Rising to the Top: Thoughts on Professionalism in Bellydance

By Zahirah and Nerissa

So you think you're ready to perform professionally. You've been taking weekly classes for a long time and have a firm grasp on the movements, you have spent hours and hours practicing in your living room, understand the differences between Turkish Rom and Saidi, have built up quite a bellydance music collection and purchased your first professional costume. Before you delve into the professional world of bellydance, that is, trading dance performance for monetary income, there are some things that you may want to keep in mind.

People who have never seen a belly dancer before may attend your show. You will always be their idea of a belly dancer and what you do in your performance will mold their opinion of the community and the dance tradition itself. When they talk about your show, make sure they say good things because you are responsible for the entire bellydance community at large. When you perform, you represent each and every belly dancer in our community and beyond.

This is why being a true professional is important. Would you consider attempting brain surgery without adequate training? Or going to the office in your cleaning day jeans and a bikini top? Or working a 40-hour workweek and offering your services for less-than-acceptable wages?

While many of us try to uphold a very professional image in our "work life", we lower our standards when it comes to dancing. Perhaps we see dancing as a "hobby" and something we do for fun and don't need to take it seriously. Whatever your personal reasons for dancing are, always remember that there are other dancers in the community that take dancing very seriously, struggle to give it a good name and try to help the public to regard it as an art form on the same level as ballet, tap or jazz dance.

In planning your show, you want to reflect an image of class and elegance. Your costume must be professional. Whether it is homemade or bought from an Egyptian vendor, it must be of good quality and not show signs of wear from the stage. If you choose to make your own top by covering a bra from Victoria's Secret, make sure that no one in the audience would know that the bra was from the mall. That looks cheap and tacky and dissolves the 'belly dancer' mystique. Also, your costume should be something that you would feel comfortable wearing in front of your grandmother. If the skirt is sheer or too revealing, you may want to wear harem pants underneath or dance briefs to cover your entire booty. While you may think that you can get away with wearing something very skimpy, please remember whom your audience is because in most cases, it isn't appropriate to show too much skin. If you are going for the "sexy look," your sensuality should be reflected in your gestures and body language because "mysterious" is always more attractive than "trashy."

Hair and makeup are also important parts of your costume so don't perform without paying proper attention to your grooming habits. Some teachers even suggest a pedicure if you will be dancing with exposed toes, just to add class and polish to your act. When you show up for your job, even if you aren't arriving in costume, look professional. Remember that you are at work, and you must dress to impress!

Another part of being a true professional is having business sense and not accepting less payment than you deserve. You know how much you spend on classes, workshops, costumes, music and supplies; you know how much time you devote to classes and practice sessions. Why would you consider selling your services for less than what they're worth? Even if you have a day job that supplies you with your main income, stick to your guns about this issue for several ethical reasons.

First, it "lowers" the dance form when a dancer expects less pay. Secondly, it hurts everyone else in the community because your "bargain rate" will become what club/restaurant owners expect to pay every dancer, no matter how skilled she may be. If you are paid $150 for a half-hour show and your clients are really enjoying themselves and wants you to stay longer, you must be compensated for your time. Even if you are having a good time and wish to stay longer, you will be respected so much more if you demand compensation. If your client is happy with you, they should have no problem compensating you. If they are cheap and try to get something for nothing, would you really want to work for them again anyway?

Remember that you do not owe anyone favors. This cheapens the dance for everyone, you included. The next time that another dancer (or you) performs for this client again, they will expect more time for inadequate wages. This wouldn't happen in any other business. When was the last time AMC gave you some free movie tickets for a 9pm just because you had fun watching the 7pm flick?

It goes without saying that a dancer should never attempt to "undercut" another dancer. This is extremely un-professional and is a quick way to win you enemies in the community plus make you look like you have no self-esteem to the client or business owner who hired you. If you feel that your skill is not up to par with other dancers' and you still have the itch to perform, then you may want to sign up to dance at haflas, charity events, or retirement communities until you are ready to hold your own as a professional dancer.

Accountability should also not be underrated. No one would stroll in 15 or 30 minutes late for work at the office and not expect to deal with repercussions. If you are dancing in a cafe or for a party you should be on time. It might even be better to be early, that way you can get settled comfortably, get some water, check out the dance floor and survey the crowd. And if you can't make it for a show, don't just blow it off --always call the client and try to find a substitute whenever possible.

One of the most important issues plaguing bellydance is the stigma that "belly dancers are like strippers". No matter how hard we strive to create a professional image of a skilled dancer, there will always be people with this belief... until you prove them wrong. When you dance, keep in mind that you are a goddess, and you are giving your audience the privilege of watching you dance. You want to bring joy to every person in the room, regardless of sex, age or race. It is in poor taste to do anything lewd or sexual in your performances. While you may gain the attention of a few men in the room, you will lose the attention of everyone else and perhaps even offend or alienate some of them.

Even if you don't mind when men bump and grind on you and people put their hands into your bra cups, many other dancers would be devastated if they were treated this way, and it embarrasses them to see a fellow dancer to act like that. When you act like a stripper, you will be treated as one, and every Middle Eastern dancer that the patron sees after you will be treated the same way. Everyone should leave your event and think that you were a true princess and be excited about the centuries-old art of bellydance. Never sell your dignity, always dance as if your grandmother were watching and you want to make her proud. Every dancer is graceful and beautiful and her performances should make her even more so.

Being a true professional also means keeping good working relationships with other dancers in the community. It is important that dancers work together and support each other. Do not treat any other dancer in a way that is rude or unfair. Going to watch fellow dancer perform is a wonderful thing--you can support them while enjoying the show and maybe even pick up a few ideas. However, showing up in costume at another dancers performance is completely inappropriate. It is also very wrong to try to "steal her show" or dance when you weren't invited. If she invites you to dance with her, have some fun and dance if you want to, but please keep in mind that it is her show and don't overstay your welcome on her dance floor.

By working together, we can make bellydance a wonderful profession and supply the area with a fabulous source of entertainment.