Belly Dance by Amaryllis Salome' Carter

I don't want to sound paranoid....but sometimes....people ARE out to get you!  We live in an era were at a touch of a button we can connect with anyone anywhere in the world in just seconds.  It is this technological wonder called the Internet that we must be the most careful with.

The latest scam out there right now is the "Dance teacher needed" e-mail.  This scam has many forms and can vary but it follows a similar enough format that we can recognize the scam almost immediately.

It usually begins with an e-mail you receive from someone, usually a person from outside of the United States.  The e-mail states a story about children or a spouse coming to the U.S. to learn dance (usually whatever dance you teach) and that money is no problem.  This is usually followed by this person asking you to e-mail them your rates (hourly-daily-weekly).  If you respond you will most likely receive an e-mail with all the specifications of the "job" and with either:  their need for you bank information for transfer of fees or deposits to your account or for an address so they can mail you a check.  If you are asked for your bank info: JUST SAY NO!!!!  This comes directly from a bank manager at a local branch here in Las Vegas.  Your bank information is too personal and if it falls into the wrong hands you could be dealing with severe banking issues such as having your accounts fully withdrawn.  If they send you a check.....first thing to see is how much is the check for?  The way the scam works with the check is that the check is usually for a very large amount of money, not the amount you specifically asked for.  The scammer will ask you to deposit the check into your account and write them a check of your own for whatever the overage is.  By the time you send them your check, their check has bounced.  If you receive one of these checks, go directly to the bank and have them verify the check by phone through the bank it is being drawn from and have them check for funds.  Usually the account information is either invalid or funds are temporarily blocked.

Should this scam prevent you from answering e-mails regarding lessons...........NO!  Don't allow these scam artists to frighten us away from running our businesses or from teaching dance.......just be aware that unfortunately not everyone out there is honest and that being savvy about who you do business with will only make you a better business owner!

When in doubt about an e-mail you receive........share it with other dancers, get their feedback and of course, go with your gut!  It never fails!

Shimmy on!

Amaryllis Salome'

How many times have you found yourself racing out the door for a gig?  Already running late?  How many times have you rummaged through your costume bag looking for a safety pin, vaseline or your eyeliner only to find out you don't have it?  Talk about frustrating.....

There is a practical way of handling this common problem.....get organized BEFORE you decide to get the gigs.

So now that you know you are going on a gig....how do you get started?

I have put together a list, I call it "The essentials list".  This list has been slowly compiled for the last 10 years and has had many hands adding to its contents.  For the last 10 years I have carried a laminated copy in my dance bag and I look through my list every time I am getting ready to leave.....it has saved me MANY times from forgetting my music, my zills, and even once my skirt and veil.  Here is the list, print it, copy it, share it, use it, I guarantee, you'll love it!

The Essentials List: 

(items in bold stay in your bag at all times, italizied items must be rotated as needed)

• cream make-up
• concealer stick
• basic eye shadow pack
• eyeliner (black & brown)
• lip liner (neutral, red, pink & brown)
• lip stick (neutral, red, pink & brown)
• mascara (black & brown)
• loose powder
• pressed powder
• blush (red, pink & neutral)
• eyebrow brush
• lip gloss
• vaseline
• body/hair glitter
• razor
• body lotion
• hair spray
• hairbrush/comb
• safety pins (small & large)
• hand towel
• baby wipes
• nail file
• nail polish
• dance panties (skin color)
• sewing kit
• body mesh
• matches/lighter
• zills
• skirt
• veil
• harem pants
• bra & belt
• scarves, vests, other costume accessories
• anklets
• gauntlets
• foot covers
• earrings
• necklaces
• rings
• hair accessories
• wig
• props (cane, sword, candelabrum)
• music & back up music
• dance shoes

This list is ever changing.  More and more dancers add something to it at some point.  Maybe you have something very specific to your type of dance that needs to be added...... 

Now that you have the list....take a day and go through your dance bag and make sure to get everything in there. This way, you avoid getting to a gig only to find that you don't have a lipstick that matches your costume or that you don't have the music you were going to dance to.  Save yourself the frustration and the anxiety....organize yourself and see just how much more you will enjoy performing without the unnecessary stress.

My suggestion is to get yourself a luggage bag with wheels.  It is very spacious and easy to maneuver.  It will also allow you to organize your specific essentials with ease.  I find the zipper freezer bags (quart size) perfect for all my goodies.  I have one for cosmetics alone, one with jewelry, one with my music, and one with miscellaneous stuff.  Make sure to label each bag.

The most important thing is to always remember....no matter how tired you are right after a gig, or how rushed you are to leave, give yourself those few extra minutes to get everything back to its right place.  This way, you won't be ripping every bag open on your next gig trying to find that eyeliner you just threw into one of you bags.  Have fun getting yourself organized.

Shimmy on!

Amaryllis Salome'

No matter where you live.....big city or a very small rural town...there are other belly dancers living near you.  If you feel alone in your quest for that community spirit and you can't find it, you need to consider under which category your issue falls:

A) If you currently live in a city that seems to have little to no belly dancing (in any forum). 

OR

B)  If you currently live in city with a variety of dancers and teachers but you don't know of any organized meeting or events.

These are the two most common issues.  So what do you do?  That depends on your issue.  Below are simple ideas that with patience and a lot of networking you can kick into gear.

Whether you are faced with issue A or B: 

1- Let your fingers do the walking.  Grab your local yellow pages or jump online and start your search. 

2- Look for dance studios, middle eastern or mediterranean restaurants, community colleges, park and recreation, local government agencies that plan city events, and local gyms.

