Archive for January 2014

Home Archive for January 2014

(Note: I have changed all names used in this post to avoid using anyone's real name, or actual stage name)

When I first started belly dancing professionally, I began to meet or at least hear about other dancers in the area. I remember the very first restaurant I went to: I had to show the owner my driver's license to prove to him that the name I gave him was actually my real name. He couldn't believe I had an "arabic" name (in reality, I have no arab origins whatsoever). He told me that the "most famous dancer" there was Jasmina, but her real name was Melissa.

After this encounter, I continued to hear about other dancers: Azizah (but her real name is Heather), or Leila (but her real name is Karen). Honestly, I thought it was the stupidest thing I've ever heard of in my entire life. Why would these women lie about their names? Firstly, once they walk in, it's obvious that they're not Middle Eastern at all. They have natural blond hair and blue eyes or a blatantly Italian or Hispanic last name. Secondly, changing your name to an "arabic" name doesn't really change anything, does it?

I still don't know how I feel about stage names. Is it something like Beyonce vs Sasha Fierce? Does performing under a different name give you some kind of confidence? Do belly dancers with stage names feel that it somehow adds some kind of legitimacy? Or is a stage name given to hide your true identity?

I also started asking myself how I would feel if I didn't have an "arabic" name. I know that when the internet first started becoming popular and AIM came, followed by myspace and now facebook, twitter, etc, I for sure didn't want anyone to know my real last name, and I still feel that way (which is why I changed one letter of my last name...yeah, ok, so that doesn't do much, nor does it affect the pronunciation or the "arabic-ness"). But if my name weren't Sarah....Lisa maybe...and if my last name was very ethnic, like O'Hara or something...would I want a stage name?

For me, I still think the answer is no. I'm brutally honest about most everything in life, so there would be no way I could "lie" about my name or identity. It would make me feel uncomfortable. But, I know some dancers who rarely even use their real names - I wouldn't be surprised if their driver's licenses said their stage names - and some of the names are very pretty.

This website addresses the "stage name" phenomenon very nicely:

http://www.shira.net/name.htm

If you're a dancer or a belly dancer, what do you think about stage names? For example, some of my favorite stage names are from burlesque dancers. Do you have one? Why or why not?

Happy Dancing <3

Today I started updating my youtube account. It needed an overhaul. Well, it still needs one: that is, I need to post new videos. The last video I have posted is from two years ago. A lot happens when you finish two bachelor degrees, move across the world, and start a master's degree, but I'm very excited to finally have some time to focus on my dancing. That being said, new videos to come! :D

On that same note, I went to the account of a friend of mine, who had a video posted of me dancing. It received two thumbs down and three negative comments. I totally agreed with the comments. Firstly, the video was very poorly shot. The camera was shaky, there are people talking loudly in the background - in short, it's a mess. It's always been difficult to find people to video tape me, and to do it well, so my current video repertoire is not very strong. More importantly than this, the comments were correct about my dancing. Granted, we are each our own worst enemy; that is to say, we judge ourselves more harsh than we judge others. So, it goes without saying that I almost hate to see myself on tape, but I honestly was not ready to dance at that time and I was ill prepared for that particular performance. However, I responded kindly to the negative comments because I really appreciated the honesty of the people. It has given me an even greater drive to do well and redeem myself (and my cinematography). Also, it's been two years and I have grown a lot in that time, both mentally and as a dancer. I'm very excited to see the difference between my videos then and now.

For any future belly dancers out there who wish to be professionals (hindsight is 20/20), I recommend getting all of your things in order before going public. What does that mean?

1. Build up your repertoire. Get involved in social media and make it professional. Have more than a few very good professional photos and videos prepared of yourself and keep making them. Post them everywhere. Social media is huge now, and it acts as your resume, so make every site count and take the time to do it all. If you're like me (aka poor), this will take some time. Be patient!

2. Go into your interviews (restaurants, other venues) with a plan. Bring a sample of your music on a cd and on an ipod with you. Bring your business cards. Ask if you need to do a demonstration, and even if they say no, be prepared with a little choreographed something when you go just in case (even if you don't have an dress with you). Don't be nervous, you're the professional. If you believe that, so will they.

3. Research other dancers. It's not against the law to go and see another performance or watch someone on youtube. Go to their website, go to their social media sites, see what they're doing. Get ideas. As always, don't blatantly copy someone in every way, but take pieces of what other dancers have and add them to your own style. Become well rounded.

4. Have an idol. Have someone to aspire to. This will keep you motivated.

5. Love yourself. There will always be someone who doesn't like your dancing. There will always be someone who will tell you how you can dance better or who will have some comment about what will make you better. Especially on social media and the internet, people will say whatever they want because they don't have to say it to your face, so take it at face value. Accept the good and the bad and go back with new information every time to improve upon your art.

These are just a few thoughts that passed through my mind today :) Happy dancing <3

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