Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Bellygrams
by Miramar
Ó1999 by Miramar and Sands of Time
Interested in learning about bellygrams and becoming a professional belly dancer? I teach a special workshop that will do just that. In this workshop the following questions are answered. You should be able to answer all these questions before you begin to work professionally as a Middle Eastern Dancer. The most important question being: How do you know when you are ready to go professional?
The best advice I can give is to ask a teacher that you admire and respect for her opinion about whether you are ready to dance professionally. If she does bellygrams, ask to accompany her sometime so that you can see what sort of professionalism you should be striving to attain. Be open-minded when you seek this information. If she says you are not ready, find out what areas of your dance you need to polish. Work on these performance areas and then see your teacher again. Performance coaching with a skillful teacher is one of the best ways to prepare oneself to perform in public. Remember that when someone sees an unprepared, unprofessional dancer, it only adds to the pre-misconceptions and stigmas that abound in this most misunderstood art form.
What exactly is a Bellygram?
How much should I charge?
Should I work for a gram company?
How about working for myself?
How long is a belly-gram?
How should I advertise my services?
What should I bring with me?
What sort of things can I give to the client?
Where is a good place to get publicity photos?
What can I deduct for business expenses?
How about my business cards?
Should I ask for money up front?
Should I take an escort with me?
Are there some places I should not dance?
What happens if I get there and it’s not the kind of party I was told?
How about pictures?
What about video-taping?
How do you know when you are ready to be dancing professionally?
Should I tailor my “bellygrams” to my audience?
What’s a Sultan Routine?
Happy BellyGrams, Miramar
For more information about this workshop,
please visit my Menu of Mid-East Dance!