3- Lots of phone calls....ask only the pertinent questions: Do you have a phone number for a professional belly dancer?  Do you know when and where they teach?  Do you know if they have a website?  Who organizes your events? Etc....

4- When you start talking to dancers, get all their info and keep in touch with them.

5- Once you know which studios are teaching belly dance and where you can find the teachers and students...set up a meeting with the teacher.

6- Discuss your ideas for the community, get togethers, costuming parties, drumming sessions, etc...and make sure you let the teacher know that your interest is NOT to "steal" business from her but to enhance the education of the entire community.

7- Make some flyers....take an approximate count of the teachers and students in the area and make simple starter flyers on your computer.  Keep it simple.  Add information on the name of the event (ie: luncheon, hafla, et....), your name, form of contacting you, if RSVP's are needed, etc....

NOW:

If you live in a small community....your population, distance between cities and cultural acceptance can be a larger problem then a largely populated metropolitan city that is to hustle and bustle to get organized.  So what do you do if you can't find anything near you?  Start your own!!!  I say this as a long time dancer and instructor.....you do not need a degree or diploma to teach the dance you love!  Go to your local library (they usually have at least a small board room) and ask to start a FREE belly dance class.  The key to doing this is the FREE part.  That will keep the library from charging you any astronomical fees.  You may need to pay a small security deposit.  Check to see if the library has any audio/visual equipment or if you will need to supply it yourself.  Have lots of info on belly dance handy...flyers with some history, costuming ideas, middle eastern recipes, and also a couple of videos or dvd's with instructional belly dance, lots of them out there.  Make flyers and post them EVERYWHERE!!!  Supermarkets, laundromats, gyms, etc...Also check with your local newspaper and talk with the person in charge of community events calendars, they are usually free or have a minimal fee.  Remember, you are doing this to bring together anyone that has an interest in belly dance so keep the class fun, light and accommodating to everyone!

If you live in a large community with lots of dancers and NO communication, you face different problems all together.  You are dealing with BUSY schedules, hustle and bustle, traffic (which no one wants to deal with-ever!), and too many venues!  You may also have to deal with the "Diva's" of your city.  If you don't know who they are yet, you will.  They are the dancers (most usually professional dancers) that will not return your calls, will be very secretive about their classes, where they dance and will have very serious issues with you even talking to their students.  So what do you do?  First thing is to NOT let them intimidate you!  If you find yourself bumping into these "Divas", ignore them completely!  For every 1 bad apple, there are dozens of good ones.  Bond yourself to the professional dancers and teachers that are open, friendly and informative. However, do not give up on spreading your belly dance community news to everyone, that includes the Divas and their students.  Word always gets around....and believe me....once the students that have been kept in the dark regarding community events by their teachers find out....they will most likely be looking for a new teacher!  No student of belly dance wants to miss a single scrap of information regarding any events, shows, venues and projects currently happening in their own back yard.  Persistence is the key, patience is essential, and remembering why you are doing this is what should keep you going.

Any questions, ideas or remarks on this article?  E-mail me arosario75@yahoo.com

Shimmy on!

Amaryllis Salome'

Did you just start dancing?  Already want to go out and get a beautiful egyptian costume?  WAIT!  As exhilarating as the idea sounds, think about it from a logical, not a romantizised stand point.  When you begin taking classes, you are yet new to all the different styles of belly dancing.  After you take classes for a couple of months you will have a better understanding of what style fits you best (ie: persian, romany, turkish, lebanese, moroccan, egyptian, etc...).  Each form of dance carries its own costuming criteria.  For a example, gypsy-romany style requires a very large skirt, a blouse, coin not fringe, etc....Egyptian style requires very sequined, fringed, beaded costumes with a bra and belt.  These are just generic examples but it gives you the idea the you need to know your personal choice in order to properly present a cultural dance.

So....once you figure out your style....lets go shopping. 

1- Start with thrift stores....go to the formal dress section and look for heavily beaded dresses that can be cut into pieces to cover up a bra and make a belt, go to the skirt section and look for those once popular peasant skirts with the bold colors, go to the accessories and look for scarves for your hips, the belt section for those once awesome metal or coin belts, enter the jewelry area and look for anything that looks to gaudy for everyday wear, etc....

2- Wal-mart is a great place to get cheap fabric for skirts, harem pants, bra and belt coverings and they also sell great fringe at a fairly good price.

3- Fabric stores are a great place for remnants and your basic supplies for sewing.  They also carry some terrific patterns for belly dance costumes (not very authentic but you can really get creative with them), the best time to find them is right after Halloween when a lot of those patterns go on sale.

4-Garage sales, yard sales and estate sales should not be left out.  You have to get up early and be ready with some cash, but you can find great costume jewelry, fabrics and even some nic-nacs that can create a tiny corner of a room into your own harem.

Now that you have gone shopping and have seen a million things you want and have come home with a million ideas for costumes in your head, sit down and take note.  Keep a journal of costuming ideas, scraps of fabric, pictures, and keep it close because the more you write, the more ideas you get.

My one piece of advice I give to all my students, past and present, is that your very first "costume" should fall under all of the following guidelines:

a) Is it comfortable to dance in and be in for long periods of time?

b) Is it easy to clean and keep in good shape?

c) Is it a color that can go well with any color of the rainbow? (Great choices are gold, silver or combo)

d) Do this costume express your personal style?

e) Does this costume make you feel like a queen?

Remember to have fun with your costumes, get creative, but start slow or it can become overwhelming and you will quickly find yourself becoming "costumed out"!