FAQ questions:
Frequently Asked Questions:
Any other questions you have regarding bellydance can almost certainly be found at Shira's incredible website. In fact, Shira is about the best resource for bellydance information on the web.
What do you do? What do you charge?
Depends on what you want! Here's a printable form where I explain what I'll need to know in order to quote you an accurate price (please click here!).
Generally, a bellydance gig (or "bellygram") runs something like this:
The dancer shows up at an agreed-upon time, in full costume, ready to perform. Generally dancers ask for their fee up front. The dancer performs a 10-25 minute show, also agreed on in advance, playfully interacting with the audience. Then the dancer leaves, unless there is another show scheduled.
Please remember, when hiring a bellydancer, that you get what you pay for. Do you want a raw amateur or beginner student, or do you want an experienced, knowledgable entertainer? Included in the rates I charge are nine+ years of professional training, experience performing for many different kinds of audiences (including nightclubs and children's parties), and better-than-average costumes.
Please note, no professional dancer dances for tips only, no matter how much you're sure your guests will tip her.
Can I borrow/rent your costumes?
No.
Awwwww....why not?
Costumes are (1) expensive investments, averaging $400-$1200 when purchased new, (2) non dry-cleanable, and (3) custom-fitted to our bodies. That means (1) we're fiercely protective of them, (2) we can't wash them, and (3) it probably wouldn't fit you anyway.
Then where can I get a costume?
Ooh! My favorite topic! Let me tell you....
Is bellydancing like stripping?
No, and that's why I don't work bachelor parties unless we're all VERY clear on that concept. My costumes are modest by some standards- while I am happy to show off my belly, arms, and sometimes legs, all naughty bits are completely covered, and remain so for the duration of my show. We don't sit on laps. We do not remove our tops (or anything else!) on request. And no, you're not allowed to touch the dancer!
What the origin of bellydancing?
Bellydancing has its roots in ancient Egypt, where it is commonly believed to have originated as a fertility dance for women, preparing their muscles for childbirth. Even if that origin turns out to be untrue, what IS true is that ever since then, this dance has been a women's dance. I.e., it was done by women, for other women, in a higly segregated society. This dance wasn't even performed for men until recently- apart from the street dancers, of course, who probably did more than just dance.
Bellydancing now has the reputation in the Western world as a dance of seduction by slave girls for their harem-masters. Ugh. Let's dispell this notion, please? Bellydancers dance for the entertainment of the entire family. In the Middle East they perform at weddings and parties with children present, and their function is to get people up and dancing and having a good time.
There are many folks out there who can give you a better history of the dance than I can here in two paragraphs. Please see my links page for more details.
Can I tip a bellydancer? Where do I put the tip?
Glad you asked!
Yes! By all means, if you are enjoying a show, please give the dancer a tip. Dancers in restaurants make meager wages, and those costumes are expensive!
You do not have to tuck the tip into her costume.
Some tipping tips:
"No-touchie!" tipping methods:
hand it to her, leave it in a tip jar/basket, give it to a waiter to
give to her, or toss it at her (it will be picked up later). We
dancers love being showered with money...
Acceptable places to tuck: headband, armbands. Side of the hip belt, if the dancer offers her hip to you when you offer her a bill. Top of the bra strap, if she offers you her shoulder.
Unacceptable places to tuck: Crotch. Butt. Cleavage. This should be obvious. Do Not Touch The Dancer, and Do Not Stick Money In Inappropriate Places!
This should also be obvious, but don't sneak
up on the dancer, either. There's nothing worse than doing a
delicate balancing act and having someone try to jam a bill into your
belt. *crash*Acceptable places to tuck: headband, armbands. Side of the hip belt, if the dancer offers her hip to you when you offer her a bill. Top of the bra strap, if she offers you her shoulder.
Unacceptable places to tuck: Crotch. Butt. Cleavage. This should be obvious. Do Not Touch The Dancer, and Do Not Stick Money In Inappropriate Places!
How long does it take to be a bellydancer?
That depends. Do you want to do it for fun? As a serious hobby? Perform as a professional? Teach?
Here are some general timelines, drawn entirely from my own experience and from other dancers I've spoken to:
- After a few weeks of once-a-week classes, you're ready to put on a hip scarf over your jeans and dance in a club, impressing everyone with your newly-learned Shakira Shimmy.
- After a year or two of once-a-week lessons, you're ready to perform in a student show (generally called a "hafla").
- After 3-5 years of training and several student performances under your belt, you'll be ready for the step to dancing in restaurants. To do this you will need to:
- Have at least TWO professional bedleh (costumes). Yes they're pricey. Buy them used if you can't afford new.
- Be strong and fit enough to dance a solid 15 minutes, four times a night. Without (obviously) gasping for breath.
- Have a good collection of music and a solid idea of which music is appropriate for the venue, and which moves are appropriate to the music. A standard show is a fast entrance, an energetic opening, a slow veil piece, a fast drum solo, and a grand finale.
- Be able to improvise- chroeographies don't cut it in restaurants, especially with live music.
- Have mastered basic veil and zilwork- balancing acts are great, but not necessary at this stage
On the bright side, anything worth doing is worth doing well, and it's the journey that's most of the fun!
Can men bellydance?
Absolutely! In fact, some of the most famous Egyptian dancers and choreographers, including Momo Kadous and Mo Geddawi, are male.
I wish the fabulous OMAR! had a website so I could point you to it. I'll have to point you to Zorba instead, though I've never seen him perform. Zorba's FAQ page is a very good read, as are his thoughts on what is feminine and masculine. He has adressed this topic pretty thoroughly, so I won't say more about it here.
(Except to say that I've had men interested in my classes, and I WISH they would get the nerve to come.)
Are there any bellydance events and/or communities in the Philadelphia area?
You bet there are! Philadelphia and New York are about the best places this side of the Mississippi for learning bellydance! There are literally hundreds of dancers who are, for the most part, friendly, helpful, and above all, supportive. Here's just a taste of local events:
- Annual studio haflas and workshops by various teachers in the area. Habiba, my teacher, has a halfa every November.
- Phillyraqs website has local news and events.
- Rakkasah East festival is THE LARGEST bellydance convention on the East coast, rivalled only by Rakkasah West in California. It happens every October, right nearby in Somerset, NJ. They bring in the big names directly from Egypt to teach you the dance as it is performed in the Middle East. And just about every vendor of costumes is there, too...a must-visit for any aspiring dancer.
- The PhillyBellies mailing list is another way local dancers announce their upcoming events and workshop. Anyone with an interest in the dance can join.
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