Why you should be Professional even if you're a Beginner.

So as Mom, I am now savvy on children films.  My daughter is not yet 2 years old, and we already have a collection of family films that we have strategically bought.  We are hoping that she will not be tempted to obsess over movies like the newest "Alvin and the Chipmunks" or "Hop." Every time we visit friends who have kids, there's always some god-awful children's movie that makes me want to (insert most graphic self-mutilation here).  I got to admit though, there are some family films I love and will watch even if my daughter is not interested.  And you know you're watching an excellent film when you hear a character say something like this:

"When you carry this axe, you carry all of us with you," Stoick from "How to Train Your Dragon."

This is so true for belly dancers as well.  Ah, you see?  This post is going to be relevant after all.

Whether you realize it or not, no matter what dance style you perform, you, yes you, are a representative.  The moment you say "I'm a belly dancer" or put on the costume, you have a responsibility to yourself,  to your instructors, to those who have danced before you, your fellow dancers in your troupe, your local community, your national community, and the global community.  You carry all of us with you.

What's sad is that people already have a negative idea about you, and they don't even realize it yet.  For centuries, the belly dance genre has been criticized for being too erotic.  Yet the ones who criticize are usually from cultures where showing just your ankles is slutty.  So let's do the math, belly dance is a rigorous exercise, and the dance originated from lands with severely hot temperatures.  Hmm... nope I still don't see why them bellydancers have to have their bellies showing :P  Anyway, this negative reputation has been a tradition for a long time and even modern media keeps fueling it.  More details about that in Shira's article "Mass Media, Mass Stereotypes."  

So here you are, a belly dancer, who loves what you do, but you have to compete against a negative reputation that you did nothing to earn it.  All you can do is be professional. 

In America, usually being professional means that the person conducting the business is getting paid to do it.  And since they're getting paid,  they're certified or highly skilled: they are worth the price they are charging.  As a paying customer, you would typically expect this professional to do excellent work.  Otherwise you'll be tempted to write a negative review.  With that in mind, do you think it's okay for an intermediate dancer to perform at a public venue that you paid to get in?  If anything, she'll be pretty to look at, but do you think she'll be respected as an artist when her skill level is so mediocre?  Her beauty is the only reason why anyone is paying attention, which means that her sexual attractiveness has become what people have paid to see, not her art as a dancer.  Why else would the manager hire her to perform?  And with THAT in mind... is what she doing truly different from stripping?  No.  Sadly, it's not.  Before you get all nuclear on me, go buy a ticket to a Beats Antique concert and watch Zoe Jakes dance.  Then, come back and tell me I'm wrong.  

CLARIFICATION:  What I am trying to say is that Zoe Jakes, a professional belly dancer, is a perfect example of the kind of professional a dancer should be.  One who behaves professionally and has the awesome skills that makes people give up their hard-earned dollars to witness her art.  When we go to a Beats Antique concert, we're not there just to see a pretty girl shake her thang.  Thank you for asking for clarification.

I know you intermediate dancers are excited to perform... show the world what you got... and you should!  But leave the "professional" gigs for the career dancers who have invested so many years of training and hundreds of dollars into costuming and quite frankly who are more mature than you.  They have a better understanding of etiquette and know how to conduct themselves professionally.  They are least likely to unintentionally prolong the negative reputation we inherit.  Therefore, paying customers will feel that they are getting their moneys' worth and may even begin to respect belly dancing as an art form.  Intermediates do not have to perform in the public eye.  Instructors and mentors are responsible for providing them opportunities to grow as performers.  Haflas or student salons or family reunions, etc.  are great examples.  Small, intimate gatherings where people aren't going to make remarks like, "You think she does private shows?"  I have a performance video that I refuse to post because you can hear some jerk say something like that loud and clear.  It's one of the performances that I'm really proud of, too.  Not to insult intermediates, but they're still a baby belly dancers.  You still need to grow, darlings.  So surround yourself with people who are honest with you and will help nurture you as a dancer.  

Because of our negative reputation, professionalism is something we need to practice from the very second we claim to be a belly dancer.  This usually happens when we stop being shy beginners who keep belly dancing a secret.  We become intermediate students and now, we're hooked on the dance and we're so excited and the world has to know!  Instructors and mentors, this is when students need to learn etiquette more than ever.

But what if you don't have a frackin' instructor or mentor?!  You're doing this all on your own!  You've tried to find them, but you're the only frackin' belly dancer in town.  If so, you have an exciting opportunity.  Start building your own community and perform in front of your dance sisters.  If you need ideas, read: "Lone Dancer in Town"

I know that this doesn't answer a lot of questions.  It's really more a response to real life events that happened over the years to both me and others.  Professionalism is a heavy topic.  Throughout the course of this blog I will attempt to cover all of the angles, but if there are any you'll like me address specifically.  Let me know.