Mellilah is a trained fitness instructor and belly dance performer and instructor. For more info about the author, visit www.mellilah.com
