Workshop and Show Etiquette for Belly Dancers

"For Beginners"
(reprinted from ZAGHAREET! July/Aug. 2003)
by by Anthea Kawakib Poole

   Will you be attending a belly dance "event" soon? A workshop/seminar, or show? Right on baby! My motto is "Keep the teachers teaching"!  

   There are as many permutations of a belly dance event as there are sponsors & teachers. Some workshops are low-key local events where you can meet dance students who live in your area. These are a great way to find others who share your interests, and experience different teaching styles available. 
   Other workshops are of national interest with well-known instructors who draw students from out of state. You will feel more anonymous in this situation, maybe even lost in the crowd. Unless specifically stated, most of these workshops are geared toward intermediate-level students, and if you haven't mastered the basics, you will miss a lot.
   Ask your teacher about attending if you're not sure you're ready. Most teachers encourage their students to gain a wider knowledge base by attending other teachers' events and even freely advertise them by making their flyers available. Every once in a while you'll hear about a teacher who doesn't - but they're few and far between, I hope!

Here's some tips on attending your first workshop.

• Find out what's being taught - you may need specific items like a full skirt, knee pads, veil, finger cymbals, cane, etc. At the least, bring: water, towel, notebook, exercise wear, and a non-jingly hip scarf (some teachers will ask you to remove hip scarves that make noise, or shed beads that may cause foot injuries).
• Be considerate of others and arrive early enough to shop or get ready before the workshop starts. Once it starts, BE QUIET! Your regular class may chat and laugh as a matter of course, but that's out of place at workshops (even if you're in the back!).
• Be ready to experience a different teaching method than you're used to. The instructor may do extensive warmups, or not (when attending workshops I always do my own if need be - I know I'll be sorry later if I don't). S/he may break down moves thoroughly & well, or not - you may just be expected to "follow along" as best you can. The material may be a choreography that gets finished in the time allotted, or not (some workshop sponsors specifically request - by contract - the instructor to teach a complete choreography, to readily available music); but even a partial choreography is a viable way of experiencing that teacher's personal style and approach to music interpretation. The material may consist of various combinations; or any of a myriad of concepts of style & theory. You may get handouts, or not; the music may be available or not; and you may like the whole experience, or not! Have an open mind and remember you're learning something new even if it's not what you expected.
• You may want to take your own notes to help you remember what was taught, or even videotape yourself performing the material while it's fresh in your mind (don't videotape anyone else without their written permission).

(For what it's worth, I've noticed a strange phenomenon at workshops in recent years: after each and every execution of the material by the workshop attendees, they'll give themselves a big round of applause. What is this all about? I'm mystified. It used to be that the only applause heard at workshops came after the instructor performed the choreography as a demonstration for the students; or at the end of the workshop, as thanks to the teacher. Are our expectations of ourselves so low that we need applause after our every effort, whether successful or not? I'd like to hear others thoughts about this. I feel that constant 'applause breaks' disrupt the flow of instruction, eat time, and often generate loud chatter, all of which can make it hard for the teacher to get things done in the time allotted.)

Going to a show?

   They're so much fun! These can range from fancy sit-down dinners to informal "hafla"-type affairs; from theaters to local meeting halls. The location and price can give you a clue on how to dress (you might feel out of place in a sequin dress for a show at the local school gym-cafeteria).
 
   Many seminar shows allow any level of dance student (who attended the workshop) to perform, so you'll see a great range of ability, interpretation, and costuming.  You may see things that you WISH you could do, or that you swear you'll NEVER do - either way, you're still learning from each performer, so respect them for sharing themselves with you.
 
   It's always OK to show appreciation with applause or cries of encouragement, or even zaghareet! You may even see tipping at shows - especially during restaurant/nightclub-style performances (as opposed to theatrical or folkloric pieces). Some of us, especially those who've made a living at restaurant dancing, ALWAYS welcome tips; but others may feel 'cheapened' or distracted (I'm guessing!) so if in doubt, skip it. If you do tip, shower the dancer with money, tuck it in her belt, or even put it in her hand.
 
   Of course, please never laugh or talk outright about a performer who amuses or dismays you - at least wait until you're out of earshot of anyone else. Remember, "what goes around comes around" and YOU will want your future audience to be kind and polite when YOU perform!  If the performance is too painful to watch, discreetly look away and avoid comment.  Guess what - many 'regulars' in the audience will have noticed any 'newbies' in their midst, so you're not as "anonymous" as you think!  You may not realize it now, but you will probably see many of the same people attending future workshops and shows - and the belly dance community has "big ears" and long memories. 

   Soon you'll be an 'old hand' at these events too, and will look forward to seeing your dance friends as much as attending the event itself. It's even more fun to attend these events WITH friends - you'll have plenty to talk about on the ride home!