I have gone to see many shows and I have watched belly dancers in the restaurant who claim to be professional but unfortunately gliding around on your toes through the restaurant doing a choo choo shimmy is not professional belly dancing. It’s more than just the glitz and the glamour surrounding a costume, a pretty face and some movements you know from class.
Up until now I have given you some useful hints and tips regarding your professional performing and it is important to take these aspects into serious consideration when you go out performing. You are not only representing a school but you are also representing yourself and your belly dance sisters out there.
It is important that you are knowledgeable on what you know as a performer and are confident enough that if you go out into the public, you do yourself and dance form proud. Have variety in your performance and treat each function as unique adding your own uniqueness to it.
Know your props well before performing them. If it is a new prop you have been introduced to, attend a school or workshop where it is taught correctly. Practice what you learn and master your prop before you perform. Nothing looks more dissatisfying than someone who attempts to perform a prop but does not actually utilise its full potential.
Understand your audience and what the client requires. Know that when you are performing you are not just dancing for yourself but you are dancing for an audience and you want them to pay attention, applaud and join you in celebrating your love for the dance, not just because you are being paid for it. Learn when to leave people alone and when to go up to a table and dance. Know when to leave the venue and that is not with one of the patrons of the party.
Dress appropriately, after all, you are not a stripper and trying to expose all is rather tacky and can offend a lot of people, especially in a family setting environment.
Always wear harem pants under skirts and make sure the material is solid and not see through. Make sure your harem pants slits don’t come up to your hip, then you might as well not be wearing them. The slit should come up to below your knee. Wear a descent fitting beaded bra, not one that barely covers anything.
Don’t undercut yourself in price to merely obtain a paid performance; there are many other potential clientele out there who would be more than happy to pay your fee provided you offer them the best quality performance they are paying for.
Always act professional. Think of your professional dancing like your business, have cards made whereby people can contact you if necessary and invest in yourself in terms of props and adding to your belly dance wardrobe and remember to hold descent business ethics wherever you go.
Finally, honour this art form for what it is, a feminine expression of grace and beauty representing someone’s culture for what it has truly provided you… magic…